What Happens on the COE Origin Immersion Coffee Farms Tour?
The Cup of Excellence launched a multi-day educational program that takes international coffee professionals into producing countries, and its first Origin Immersion edition runs in El Salvador in February 2024 with the Salvadoran Coffee Institute. The five-day course pairs COE cupping and scoring with visits to coffee farms, processing plants and roasters.
Participants also cover industry history and variety presentations, defect identification and quality control, sustainable practices and biodiversity, plus hands-on roasting and espresso tasting. COE founder Susie Spindler and institute director Carolina Padilla expect the program to bring buyers and producers closer and to raise the international profile of Salvadoran coffee.
The Cup of Excellence (COE) organization recently launched a multi-day educational program aimed at giving international coffee professionals an in-depth experience of coffee-producing countries by immersing them in local coffee and culture. For the first time, the program is partnering with the Salvadoran Coffee Institute, with the inaugural "Origin Immersion" program set to take place in El Salvador in February 2024. The five-day course covers COE cupping and scoring, industry history and variety presentations, visits to farms, processing plants, and roasters, defect identification and quality control, sustainable practices and biodiversity discussions, as well as hands-on roasting and espresso tasting sessions. COE founder Susie Spindler and Carolina Padilla, director of the Salvadoran Coffee Institute, both have high hopes for the program, looking to bring buyers and producers closer together and enhance the international influence of Salvadoran coffee.
Recently, the Cup of Excellence (COE) organization has been advancing a multi-day educational program aimed at leading international coffee professionals into specific coffee-producing countries to experience local coffee and culture firsthand. The program is partnering for the first time with the Instituto Salvadoreño Del Café (Salvadoran Coffee Institute), with the inaugural "Origin Immersion" program confirmed to take place in El Salvador in February 2024.
The Salvadoran Coffee Institute is the governing body for the country's coffee policy, responsible for formulating and guiding related guidelines and promoting the development of coffee cultivation. Its responsibilities include ensuring the coordinated development of the nation's economy, education, society, and environment, while also conducting coffee science research and technological development to enhance productivity and quality for the benefit of all participants in the coffee supply chain.
The program course lasts five days, during which participants will take part in cupping and scoring activities for El Salvador's COE. Through sharing by leaders in the Salvadoran coffee industry, participants can learn about the historical context, variety resources, processing methods, and future plans of the country's coffee industry. The course also includes visits to Salvadoran coffee farms, processing plants, and roasters, providing on-site understanding of the entire process from cultivation to processing and roasting. Participants will learn to identify coffee defects and master quality control methods to ensure the delivery of high-quality Salvadoran coffee. The course will also discuss sustainable coffee practices, emphasize the importance of protecting coffee varieties, and cover topics such as biodiversity and trade practices from the COE perspective. Finally, participants will delve into coffee roasting techniques, including a hands-on roasting competition, and experience an espresso tasting course to understand the nuances of espresso preparation and flavor profiles.
In the announcement, Cup of Excellence founder Susie Spindler pointed out that the COE organization has always had a unique positioning, able to go beyond traditional training to gain a deep understanding of the broad diversity of coffee, culture, and farmers in partner countries. She is pleased that these courses can inspire curiosity, appreciation, and connections, which is the hallmark of their mission. Over the past 23 years, Cup of Excellence and the Alliance for Coffee Excellence have partnered with coffee institutions in different countries to hold coffee competitions and auction programs. To date, auction programs have been carried out in 15 countries, earning prestige for coffee producers and shaping high-end market trends. Since 2003, El Salvador has continuously hosted COE events.
Carolina Padilla, director of the Salvadoran Coffee Institute, stated that this initiative can bring buyers closer to coffee producers, allowing them to understand up close the effort and dedication producers put into coffee production. At the same time, it can proudly showcase Salvadoran coffee culture, genetic resources, and coffee varieties, helping coffee roasters gain a deeper understanding of how to roast local coffee and share it with global customers. She hopes to use this opportunity to promote coffee from El Salvador to the world and enhance the international influence of Salvadoran coffee.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
