The ninth edition of the “Best of Cauca” coffee competition started with the participation of 123 lots which included the strictest possible quality standards for the physical and the sensory attributes of the beans. The preselection process was carried out by Almacafé, Popayán; in the end 97 lots passed this first selection. Subsequently, a local panel of coffee judges selected from these lots the best 50 lots. These were sent to Bogotá for another thorough cupping selection at the laboratory of the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation. Finally, 23 lots were selected for this auction, with a cupping score above 86.5 points using the SCA protocol.

This virtual auction is organized by the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation through the Committee of Coffee Growers of Cauca and Craft Coffee, in collaboration with the cooperative farmer organizations Cafinorte, Caficauca, supported by the Producers to Markets Alliance of the United States Agency for International Development.