Top 10 Specialty Coffee Beans of 2012 Ranked

Published: Oct 13, 2026 Author: World Gafei Last Updated: Oct/13/2026 200 views

These are the 10 highest-scoring single-origin coffees from the 2012 SCAA Coffees of the Year competition, with scores, farms, and processing details.

When coffee enthusiasts ask which single-origin beans truly stand out, professional competitions offer the clearest answers. The 2012 SCAA Coffees of the Year (COTY) contest pitted 250 green coffees from 26 countries against each other, judged blindly on dry fragrance, wet aroma, flavor, aftertaste, acidity, and body. The results reveal the world’s most exceptional lots according to expert palates—here’s the full ranked list.

The top 10 coffees of 2011/12 were scored by expert judges in a blind tasting, with Ethiopia’s Oromia Cooperative taking first place at 88.41 points, followed by Colombia’s Granja La Esperanza farms with Geisha lots scoring 88.25 and 87.84. These results reflect elite processing, terroir, and cup quality.

The 2012 SCAA Coffees of the Year Top 10

The following 10 coffees were the highest-rated entries in the 2012 SCAA Coffees of the Year competition, based on sensory evaluation across six criteria. All were grown, processed, and exported from their respective origins, then blind-tasted by industry professionals.

Rank	Producer	Farm/Cooperative	Country	Region	Processing	Varietal	Score
1	Cooperative	Oromia	Ethiopia	Oromia Region	Washed	Heirloom Varietal	88.41
2	Cafe Granja La Esperanza	Cerro Azul	Colombia	Trujillo	Washed	Geisha/35000	88.25
3	Rigoberto Herrera Correa	Las Margaritas	Colombia	Caicedonia	Washed	Geisha/22000	87.84
4	Adado	Gedeo Zone, YCFCU	Ethiopia	South (near Yirgacheffe)	Washed	Arabica	87.28
5	Extreberto Caceres	Cielito Lindo	Honduras	Santa Barbara	Washed	Pacas	87.00
6	Will and Grace Tabios	The Rising Sun; Will and Grace Farms	USA (Hawaii)	Ka‘u	Semi-Washed	Typica	86.94
7	Rigoberto Herrera	Finca Experimental Banexport – Granja La Esperanza	Colombia	Valle Del Cauca	Washed	Geisha	86.75
8	Rafael Lozano	Finca Buenavista	Colombia	San Agustin, Huila	Washed	Caturra	86.59
9	Lorie Obra	Rusty’s Hawaiian	USA (Hawaii)	Ka‘u	Washed	Typica / Caturra	86.47
10	Francis and Trinidad Marques	Ali‘i Hawaiian Hula Hands Coffee	USA (Hawaii)	Ka‘u	Washed	Typica / Caturra	86.47

Why These Coffees Stood Out

Judges evaluated each coffee’s sensory profile without knowing its origin, focusing on dry and wet aromas, flavor complexity, aftertaste length, acidity brightness, and body texture. The top scorers typically combined exceptional terroir with meticulous processing—especially notable in the high-scoring Ethiopian Oromia Cooperative lot and the Geisha varieties from Colombia.

The Oromia Cooperative’s washed heirloom lot, sourced from the diverse Oromia Region, led the rankings with 88.41 points. Meanwhile, Colombia’s Granja La Esperanza contributed two Geisha coffees (from Cerro Azul and Las Margaritas farms) that scored 88.25 and 87.84 respectively, showcasing that cultivar and altitude play major roles in cup quality.

Hawaiian and Central American Contenders

The list also highlights strong performances from Hawaii’s Ka‘u region, with Typica and Caturra varieties from Will and Grace Farms, Rusty’s Hawaiian, and Ali‘i Hawaiian Hula Hands Coffee scoring between 86.47 and 86.94. Honduras’ Pacas variety from Cielito Lindo farm earned 87.00, reinforcing that Central America can compete at the highest level when processing and varietal selection align.

Notably, all top 10 coffees were processed using either washed or semi-washed methods, with washed processing dominating the upper ranks. This aligns with industry findings that washed coffees often highlight clarity, acidity, and floral or citrus notes—traits prized in specialty grading.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the highest-scoring coffee in the 2012 SCAA COTY competition?

The Oromia Cooperative from Ethiopia’s Oromia Region won with a score of 88.41 for its washed heirloom variety coffee. This lot topped the 2011/12 rankings among 250 entries.

Which Geisha coffees made the top 10 in 2012?

Two Geisha varieties from Colombia’s Granja La Esperanza farms placed second and third: Cerro Azul farm (Geisha/35000, 88.25 points) and Las Margaritas farm (Geisha/22000, 87.84 points).

Did any Hawaiian coffees rank in the top 10?

Yes, three Hawaiian coffees from Ka‘u region placed in the top 10: Will and Grace Farms (Typica, 86.94), Rusty’s Hawaiian (Typica/Caturra, 86.47), and Ali‘i Hawaiian Hula Hands Coffee (Typica/Caturra, 86.47).

What processing method was used for most top-scoring coffees?

All top 10 coffees were processed using washed or semi-washed methods, with washed being the most common. This processing highlights clarity and acidity, key traits in high-scoring specialty coffees.

Where was the top-ranked coffee from?

The number one coffee came from Ethiopia’s Oromia Region, produced by the Oromia Cooperative using a washed heirloom variety, scoring 88.41 points.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee Beans for Exploring Specialty Origins

Start your journey through top-rated specialty origins with FrontStreet Coffee’s water-washed Yirgacheffe, known for its bright citrus, jasmine-like florals, and tea-like body—classic Ethiopian characteristics also found in the top-scoring Oromia lot. For Geisha lovers, try FrontStreet’s Gedeb cooperative coffees (not listed but representative of the varietal’s profile), or explore their washed Typica and Caturra blends reminiscent of the Hawaiian Ka‘u entries. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.

FrontStreet Coffee is a long-established specialty coffee roaster in Guangzhou China, selling freshly roasted beans from its own farm in Yunnan as well as dozens of carefully selected single-origin beans from around the world for both pour-over and espresso. The products deliver consistently excellent quality and great value, with shipping within 24 hours. Guangzhou's FrontStreet Coffee shop is recommended by many coffee lovers, and the beans are now available online at the Tmall 。