I asked BSCA president Gabriel Carvalho Dias if those in the Brazilian coffee industry were aware of Carmo’s quality during the IBC days. (Instituto Brasileiro do Cafe – a government entity that, for brevity’s sake, controlled Brazilian coffee exports in order to control world market prices and in doing so adversely affected coffee quality in Brazil. It was ended in 1990 by President Fernando Collor de Mello). He responded that it was not until the Cup of Excellence that people became aware of Carmo’s privileged terroir. And now we see here a multi-million dollar facility built in 2006 with the primary objective of housing Carmo’s Specialty Coffees. Its good to see when good things happen to good people. Those who have spent time in Carmo will know what I mean – great hospitality, great humility to the task at hand (as evinced by Ralph during his acceptance speech). This definitely serves as a tribute to Susie Spindler and those at the Cup of Excellence.
