What is a cupping event?

A cupping event is a gathering at which participants taste a variety of coffee samples. Fair Trade Certified coffee’s high quality flavor is checked through cupping events conducted by farmers to be able to monitor the quality of their coffee beans. Certifiers make sure that the coffee is meeting high standards, and retailers guarantee that the Fair Trade coffee on their shelves is delicious and flavorful.

It’s easy to host a cupping event, and it can be done at home as a friendly gathering, or at the office as a refreshing break. Make sure that a variety of flavors are available for sampling, that you have enough cups to sample all the coffees, and that you come thirsty and ready for a new, flavorful experience! For instructions on how to host a cupping event, visit CoffeeGeek’s Beginning Cupping Guide.

In 2008, TransFair USA and partners hosted the first-ever Fair Trade Certified cupping competition in Brazil.  The goal of the event was to showcase high quality Fair Trade Certified coffee produced in Brazil and provide Fair Trade Certified licensees access to the best coffees at origin.