What is the Best Coffee in the World ?

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHICH IS THE BEST COFFEE IN THE WORLD?

Choosing the best coffee in the world is complicated because everyone’s tastes are different. In fact, coffee is usually compared to wine, just as one person may like one terroir or origin more than another. For example, some people will tell you that the best wine in the world is a Chateau Margaux, while others will tell you that the best wine is a Burgundy.  For coffee, preferences will be based on the process, the variety, the region of production or whether the coffee is fermented or not. In recent years we have seen a few farms that stand out and can be considered the best coffees in the world: Geisha Village, Ninety Plus, Finca Deborah, …  One of the most important pieces of information to consider is traceability. The more information you see on the label, with the name of the region or country of origin, the more interesting the coffee will be when you taste it.  Finally, keep in mind that coffee is a living material, so it will be unique each year. To talk about the best coffee in the world, you have to talk about years.   The best coffee in the world according to world competitions If you are at a loss when faced with all these criteria, you can base yourself on the numerous annual competitions organised in producing countries which establish the best coffees each year. For example, the Cup of Excellence is one of the most popular.  Each coffee is also rated by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) on a 100-point rating system that evaluates coffee, especially specialty coffee. In 2022, Geisha Lavés, with a score of 90/100, won the Colombian competition. In Ethiopia, the 74158 variety from the Sidama region came out on top. 

WHAT IS SPECIALITY COFFEE?

Specialty coffee is considered to be the quality coffee, due to its exemplary traceability and meticulous work from producer to roaster. This knowledge of the production chain guarantees a quality not found in other coffees.  This type of coffee represents just under 10% of the world’s coffee production. These are mainly micro-lots, which can be rare and can therefore be bought at a high price. However, the selling price is not necessarily a guarantee of quality. As a result, it is distinguished mainly by its rating above 80/100 according to the SCA rating protocol.  This scoring protocol is established by the SCA on several criteria such as:  Aromatic aspects of the coffee ;

• The aromas of the ground coffee during brewing;
• The acidity of the coffee; 
• The body of the coffee;
• The taste profile of the coffee; 
• Sweetness of coffee; 
• etc.

These criteria are analysed during the analysis of the green coffee in the first instance, and then during a standardised tasting, the “cupping”.  After scoring, there are several categories: 

• Exceptional coffees (score 80 +)
• Grand Cru coffees (score 86 +)
• Experienced coffees (score 89 +)

At MaxiCoffee, we have chosen to offer you specialty coffees for each category.

Maxicoffee’s selection of speciality coffees 

THE GRANDS CRUS: THE BEST COFFEES IN THE WORLD

Although the choice is very subjective, there are a few coffee plantations that stand out because of the rarity and taste profile of their coffee. 

Geisha coffee from Panama 

Variety: Geisha This coffee was first and foremost the most expensive coffee in the world in 2018 with a price tag of up to $100 per cup thanks to a 92.5/100 score in the International Barista Championship. Originating in the Gesha region of Ethiopia, its expansion to Panama began in the 1960s.  Sometimes bought even before the harvest, Geisha is known for its cup of coffee with floral and lemon notes, thanks to its production at high altitude (between 1400 m and 1900 m). Its cups are balanced and usually perfect. 

Blue Mountain coffee from Jamaica 

Variety: Bourbon  It has long been considered the best coffee in the world and remains one of the most expensive. It has a surprisingly long finish, with notes of cocoa and little acidity.  Its name comes from the Blue Mountain range and includes only crops from the parishes of Portland, St Andrew, St Thomas and St Mary. This coffee only grows between 900m and 2250m, which guarantees its exceptional quality. Below 900m you will find it under a different name. 

Skybury coffee from Australia

Variety: Bourbon This coffee is derived from the Jamaican Mountain and comes from the Cairns region on the west coast of Australia. It is a fairly recent production, having started in the 1980s.  Its unique taste comes from its “purity“, as it has not been modified by hybridization, which is often the case in the industrialization of crops to increase yield. It is grown sustainably, without chemical fertilisers or pesticides.  Its washing process preserves all the coffee’s aromas by absorbing the small amount of pulp residue left on the beans during washing. In addition, during the roasting process, sweet and chocolatey aromas are released.