The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) isa trade association built on foundation of openness, inclusivity, and the power of shared knowledge. SCA’s purpose is to faster global coffee communities to support activities to make coffee a more sustainable, equitable, and thriving activity for the whole value chain. From coffee farmers to barista and roasters, our membership spans the globe, encompassing every element of the coffee value chain. the SCA acts as a unifying force within the specialty coffee industry and works coffee better by raising standards worldwide through a collaborative and progressive approach. Dedicated to building an industry that is fair, sustainable, and nurturing for all, the SCA draws on years of insights and inspiration from specialty coffee community.

The Coffee Skills Program (CSP)

The Coffee Skills Program consists of five full modules and one stand-alone, introductory course. The modules are Barista Skills, Brewing, Green Coffee, Roasting and Sensory Skills. Each module consists of three progressive courses titled Foundation, Intermediate and Professional. Learners choose which modules and courses are most appropriate for their educational needs.

Introduction To Coffee is a popular course that is authorised for delivery by every AST. In this course, learners are introduced to specialty coffee and the broad topics that could be explored through the other the modules. This is typically a 4-6 hour course and does not include a practical exam.

Foundation courses are typically equivalent to a one-day course. Intermediate courses are typically equivalent to a 2-3 day course. Professional courses are typically equivalent to 3-4 day courses. These courses can also be held over several meeting periods depending on the design of the AST’s lesson plan and agreement with learners.

SCA Coffee Diploma

The SCA Coffee Diploma is exclusive to the Coffee Skills Program and is awarded to those learners who have earned 100 or more points with CSP courses. Each of the CSP courses has a point value toward the SCA Coffee Diploma. The program is structured in a way that encourages learners to pursue a well-rounded coffee education on a variety of topics within the industry. Once a learner has achieved eligibility, they may apply for the SCA Coffee Skills Diploma in the Education menu at sca.coffee. The application form can be found under Education at sca.coffee. The points awarded at each level are listed below:

• Introduction to Coffee : 10 points
• Foundation course : 5 points
• Intermediate course : 10 points
• Professional course : 25 points