First Kape Dose competition showcases quality of region’s coffee

Backed by the local government and private institutions, with topography and climate suitable for cultivating coffee,  the farmers of Soccsksargen, which comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City, continue to produce the highest volume of coffee in the country. And now, it is looking to stake its claim as the best quality coffee.  

Forty-eight (48) farmers from the region competed in the first-ever Kape Dose Coffee Cupping Competition, organized by the Department of Trade and Industry Region XII, in partnership with Peace and Equity Foundation, Agricultural Cooperative Development International-Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (ACDI-VOCA) under their PhilCAFE Project, Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU), and Sultan Kudarat Coffee Council. 

Eight Q Graders, professional evaluators of green coffee beans, were invited in the green bean grading, roasting, and cupping, held in SKSU Cupping Laboratory. 

Out of the 48 entries, only 29 entries were considered fine and specialty (coffee sample with 80 and above rating) – Robusta (25), Arabica (2), and Excelsa (2).

Best coffee in the region

In the Robusta category, Riann Vonn Basco from the town of Sen. Ninoy Aquino, garnered the first place with 84.33 rating. Agripino Sagayno, from Kalamansig is second with 84.20, while Bonifacio Noces, also from Sen. Ninoy Aquino bagged the third place with 83.96. All of them are from Sultan Kudarat. 

In the Arabica category, Mario Joey Tacan from Polomolok, South Cotabato won the first place with 83.13 rating while Rogelio Giangan from Cotabato got the second place with 80.75.

“This activity will encourage farmers to improve the quality of their coffee and help them tap the potential markets for high-quality coffee that offer premium prices,” PEF Area Officer Shunie Pearl Palacios said. 

The winners will represent the region in the upcoming Philippine Coffee Quality Competition, an annual green coffee competition organized by the Philippine Coffee Guild,  in May 2023. 

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