SCAA - Specialty Coffee Association of America
American Specialty Coffee Association, named SCAA for short, is the largest coffee trade association in the world and a trade organization focusing on high-quality coffee, and a few people call it "Specialty Coffee Association of America".
SCAA was established in 1982, with more than 3,000 member companies in more than 40 countries around the world, covering all fields of the coffee industry, including coffee growers, coffee roasters, drip bag coffee packing machine manufacturers, and various coffee traders.
SCAA is committed to provide a common platform for the pursuit of the excellent quality of coffee "From seed to cup" and the sustainable development of high-quality coffee, establish coffee quality standards, and regulate the certification standards for coffee professionals. Its main functions include: setting and maintaining coffee quality standards in the coffee industry; conducting research on coffee, coffee equipment and improving coffee craftsmanship; at the same time, the association also provides coffee education, training, resources and business services for its members; The barista evaluation standards determined by SCAA and the barista certificate issued are one of the most authoritative barista certifications in the world.
The Specialty Coffee Association of America holds various coffee exhibitions, coffee seminars and barista championships every year. The association’s annual meeting is held in different cities every spring and is the largest gathering of coffee professionals in the world today. As the world's largest and authoritative coffee trade association, SCAA awards awards to companies and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the coffee industry. These awards include:
Lifetime Achievement Award-Lifetime Achievement;
Special Contribution Award-Distinguished Author;
Outstanding Author/Publisher Award-Outstanding Contribution;
Special Recognition Award (Individual)-Special Recognition;
Sustainability Award-Sustainability Award;
Golden Cup Award (Cafe, Retailer)-Golden Cup Award;
Mose Drachman Sales and Service Award-Mose Drachman Sales and Service Award;
Roasters Guild Coffee of the Year-Roasters Guild Coffee of the Year;
The Best Roasted Coffee Award determined by the Best Roasted Coffee Competition of the Roasters Guild-Roasters Guild Roasters Choice Tasting Competition;
The last two awards are decided by competition.
SCAA has two branches: the Barista Guild of America and the Roasters Guild, both of which are composed of professional coffee practitioners. Through information exchange, skill training and cooperation between members, to improve the quality of coffee in the industry. At the same time, the Coffee Quality Association (CQI) is a charitable trust of SCAA and the largest coffee training and technical assistance provider in the coffee industry.
SCAA certification is highly authoritative. There are only three certified SCAA Cupping Judges (Certified SCAA Cupping Judges), all from the United States; there are currently 521 licensed Q Graders (licensed Q Graders) issued by SCAA in the world, from 18 Among them, Colombia has the most, 161, and Asia has the most, Japan, with 60, while China has not yet.
At the same time, SCAA also provides various certifications for coffee practitioners and coffee companies all over the world, including:
1.Barista Guild of America Certification
It is a professional barista training course with three levels from low to high, Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. Each level has courses and exams, you can take the exam after you finish the course; and if you think you are good enough, you can also register for the exam without taking the course; you will get a certificate after passing the exam.
2.Coffee Brewer Certification
Drip coffee bag packing machine Manufacturers can contact SCAA to apply for certification of their coffee machines. All coffee machines that apply for certification will be sent to SCAA's office center in Long Beach, California for testing. Coffee machines that pass the test can be marked with the certified product logo.
3.Cupping Judges Lab Certification
The laboratories that have passed the certification can be used to teach SCAA coffee tasting committee certification courses.