The Cup of Excellence or CoE and Alliance for Coffee Excellence, or (ACE), announced changes to their Board of Directors and legal status. The two have split into separate organisations with individual focus and funding opportunities.
The Cup of Excellence has become a registered 501c company, which is the Internal Revenue designation of a nonprofit and tax-exempt organisation. The COE manages and owns the Cup of Excellence competition process, conducts training, testing, research projects and other activities designed to increase the discovery and recognition of handcrafted coffees, high-quality farmers and the appreciation of exemplary coffees worldwide. Its recent independence will allow more opportunities to achieve funding for in-country development.
Alliance for Coffee Excellence will also keep its status as a nonprofit (501) tax-exempt organisation, dedicated to the discovery, appreciation and reward for top-quality coffees. It also stays as the primary marketplace partner for the Cup of Excellence program and puts its focus on the programs’ membership benefits and consumer awareness.
Despite the changes, Darrin Daniel, the Executive Director of both organisations, gave assurances that there won’t be much visible change, especially for those who are supporters of the Cup of Excellence program. Both organisations will still be closely linked, share resources and staff, and have crossovers for the advisory panels.
The Cup of Excellence Board of Directors appointed director and founder of Kaffebrenneriet, Thomas Pulpan, as well as co-founder and COO of Enveritas, as Board Members. The Board Chair position is now held by the executive director of the Specialty Coffee Association of Costa Rica, Noelia Villalobos.
I am honoured to be part of this new COE family and have the opportunity to give back. COE has given so much to our coffee and our producers. This split will help each organisation focus on specific topics and areas to enable even more their outreach; always as sister organisations.
Noelia Villalobos, Executive director of the Specialty Coffee Association of Costa Rica
As for ACE, the number of members on its board has expanded from eleven to thirteen and had eight positions outstanding. The voting ended on the 19th of November for the open positions.
