"What is a good cup of coffee?"

It's a simple question. But when Leslie, Head of Impact and Transition at Belco, asked it on the first morning, it reframed everything that followed. Is it sustainable? What does it provide for the people who produce it? How does it impact the farmer, the roaster, the supplier, the customer, the environment? It's easy to take your morning cup for granted. Two days in Bordeaux made that a lot harder to do.

Seamless

I was very grateful for the opportunity to travel to beautiful Bordeaux and spend a couple of days with the Belco team at their HQ cupping unique coffee from around the world. This is an annual event they have been running for around 10 years and you could tell it was a well-oiled machine. Everything ran seamlessly, and they made you feel very comfortable straight away. We were greeted each morning with a beautiful breakfast buffet and plenty of filter coffee to set us up for the day.

First, we met with everyone in their impressive warehouse which introduced us to the Belco team and outlined the plan for the coming days. This is where Leslie stepped in - that really set the tone for the event, which was further highlighted when we heard directly from farmers and engineers from the different regions Belco works with.

Quality, etiquette and sourcing

Denis, Head of Quality and Training, emphasised good cupping etiquette. Since we would be trying many different coffees, efficient tasting was very important especially with so many people involved. Jean, the director of coffee sourcing, spoke about how the market has changed a lot recently and emphasised that adaptability and strong relationships are important considerations for everyone in the coffee industry.

We split into our groups and cupped coffees from multiple origins, including India, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Uganda and Panama. All were different processes and varieties. Tasting the wide variety of flavours speciality coffee offers was an eye-opening experience that gave me an appreciation for what each origin can offer with its unique flavour characteristics.

Teamwork, passion and mission

It was interesting to see the entire Belco team helping the cupping sessions run smoothly. People from all departments got involved, showing how many people work behind the scenes at Belco. Meeting them and watching them pull together again emphasised how many people are involved in the chain, from the coffee's country of origin to your morning brew. While chatting with and listening to other coffee professionals I heard firsthand how the volatile coffee market and economic factors have directly impacted people working in this industry. You could see how hard people have been working to find solutions to difficult problems and the event was a great way for people to support each other.

Every cup has a chain of people behind it. Spending two days in Bordeaux made that chain feel a lot shorter, and a lot more human. Attending this event was a fantastic and very special experience. I'd like to extend a massive thank you to the Belco team for their generous hospitality and warm welcome and also to Cloud Picker for sending me out for the two days to further expand my coffee knowledge.

Ben