Widespread response to Coffee Quality Award for Espresso
By Our Corporate Bureau | 26 Mar 2003
Chennai: The first India Coffee Quality Prize for Espresso closed for entries today after reporting enthusiastic response from growers. Instituted by illycaffè, the Italian espresso coffee company, the prize rewards growers of quality Arabica Plantation A coffee beans.
According to organisers, over 50 entries were received from all the coffee-growing regions of India. This was far greater than expectation, and compares very well to the initial response of the Brazilian Coffee Quality Award, now running for its 13th year, on which the India award is modelled.
“We are very pleased with the overwhelming response, and are particularly happy that all regions and segments of coffee-growers in India are well represented in the contest,“ says illycaffè chief executive officer Andrea Illy.
After a stringent procedure, 15 finalists at the end of the first round will be announced in June 2003. The ultimate winner will be declared in October 2003, for which the final evaluation will be carried out by illycaffè's panel of experts in Italy.
The best coffee in each region of growth in India, if it comes within the final 15 lots, will also be awarded a Certificate of Regional Champion. The top 15 growers will also be awarded certificates of merit.