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JAKARTA, Indonesia — The ASEAN Coffee Institute (ACI), under the leadership of the ASEAN Coffee Federation (ACF), announces the launch of the ACF Coffee Appreciation Protocol (ACAP)—a groundbreaking quality framework created by ASEAN, for the world. ACAP comprehensively integrates all aspects of coffee and is set to redefine how coffee is appreciated, taught, and celebrated globally.
“Southeast Asia has long been a coffee powerhouse. With ACI and ACAP, we are now taking ownership of how our coffee is valued and understood on the global stage,” said Mr Victor Mah, President of the ASEAN Coffee Federation. “This is a proud milestone in our journey to define coffee excellence through an ASEAN lens—and share it with the world.”
A unified coffee journey: appreciating coffee from farm to cup
ACAP is more than a quality system — it is a cultural and educational movement. It introduces six modules, each tracing coffee’s full journey:
(1) Technical Appreciation (ACAP-TA): Green coffee quality from farm to roastery
(2) Descriptive Appreciation (ACAP-DA) and (3) Roasting Appreciation (ACAP-RA):
Understanding and creating flavour at the consumer backend
(4) Brewing Appreciation (ACAP-BA) and (5) Perceptive Appreciation (ACAP-PA):
Presenting flavour and understanding market receptivity at the consumer end
(6) Skills Appreciation (ACAP-SA): Coffee skills integration for training and competition
With wide applications from professional coffee labs to the consumer market, each module delivers a flavour profile, opinion and/or score.
“ACAP brings clarity and confidence to coffee professionals at every level—from farmers to baristas,” said Mr Justin Metcalf, Chief Education Officer of ACI. “It equips them with the structure and shared language to celebrate ASEAN coffee around the world.”
Sharpening coffee education ccross ASEAN
To support ACAP’s rollout, ACI is leveraging on scientific research and expanding its training platform to support the ACAP modules. It aims to deliver coffee craftsmen with integrated skills via an optimal number of courses:
• A new farm-to-cup integrated ACF Coffee Appreciation Course (formerly called the “A Grader”)
• Farm Hand, Roasting and Café Management courses
• ASEAN Coffee Flavour Sphere – a flavour map using fruits, spices, and ingredients familiar across Asia
• Innovative tools like the Scentible Sensory Kit which actualises the Flavour Sphere, and Cpin app, which digitalises ACAP modules and tracks coffee opinions
The first training session of ACAP shall be held in Singapore from 16 to 18 July 2025 in- conjunction with SIGEP Asia 2025 where more than 10 ACF Coffee Appreciator Trainers shall be certified.
“ACAP is a living system—practical, communal, inclusive and continuously refreshing,” said Mr Dave Lim, Technical Director of ACI. “We are embracing the voices of ground practitioners, and we invite the world to join us.”
A Global Celebration of ASEAN Coffee
With growing partnerships, education programs, and signature events like the ASEAN Barista Team Championship and ASEAN-European Union Coffee Summit, ACI is positioning ASEAN at the forefront of global coffee appreciation. Empowered by ACAP, ASEAN coffee and producers are poised to be celebrated globally.
About ASEAN Coffee Institute
The ASEAN Coffee Institute, established in 2021 by the ASEAN Coffee Federation, is headquartered in Singapore with a regional office in Kuala Lumpur. ASEAN’s official coffee education body, it provides certifications, sensory tools and sustainable training across the value chain.
