Asociación de Cafes Finos de Costa Rica

Quality Certificate

	Mission: To promote the production and consumption of Costa Rica’s specialty coffee.
	Founded in 1993, SCACR was created as a response to the emerging specialty coffee market.
	It is composed of 35 members; producers, millers roasters and exporters of specialty coffee. Composed of cooperatives, transnationals and private sector.
	Its members represent 80% of the coffee exports.
	Develops programs to increase the awareness towards a quality culture.

The Quality Certificate SCACR

	It is a tool used by the members of SCACR to continuously improve their quality.
	It guarantees the consistency of the quality of our product thru the standardization of the milling processes.
	3 years of application, crops 2000/2001, 2001/2002 y 2002/2003, with an internal success.
	It was introduced as a standarization of production and milling processes focused on the harvest at its peak.
	Over 80,000 bags certified.
	8 of the 10 winners at the 2003 Crop of Gold Auction were mills that participated in the Quality Certificate program.
	We have developed it internally and now we are ready to promote it externally.

The Standards

	The standards have been developed by the Quality Certification Committee. It compiles all the specifics of processing high quality coffee at the mills.
	We have reduced all this information into a handy Manual of Instructions for the workers at the mills.
	Independent process of Quality Certificate coffee where each mill has to document every step of the process thus guaranteeing trace ability (ISO9002).

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Critical Steps for Processing Quality Certificate Coffee

	The receiving and measuring of coffee at the mill.
	The measureman cannot receive more than 1% of greens. Possible defect if not applied: Greenish taste in the cup.

	Floats: A maximum 3% of floats and vain beans or others.
	Posible Defects: Low density during the preparation of coffee.

	Depulping: It has to be uniform. Avoid physical damage of the beans, all must be depulped. Well calibrated depulpers.
	Posible Defect: Dirty taste due to sick / broken beans.

	Mechanical Demucilage or Fermentation: Exact time necessary to eliminate the mucilage. Depending on climate and other variables. Must be washed with clean water.
	Posible Defects: Over ferment on the cup.

Predrying and Drying:
Maximum drying temperature 50-55 degrees celsius in the drums. We also recommend patio and stretcher dried coffee.
Each batch is dully cup tested.

Posible Defects: if not dried correctly could develop an oldish flavor too fast. White beans and fungus.

	Storage at Silos: Moisture content: 11 – 11.7% We recommend 4 to 8 weeks of resting period.
	Possible defects: Lost of quality in a short period of time.

Cupping:
The Cupping Committee cups and recommends the Certification Committee for Approval or Disapproval of the lots.
Clean cup, 0 defects. Virtues and characteristics from its region-zone of production.

When the batch of coffee is approved it is Certified by the Specialty Coffee Association of Costa Rica.
The Quality Certificate is sent directly to the final buyer by SCACR.

Quality Certificate Program, Crop 2003-2004

NRO	COMPANY	FANEGAS	BAGS
1	Beneficio Lomas al Rio	2,150	1,147
2	Beneficio Santa Anita	535	285
3	Coopepalmares	2,200	1,173
4	Ceca S.A.	500	267
5	Zalmari	400	213
6	Coopetarrazu	1,100	587
7	Corporación Peters	535	285
8	F.J. Orlich	2,437	1,300
9	Coopronaranjo R.L.	1,075	573
10	Beneficio Las Chucaras	375	200
11	Coopelibertad	1,607	857
12	Beneficio Santa Eduviges	1,071	571
13	Coopedota	480	256
14	Hacienda Juan Viñas	535	285
15	Coopeatenas	2,500	1,333
	Total	17,500	9,333

Quality Certificate Program, Crop 2004-2005

NRO	COMPANY	FANEGAS	BAGS
1	Beneficio Santa Eduviges	300	160
2	Cafetalera Lomas al Rio	2,150	1,147
3	Coopronaranjo	535	285
4	Coopeatenas	1,000	533
5	F.J. Orlich	2,150	1,147
6	Coopelibertad	3,429	1,829
7	Coopedota R.L.	535	285
8	Coopetarrazu R.L.	535	285
	Total	1,0634	5,671

Quality Certificate Program, Crop 2005-2006

NRO	COMPANY	FANEGAS	BAGS
1	Beneficio Santa Eduviges	485	226
2	Beneficio Santa Anita	400	187
3	Coopeatenas	1000	467
4	F.J. Orlich	1070	499
5	Coopelibertad	2206	1,029
6	Café Altura San Ramon	1000	467
7	Zalmari	400	187
8	Cafetalera Lomas al Rio	1000	467
9	Coopedota	535	250
10	Coopetarrazu	535	250
11	Coopronaranjo	1000	467
12	Volcafé Jorco	535	250
	Total	10166	4,744

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