ALISO VIEJO, Calif. – Qahwa World
Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) recognized their Educator of the Year at their recent thirtieth anniversary luncheon in San Diego. Javier Hoyos Garcia of Colombia has been selected as the 2026 recipient.
“Educators are the unsung heroes in CQI’s work and enable our small organization to have an outsized impact,” said Coffee Quality Institute CEO Michael Sheridan. “We develop the curriculum, and recruit, train, and certify distinguished coffee professionals to deliver it. Even among the very impressive ranks CQI educators, Javier really stood out over the past year.”
Hoyos García has dedicated much of his life to education as both an agronomist and a university professor. He began his work as a CQI Instructor in 2019. He has trained more than 1,000 students, contributing significantly to the development of coffee professionals across Colombia in different areas including post-harvest processing. In addition to his teaching roles, he serves as CEO of TECNiCAFE (Technological Innovation Park for Coffee), a leading training campus located in the department of Cauca, Colombia.
“What I value most is being able to share what I know with people who need it. It’s incredible how much you can influence or impact people’s lives by sharing knowledge, best practices, experience, and technical understanding, stated Hoyos Garcia. “The changes real. I hope to continue expanding this impact beyond Colombia. This year, I begin teaching in Peru and Thailand—experiences that truly excite me.”
One example of Hoyos Garcia’s impact in 2025 was his commitment to deliver training for four hundred women from Cauca, Colombia, in fermentation practices that strengthen quality and consistency in coffee processing. Participants are part of the EntreAmigos network and represent various farmer organizations across the region. Each has received a scholarship through the CQI Global Coffee Fund, and upon completion, a CQI certificate.
“It is a privilege to recognize Javier Hoyos García for the passion and dedication he brings to his work every day, both with CQI and throughout his career. This recognition highlights his trajectory, discipline, and commitment to teaching, sharing, and guiding others. Javier leads through education; something that is not just what he does, but a genuine and constant expression of who he is. It is an honor to celebrate our incredible instructors, and in this case, a professional like Javier,” said CQI Senior Post-Harvest Program Manager, Yimara Martínez Agudelo.
Through his work in post-harvest processing education, Hoyos Garcia has not only strengthened individual’s coffee skills—he has restored confidence, opened opportunities, and transformed lives. His impact is felt not just in the quality of coffee, but in the people behind it.
About Coffee Quality Institute
CQI is a non-profit that works globally to improve the quality of coffee and the lives of the people who produce it. For thirty years, CQI has trained people who produce and process coffee in more than thirty coffee-growing countries around the world.
