ESPECIALÍSSIMO

A naturally sustainably cycle

COOXUPÉ AND SMC’S SPECIALTY COFFEE PROGRAM BRINGS RECOGNITION TO THE COOPERATIVE FAMILIES AND ADDS VALUE TO WHAT THEY PRODUCE BEST.

Especialíssimo is a program of constant professional development focused on the production of specialty coffees that aims, not only the improve the productive processes, but also the recognition of the farmers’ work, bringing great business opportunities that can guarantee a better quality of life for our families.

The program began in 2016 to identify specialty coffees among the lots received by Cooxupé. Through it, we promote lectures, courses, technical assistance and follow-up, all free of charge, for the benefit of producers.

Especialíssimo also holds an annual ceremony that awards and highlights the fifty best coffees from the Cooxupé and SMC harvest.

THE PATH OF OUR ESPECIALÍSSIMO PROGRAM

We provide lectures and courses on cultural management, sustainability, production, harvest and post-harvest, followed with all the technical support.


The coffees delivered to Cooxupé are evaluated by its quality control.

If scored as 83 or above (according to the SCA scale), a sample is sent to our quality control.

With the sensory profile traced, the specialty coffee can be commercialized with SMC. We contact the producer directly.

By selling within the stipulated period and being in accordance with the Cooxupé and SMC sustainability code, the producer has the possibility to participate in the Especialíssimo Award.

All coffees are evaluated in blind cupping – identification is by barcodes. Only at the moment of negotiation will we know the person responsible for the lots we received samples from.

TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM’S AWARD, ONE MUST PAY ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

• The specialty coffee must have been sold to SMC within the stipulated period;
• Prioritizing constancy with the cooperative is highly recommended, guaranteeing 80% or more of the harvest delivered to Cooxupé;
• Only lots consisting of at least 10 bags will be selected;

• It is required to comply with the Sustainability Protocol – Gerações. Level 1 is mandatory in order to be eligible for the award.

• The specialty coffee must have been sold to SMC within the stipulated period;
• Only lots consisting of at least 10 bags will be selected;
• One must keep the CAR (Rural Environmental Register) updated at the relevant agencies and at Cooxupé;
• Prioritizing constancy with the cooperative is highly recommended, guaranteeing 80% or more of the harvest delivered to Cooxupé;
• It’s necessary to keep up good practices in production and harvesting, obtaining positive results in the Cooxupé Sustainability Protocol.

THE SELECTION OF THE 50 BEST SPECIALTY COFFEES

The Quality Control teams from SMC and Cooxupé get together for the annual evaluation of the 50 best coffees identified through the Especialíssimo program. Flávio Borém, professor at UFLA (Federal University of Lavras) and renowned researcher in the area of production and post-production of coffees, follows the team of Q Graders as head judge, and is responsible for defining the final grades, which are calculated by the average of all professionals involved.

Afterwards, we invite the fifty families to participate in the award ceremony, where each producer responsible for the selected lots receives a bonus for the excellent work. In 2022, around USD10,000 was granted to the first place. The second place received the amount of USD6,000, and the third place, USD4,000.