Top 10 and awards day has arrived. Schedule for today is just the 1 cupping session - of the top 10 ranked coffees with a discussion following.

Some very distinctive coffees on the final table of the competition. Coffee number 9 on the table was a stand out for me.....very fruit laden and with such clarity and sweetness. I had some others on the table that scoring really high also....spicy, floral and deep, rich flavours and aftertaste....a great finish to an amazing week.

In the afternoon, just before the awards ceremony, we had an opportunity to meet with the farmers who's coffees had been selected for the international jury phase....a great time talking with them about their farms, El Salvador coffee and our businesses and respective markets at home.

As I experienced last year in Costa Rica, the awards ceremony was a celebration of El Salvador coffee, along with the special occasion of this COE being the 10th Anniversary of El Salvadors involement in the programme.

Ernesto Menendez was shocked, elated and emotional when his lot submitted from Finca Las Brumas collected 1st place and a Presidential Award for a score of over 90. Ernesto is a producer with 4 farms and each has placed in previous Cup of Excellence years, with La Illusion coming 1st in 2008.

I was able to celebrate with Fernando Duch who represents Finca La Nueva....this year they gained another Cup of Excellence award with 15th place. Fernando and I met earlier in the week and I let him know we were roasting his COE winning lot from last years competition, which he and his father were really excited about. Another of Feranandos farms, Fatima collected a COE Award and placed in the top 10.

A great finish to an outstanding week in El Salvador.