Coffee Certification: SCA-centric

Coffee Certification: SCA-centric

Coffee is one of the world's most popular beverages, enjoyed by hundreds of millions of people every day. However, it is not easy to understand the quality and origin of coffee and become a professional barista or judge. Fortunately, there is an organization dedicated to promoting and improving the standards and skills of the global coffee industry - the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA).

What is SCA?

SCA was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in California, USA. It was formed by the merger of two independent organizations - the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) and the European Specialty Coffee Council (EBC). The new organization aims to unify the recognition of specialty coffee quality, sustainability and expertise worldwide.

As a nonprofit organization, SCA supports its mission through training, certification, research and events. It has more than 10,000 members, including everyone from farmers to suppliers to consumers.

SCA Certification

SCA's certification is one of the most respected and widely accepted certifications in the coffee industry. It offers certification in a number of different areas, including barista, taster, buyer and roaster.

Barista certification is one of the most well-known certifications of SCA. This program covers a full range of training from basic knowledge to advanced skills, including coffee varieties, roasting process, extraction methods, etc. By attending training courses and passing exams, trainees can obtain different levels of barista qualifications.

In addition, SCA offers certification in two professional fields: tasters, who are responsible for evaluating and describing the taste characteristics of coffee and scoring them according to international standards, and buyers, who are responsible for selecting high-quality sustainable coffee beans.

SCA Activities and Resources

In addition to providing professional training and certification, SCA also regularly organizes various events to promote industry exchanges and cooperation. The most famous and highly watched event is the annual World Coffee Competition.

The World Coffee Championship is a global competition that attracts top baristas from different countries and regions. This competition covers different areas, including latte art, cupping skills and brewing techniques. Through this competition, SCA provides a platform for baristas around the world to showcase their skills and innovative power.

In addition, SCA provides a variety of resources to support industry development. It publishes reports on the latest research, trends and standards, and regularly organizes special lectures and workshops.

The impact of SCA on the global coffee industry

SCA plays an important role in driving global awareness of the quality and sustainability of specialty coffee. It promotes greater professionalism in the industry by setting standards, providing training and certifying relevant personnel.

In addition, SCA encourages sustainable development practices and promotes fair trade principles. It works with farmers to promote sustainable agricultural practices in the production process to ensure the long-term sustainability of the coffee industry.

In short, SCA plays an important role as a global coffee industry organization and certification body. It improves the professional level of baristas and related personnel through training, certification and activities, and promotes industry standards and sustainable development.