The Alliance for Coffee Excellence Suspends the 2026 Cup of Excellence Taiwan, ACE and Cup of Excellence Taiwan Issue Statements – CoffeeTalk

The Alliance for Coffee Excellence has released the following statement announcing the suspension of the 2026 Cup of Excellence Taiwan:

The Alliance for Coffee Excellence (ACE) remains committed to supporting Taiwanese coffee producers and the continued growth of Taiwanese specialty coffee on the international stage.

Over the past several years, Cup of Excellence Taiwan has helped introduce exceptional Taiwanese coffees to buyers around the world. We are grateful to the producers, volunteers, buyers, sponsors, and partner organizations whose efforts helped build the program and support Taiwan’s coffee community.

As Cup of Excellence programs continue to grow internationally, ACE believes it is important that long-term governance structures include broad participation, clear communication, shared responsibility, and strong representation from across the coffee community. This includes producers, specialty coffee associations, public institutions, and industry leaders working together through a producer-focused steering committee structure.

Throughout this process with Taiwan, many conversations were held and several ideas were explored regarding the future organization of Cup of Excellence Taiwan. While meaningful efforts were made along the way, ACE ultimately believes more time is needed to build a structure that reflects wider industry participation and long-term alignment around the shared mission of serving Taiwanese coffee producers.

Our hope is that this work will allow Cup of Excellence Taiwan to return in 2027 with a stronger foundation, broader industry support, and a governance structure that can serve producers and the Taiwanese coffee community well into the future.

After ongoing discussions and internal review regarding the future structure of the program, ACE has decided to pause Cup of Excellence Taiwan 2026 while we take time to work alongside Taiwan’s specialty coffee industry toward a broader and more sustainable organizational model for the future.

This pause is not intended to diminish the important work that has already been accomplished. Rather, it is an opportunity to strengthen the foundation for the future and to help ensure that Cup of Excellence Taiwan can continue in a way that is stable, transparent, collaborative, and producer-centered for years to come.

We are making every effort to ensure that Cup of Excellence Taiwan will return in 2027 with a stronger foundation, broader industry support, and a governance structure that can serve producers and the Taiwanese coffee community well into the future.

ACE remains optimistic about the future of Taiwanese specialty coffee and looks forward to continuing conversations with partners across Taiwan as we work toward the next chapter together.

We sincerely thank the Taiwanese coffee community for its continued support, dedication, and belief in the value of excellence in coffee.

Following the announcement, Cup of Excellence Taiwan released the following statement:

Since 2021, Taiwan Coffee Laboratory (TCL) has collaborated with Alliance for Coffee Excellence (ACE) to organize and host international competitions and auctions, through which Taiwanese coffee proved its quality in more than 20 countries worldwide with a total cumulative auction weight of 4,165 kg and an average price of NT$5,760 per kilogram in a single event. This incredible achievement belongs to our coffee producers, our local and international buyers, our sponsors, and every volunteer who assisted with the competitions or their promotion. We salute you for putting Taiwan onto the map of coffee origins! 

However, Taiwanese coffee now faces challenges from abroad. Since January, ACE has demanded the suspension of Cup of Excellence Taiwan on five separate occasions. In response to ACE demands and to advocate for the program’s continuation, TCL presented industry data, agricultural analysis, and protocol explanations. In the U.S. and Thailand, TCL twice appealed directly to the ACE Executive Director on behalf of Taiwanese producers. Even as the spirit of collaboration between ACE and TCL worsened and the conditions for the program’s continuation constantly shifted, we never once stopped fighting for Taiwan to compete internationally under its own name. Regrettably, we were ultimately unable to sway ACE’s desire to suspend the competition. 

Although we once again face seemingly insurmountable odds, our efforts over the past five years were not in vain, and Taiwanese coffee’s journey abroad does not end here. TCL has already begun preparations for a new competition and auction, securing the support of key international partners. The new event will be tailored to the state of Taiwan’s coffee industry, adopting a diverse, transparent, and Taiwan–led approach. This initiative aims to sustain the value of the origin and the trust of international buyers, thereby continuing to highlight the brilliance of Taiwanese specialty coffee on the world stage. We hope you will join us on this exciting new adventure.