http://www.allianceforcoffeeexcellence.org/
The Alliance for Coffee Excellence (ACE) organizes “Cup of Excellence” jury cuppings and auctions for regions around the world. Many farms from each region submit their coffee for consideration.
The details about the competition process and it’s scope can be found on the Alliance’s web site. They also have an archive of former winners and their auctions.
Whenever possible, we will post links to where you can purchase winning beans. We may be able to find these beans roasted, blended, or prepared in a variety of ways from different vendors.
2026 Winners
Nicaragua — #1 Natural: Los Alpes, Inversiones Valladarez Acevedo S.A.
Auction: June 25, 2026. Natural Geisha, 92.00 points, Dipilto, Nueva Segovia. Top lot sold for $140/lb. More retailers expected as roasters receive their lots.
El Salvador — #1 Washed & Honey: La Esperanza, Inversiones Santonano, S.A. De C.V.
Auction: July 2, 2026. Honey Bernardina, 91.95 points, Apaneca-Ilamatepec. Lot split between two buyers: L.TONE (Hail, Saudi Arabia) at $41.20/lb and Truth Roastery at $41.00/lb.
Costa Rica — Washed, Honey & Natural, and Experimental Categories
Auction: July 9, 2026. Three category winners, all Los Santos region: Finca Río Blanco (Washed Java, 91.36 points, Alejandra Cordero Solano, sold for a record $200.10/lb to Enwan Coffee); Las Nubes (Honey & Natural Geisha, 91.06 points, Alex Ureña Marín); Las Margaritas Veintiséis (Experimental Fermentations Geisha, 91.06 points, Emmanuel Solis Porras). No international shop confirmed for any of the three; links will be added when available.
Honduras — #1 Natural: Finca La Loma, Ottoniel Sagastume Pineda
Auction: July 16, 2026. Parainema Natural, 89.14 points, Santa Bárbara. Top lot sold for $28.40/lb to Spirit Origin Coffee, winning Honduras’s #1 CoE lot for the second consecutive year.
Mexico — Washed, Natural/Honey & Experimental Categories
Auction: July 28, 2026. Three category winners: Huehuetepan (Washed Geisha, 91.22 points, María del Rosario Iraís Valdivia Ortiz, $88.70/lb); El Izote (Natural/Honey Geisha, 91.03 points, Katia de Jesus Loeza Merino, $62.00–63.10/lb); Finca Santa Cruz (Natural Experimental Geisha, 91.33 points, Cruz José Argüello Enriquez, $94.70/lb). No buyers confirmed yet; links will be added once roasters list the coffee.
Guatemala — #1 Natural: El Injerto I, Arturo Aguirre Escobar
Auction: July 23, 2026. Geisha Natural, 91.86 points, La Libertad, Huehuetenango. Lot at auction; buyer links will be added when roasters list the coffee. Farm sells direct at fincaelinjerto.com.
Thailand — #1 Honey: Coffee De Hmong Bio Farm, Wichai Kamnerdmongkhon
Auction: August 4, 2026. Gesha Honey, 90.50 points, Nan region. The lot split between two buyers: Black Sea Corp at $91.60/lb and Paper Swan at $88.98/lb. Neither has a confirmed public shop; links will be added if one turns up.
China (Yunnan) — Gems of Yunnan Presidential Award
Judging concluded June 25, 2026. Three Presidential Award winners, all Washed Geisha: Lincang Gengxia Manor (91.78 points, Lincang City, sold for $949/lb to Luckin Coffee, a strategic partner of the competition); Menghai Yunle Coffee (90.53 points, Xishuangbanna, sold for $237/lb to Tianxia Manor); Lincang Linxiang Songfeng Coffee Cooperative (90.28 points, Lincang City, sold for $203/lb to Sinloy Coffee). Gems of Yunnan is ACE’s regional pilot program for China, run with the Specialty Coffee Society of Yunnan, not the standard single country Cup of Excellence auction. No buyer has a confirmed public shop for these lots yet; links will be added if one turns up.
Upcoming 2026 Auctions
Winners have been announced for the following countries. Buyer links will be added after each auction closes.
- Indonesia — December 1, 2026
- Brazil — December 10, 2026
- Peru — December 8, 2026