Page 100 - #52 English

Report
Story and photos by Dianne Wang

Best of Auction El Salvador

The Auction to Start Relationships

Sasa Sestic examining coffee on one of the farm visits in El Salvador.

As coffee professionals, we keep asking ourselves, why COE vs. Best of Auction – the Differences
is it important to visit coffee origins? Why is it important to build Purposes
relationships with producers? The very first Best of Auction held “COE (Cup of Excellence) is about finding the best
by Project Origin in El Salvador between 2 May to 7 May began possible coffee, but Best of Auction is about finding the amazing
to answer those questions. potential coffees”, explained by Sasa Sestic. The aim is to enhance
Project Origin is the green bean trading company what Project Origin is about, which is to build relationships,
founded by 2015 World Barista Champion Sasa Sestic from connect, and learn about origin countries and challenges faced
Australia; it actually started many years before he claimed the by their farmers.
world crown. When asked about the vision and mission of Proj- “This auction was different because it represents
ect Origin, Mr. Sestic said “relationship and taste, connecting efforts to interact with farmers – unlike other competitions
communities through our quality coffee”. He believes in people where farmers merely showpiece their crop, the best of compe-
and relationships. The company has connections with numerous tition is about mutual learning. I can see efforts also in helping
producing countries, El Salvador, Honduras, Colombia, India, those didn’t make the finals so their coffee won’t need to be sold
Brazil, Panama, Rwanda and Ethiopia; not to mention Nicaragua, at a cheap domestic market”, said Patrick Tam from Knockbox
which was recently added to the list. Coffee Company Hong Kong, also a judge at Best of Auction El
Salvador.

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