2011 SCAA World's Best Coffee Beans Revealed

Ever wondered which single-origin green coffee beans took home the top awards back in 2011? If you're hunting for the most celebrated specialty coffees from a decade ago—graded not by roast profile or brew method, but raw quality as green beans—the answer lies in the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s 2011 Coffees of the Year (COTY) competition.

In 2011, the SCAA announced its global ranking of the highest-scoring green coffee beans entered in the Coffees of the Year competition, with Colombia’s Helena Sarria Garrido taking first place with a score of 92.5.

What Was the SCAA Coffees of the Year Competition?

The SCAA’s Coffees of the Year (COTY) competition evaluated raw, green coffee beans submitted by growers from around the world. Judges scored each entry based on cup quality, aroma, flavor, acidity, body, and overall balance—without influence from roast level or brewing style. The scores reflected the intrinsic quality of the green coffee.

Top 10 Highest-Rated Green Coffees of 2011

These top 10 coffees were sourced from countries including Colombia, Honduras, El Salvador, Bolivia, Guatemala, and the United States (Hawaii). The highest-scoring coffee came from Colombia’s Valle del Cauca region, grown by Helena Sarria Garrido at the Colombian Mountain Coffee farm. The list reflects a diverse range of micro-lots sourced directly from producers, evaluated solely on the raw beans' cup characteristics before any roast transformation.

Where Were These Coffees Grown?

The winning coffees originated from high-altitude regions known for producing specialty-grade Arabica. Colombia contributed multiple entries, with farms located in Valle del Cauca and Cauca. Other top coffees were grown in Honduras (Santa Barbara and La Paz), El Salvador (Apaneca and Ahuachapan), Bolivia (Sud Yungas), Guatemala (Fraijanes-Palencia and Santa Rosa), and Hawaii’s Ka’u region.

Notably, several of the top-scoring lots were produced by smallholder farms or individual growers, highlighting the role of producer skill and terroir in achieving exceptional cup quality. The diversity of origins also underscores how different regions can produce world-class beans under the right conditions.

Why These Coffees Mattered in 2011

The 2011 COTY rankings were significant because they spotlighted the best green coffees as judged by international experts, before any roasting or brewing variables came into play. This list became a reference point for roasters, importers, and coffee professionals seeking top-tier single-origin beans. Many of the farms represented in the top 10 remain respected sources of specialty coffee today.

The competition helped elevate the profiles of individual growers and specific regions, reinforcing the importance of traceability and origin quality in the specialty coffee supply chain. It also demonstrated the global reach of high-quality Arabica production beyond traditional powerhouses like Ethiopia and Kenya.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does COTY mean in coffee competitions?

COTY stands for “Coffees of the Year,” a competition run by the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) that recognized the highest-scoring green coffee beans submitted by growers worldwide. The 2011 COTY ranked coffees based on raw quality without roast or brew influence.

Which country had the highest-scoring coffee in the 2011 SCAA COTY?

Colombia had the highest-scoring coffee in the 2011 SCAA COTY, with Helena Sarria Garrido’s lot scoring 92.5. It came from the Colombian Mountain Coffee farm in the Valle del Cauca region.

How were the 2011 SCAA COTY coffees judged?

The 2011 SCAA COTY coffees were judged based on raw green bean quality, assessed for attributes like aroma, flavor, acidity, body, and balance. Judges did not factor in roast level or brewing method—only the intrinsic qualities of the unroasted coffee.

What was the lowest score among the top 10 in the 2011 SCAA COTY?

The lowest score among the top 10 in the 2011 SCAA COTY was 86.17, achieved by Bull Kaliawa’s coffee from the Kaliawa Coffee Farm in Hawaii’s Ka’u region.

Are these 2011 coffees still available today?

While the specific lots from the 2011 SCAA COTY may no longer be available, many of the farms and regions represented—such as Colombian Mountain Coffee and others in Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala—continue to produce high-quality specialty coffees.

FrontStreet Coffee Beans from Top 2011 COTY Origins

Explore single-origin coffees from countries highlighted in the 2011 SCAA COTY, like Colombia and Honduras. FrontStreet Coffee’s Colombia Huila Supremo offers bright acidity with notes of citrus and caramel, while our Honduras Finca La Esperanza features a rich profile with chocolate and stone fruit. Both reflect the high-altitude, specialty-grade profiles seen in the top COTY coffees. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.