This week has been ALL about the very best coffee that Brazil has to offer.
We kicked off the week in style with the Taste of the Harvest Event, held on the evening of November 25th, 2014. Hosted by Mercanta, the Embassy of Brazil, the Brazilian Specialty Coffee Association, and The Specialty Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE), Taste of the Harvest was held the day before the Brazil Early Harvest Cup of Excellence auction and highlighted the top 10 coffees of 2014’s competition. Taste of the Harvest was attended by a prestigious crowd of coffee roasters, industry leaders, and coffee lovers from all over the UK.
Attendees were given the opportunity to sample the top 10 coffees of 2014’s Brazil Early Harvest Cup of Excellence, along with amazing Brazils currently being offered by some of the UKs premier roasters. Has Bean, Origin Coffee Roasters, Red Roaster, Round Hill Roastery, and Small Batch Coffee Roasters all contributed their Brazilian finest for attendees to sample.
The Brew Bar was run by Coffeehunter Raphael Prime, Allan Botrel of the BSCA and James Hall of Coffee XTC. Cup of Excellence coffees were brewed via V60 using a ratio of 66 grams per litre of water. The slightly higher than average ratio was selected after experimenting with both lower and higher ratios and was gauged to be the best for achieving a body that was perfect for sampling all the fine coffees had to offer.
UK roasters’ contributions were brewed both as V60 and espresso. The V60 samples were brewed using a slightly higher ratio – 70 grams per litre – to intensify some of the more subtle flavours present in the cup.
The event ended with delicious Brazilian canapés prepared by Pedro Lopes and some truly surprising Brazilian wines.
Tuesday’s event was followed on Wednesday by the 2014 Brazil Early Harvest Cup of Excellence Auction – the 100th Cup of Excellence auction ever held. The auction was record breaking for Brazil, with the average price amounting to $11.65 per lb – an all time high for Brazil COE. The winning coffee garnered a price of $50.20 per pound, also an all-time Brazil COE high.
Auction proceeds totaled over $500,0000 USD, and Mercanta’s participation was very active, as well! For more information on the results, please have a look at the Alliance for Coffee Excellence website .
