Cóndor hosts Maestros Productores specialty coffee competition

Last month, Maestros Productores 2026 microlot competition brought together some of Colombia’s finest specialty coffee offerings. Hosted by our Colombian entity Cóndor Specialty Coffee, the competition included 50 microlots (~27.6 metric tons) from producers across the regions of Huila and Nariño, highlighting the diversity of Colombia's coffee territories.

The competition represents a new generation of specialty coffee initiatives in Colombia, designed to recognise producer excellence, identify exceptional microlots, and connect outstanding coffees from origin with international buyers and coffee professionals. 

An International Perspective on Quality

One of the defining characteristics of Maestros Productores is the participation of an international jury representing leading companies in the specialty coffee sector:

• Atlantic Specialty Coffee, Inc.

• Mercanta Limited

• Condesa PTY Ltd

• Stereoscope Coffee

• Cóndor Specialty Coffee

The participation of professionals from different companies and markets provides an international perspective on coffee quality, bringing together different experiences, market expectations, and approaches to specialty coffee.

The involvement of professional cuppers and specialty coffee professionals from companies across the United States, Europe, Asia, and Oceania further strengthens the international character of the competitions and gives participating coffees exposure to perspectives beyond the traditional origin market.

Coffees Showcasing the Potential of Origin

The competition results demonstrate a strong level of quality. The Top 10 microlots achieved cup scores ranging from 85 to 87.5 points, highlighting the potential of producers in Huila and Nariño to deliver distinctive coffees for the specialty market.

Genetic diversity is another important component of the competitions. Participating coffees include exotic and highly sought-after varieties, such as:

• Rosado: Commonly known as Pink Bourbon or Borbón Rosado, a rare and prized specialty coffee variety distinguished by its rose-pink coffee cherries and complex flavor profile. 

• Geisha: A rare and premium Arabica variety known for its distinctive floral aroma, tea-like body, and exceptional cup quality.

• Bourbon: A premium Arabica plant variety known for its natural sweetness, full body, and rich flavor.

• Pacamara: A premium hybrid Arabica coffee variety known for its very large bean size, richness, and distinctive cup characteristics.

• Caturra: A mutation of the Bourbon coffee variety that produces a bright, clean, and well-balanced cup.

The presence of these varieties, combined with different production and processing approaches, highlights the diversity found within Colombia's coffee-growing territories and creates additional opportunities for differentiation at origin.

Turning Quality into Economic Value

A central objective of Maestros Productores is to ensure that quality recognised in the cup translates into greater economic value for producers. Participating microlots achieved prices ranging from $5.30 to $10.00 USD per pound FOB (Free On Board), demonstrating the commercial value that differentiated, high-quality coffees can generate in international specialty markets.

In addition, approximately $5,400 USD was distributed through second payments to farmers, creating a direct link between the quality achieved by their coffees and additional economic compensation. This mechanism is particularly important because the competition is not only about identifying the best coffees. It is also about demonstrating that investment in quality can generate additional value at origin and provide producers with a greater return for their work.

More Than a Competition

Maestros Productores is designed to go beyond a ranking or awards ceremony. The initiative creates a platform where producers, buyers, roasters, cuppers, and coffee professionals can come together around quality. The competition provides an opportunity to discover new profiles, recognise the work carried out at farm level, and create commercial opportunities for coffees that might otherwise remain unknown to international buyers. In this sense, the competition contributes to a coffee value chain in which producers are not simply suppliers of raw material, but central actors in the creation of value.

Huila and Nariño: Two Origins, One Vision for Specialty Coffee

Huila and Nariño have distinct coffee identities and extraordinary diversity in terms of altitude, microclimates, varieties, production systems, and processing practices. Throughout the event, these characteristics become an opportunity to present international markets with coffees that represent both their territories and the knowledge of the people who produce them.

The results of the competitions demonstrate that Colombia has the capacity not only to produce significant volumes of coffee, but also to develop high-quality, differentiated microlots capable of generating interest among specialty coffee buyers and roasters.

A New Platform for Colombian Specialty Coffee

Maestros Productores stands out as an innovative initiative in Colombia by combining microlot competition, international evaluation, professional cupping expertise, and direct economic value creation for producers.

Ultimately, Maestros Productores is not simply about finding a winner. It is about discovering, recognising, and elevating the people who make exceptional coffee possible at origin. Every microlot tells a story of territory, variety, knowledge, and dedication. The opportunity is to connect those stories with the markets, roasters, and consumers who understand and value what makes Colombian specialty coffee exceptional.