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The addition of 33 new producers to the 2026 Cup of Excellence competition marks one of the main results of this edition, reflecting greater participation in the coffee sector and an opening for more coffee growers to seek to position their beans in specialty markets. This influx of new entrants also strengthens the diversity of entries that will enter the evaluation process leading to global online auction.
The El Instituto Salvadoreño del Café (ISC) reported that the competition officially closed the submission period with 108 registered lots, a figure that surpasses the participation registered in the last three years and consolidates the 2026 edition as one of the most competitive in that period.
According to data presented by the institution, 77 samples were received in 2025, 79 in 2024, and 103 in 2023, so this year’s volume represents an increase in participation.
The ISC highlighted that the addition of 33 new producers plays a significant role in this result, as it broadens the base of participants and reflects confidence in the competition, the institution, and the opportunities offered by international specialty coffee markets.
In addition to the participation of new coffee growers, the competition achieved representation from five coffee-growing regions of the country: Apaneca-Ilamatepec, Alotepec-Metapán, Bálsamo-Quezaltepec, Tecapa-Chinameca, and Cacahuatique, which contributes a diversity of sensory profiles that will be evaluated by specialists.
The submitted samples also include a wide genetic variety, among them Bourbon, Pacas, Cuscatleco, Pacamara, Geisha, SL28, Anacafé 14, Catuai, and Marsellesa, varieties considered to have distinct characteristics in quality, cup profile, and resilience.
With the submission period now closed, the technical evaluation stage begins, following international protocols from the Alliance for Coffee Excellence (ACE). This process will start with the pre-selection of lots that will advance in the competition.
This phase includes the review of sensory attributes, clarity, sweetness, and other technical criteria that will allow the selection of the coffees that will represent El Salvador in the global online auction, where international buyers compete for high-quality lots.
The president of the ISC, Mauricio Sansivirini, noted that surpassing the participation of the last three years reflects a reactivation in the national coffee industry and emphasized that the result also commits to maintaining technical and transparent processes so that producers’ efforts can translate into recognition and better opportunities in the market.
The Cup of Excellence is one of the most prestigious competitions in the specialty coffee industry, and for producers, it represents a showcase to position their beans before global buyers and access premium prices.
With the participation of 33 new producers and 108 samples competing, the 2026 edition is shaping up to be one of the most significant in recent years, in a context where the sector seeks to strengthen quality, open new avenues, and expand its presence in specialized markets.
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