Susie Spindler

Susie Spindler is widely credited with revolutionizing the way high-quality coffee is discovered and valued. As the long-time executive director of the Alliance for Coffee Excellence (ACE), she was the driving force behind the Cup of Excellence (CoE), a competition and auction program that changed the economic landscape for coffee farmers. By creating a platform where the best coffees from a country could be cupped, scored, and sold to the highest bidder, she helped establish the 'microlot' market that defines specialty coffee today.

When asking what is Susie Spindler’s legacy, one must look at the shift in power dynamics within the coffee supply chain. Before the Cup of Excellence, many farmers had little incentive to produce exceptional quality because they were paid the same commodity price regardless of the cup quality. Spindler’s work provided a direct financial reward for excellence, encouraging farmers to invest in better processing, drying, and sorting techniques. This model has since been adopted by numerous countries, creating a global standard for quality assessment.

Spindler’s approach was rooted in the belief that the farmer is the most important link in the coffee chain. She worked tirelessly to ensure that the cupping process was rigorous, transparent, and fair, bringing together international judges to evaluate coffees in a way that was both objective and celebratory. Her leadership helped build a community of professionals who value quality above all else, fostering relationships between producers and roasters that go far beyond simple transactions.

In practice, Spindler’s influence is felt every time a roaster buys a microlot or a consumer enjoys a coffee with a detailed origin story. Her work created the infrastructure for the specialty coffee market to thrive, ensuring that the most dedicated farmers are recognized and compensated for their craft. For anyone involved in the specialty coffee trade, her contributions are a reminder that quality is not just a sensory attribute, but a tool for economic empowerment and industry-wide improvement.