Luís Alberto Valladarez Moncada has won the 2020 Nicaragua Cup of Excellence (COE) with a Maracaturra natural processed coffee that scored 91.2 points. Moncada has also won in 2018 and received a Presidential Award.
After a one-year hiatus with 249 participants, the COE returned to Nicaragua, 74 percent of which were first-time contestants. This year’s competition awarded 17 COE coffees and 12 National Winner coffees.
The COE programme expanded its competition to continue supporting coffee producers this year. The COE is traditionally held entirely at the origin. This year was the programme’s first competition to see the international stage hosted at various Global Coffee Centers (GCCs) worldwide, including Japan, Australia, South Korea, Norway, and the United States.
The winner, Moncada, stated that he received the award in the name of Nicaraguan farmers. He represented small farmers in Nicaragua and knew their efforts and everything necessary to produce coffee. He also added that the coffee sector could push themselves through a hard time. People want to work and make it happen. This win was a small example of what Nicaraguan coffees can do to offer the world.
This year’s COE and National Winners represent five regions in Nicaragua. The 12 National Winner coffees include nine certified organics and 11 first-time contestants.
The Nicaraguan coffee sector has struggled in recent years due to historically low international prices and the economic fallout of a political crisis. The coffee sector saw an 11% decline in countrywide. COE will hold an auction to encourage a sustainable coffee sector. The auction will take place on July 16.
