First sustainable coffee tasting event held.

Members of the coffee trade and press joined the Rainforest Alliance recently to watch renowned coffee cuppers participate in the first sustainable coffee cupping event, "Cupping for Quality." The event, which was held at the French Culinary Institute of New York, brought attention to the growing amount of Rainforest Alliance Certified "sustainable coffees" which have been gaining in popularity in the U.S. market thanks to a broadening interest in higher quality beans with a social conscience. Analogous to a wine tasting, a diverse variety of fine sustainable coffees were represented from countries such as Colombia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama and Mexico.

Ted Lingle, executive director of the Specialty Coffee Association of America, who presided as head judge of the event, and spoke about the intricacies of the coffee cupping competition and guided the audience through the cupping process. Another featured speaker was Tensie Whelan, executive director of the Rainforest Alliance, who gave an update of the Rainforest Alliance's coffee program and introduced the cupping panel.

Judges tasted, scored and evaluated the coffees for flavor, body, aroma and acidity profiles. Cuppers included: Mary J. Williams, senior advisor, Starbucks Coffee Company; Becky McKinnon, president, Timothy's Coffees of the World; Linda P. Smithers, chairman, Susan's Coffee & Tea; Deb Randall Crowther, green coffee buyer, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters; Martin Diedrich, founder and chief coffee officer, Diedrich Coffee; Karen Cerebos, founder and president, Elan Organic Coffees, Karen Gordon, specialty coffee department, Coffee Holding Company; Steven Colten, vice president, Atlantic Inc., Alan Nietlisbach, managing partner, Volcafe Specialty Coffee; Shawn Hamilton, v.p. production operations and green coffee buyer, Java City; and Chad Trewick, director of coffee and tea, Caribou Coffee Company, Inc.

The mission of the Rainforest Alliance is to protect ecosystems and the people and wildlife that live within them by implementing better business practices for biodiversity conservation and sustainability. Currently, 7% of all ethical coffee in trade is Rainforest Alliance certified.