Specialty Coffee Association of America facts for kids
The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) is a big group that brings together people who love and work with high-quality coffee. It's like a club for coffee experts! They help make sure that the coffee you drink is the best it can be, from the farm where it grows to your cup.
The SCA was formed in January 2017. It happened when two older groups, the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) and the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE), joined forces. Now, the SCA has more than 10,000 members from all over the world.
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What is Specialty Coffee?
"Specialty coffee" is a term for the very best coffee beans. These beans are grown in special ways and have unique, amazing flavors. Think of it like comparing a regular apple to a really fancy, delicious apple grown just right.
Experts carefully check specialty coffee beans for their quality. They look at how the coffee tastes, smells, and even how it feels in your mouth. This makes sure you get a truly special coffee experience.
How the SCA Started
Before the SCA, there was the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA). This group started way back in 1982. It was a non-profit organization, meaning it wasn't trying to make money for itself. Instead, it worked to help everyone involved in the high-quality coffee business.
The SCAA had members from over 40 countries. These members included people who grew coffee (producers), people who roasted the beans (roasters), those who bought and sold coffee between countries (importers/exporters), and even the coffee shops where you buy your drink (retailers). They all worked together to make specialty coffee better.
The Big Merger
In January 2017, something exciting happened! The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) decided to team up with a similar group from Europe, the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE). They merged into one big organization called the Specialty Coffee Association, or just SCA.
This merger made the SCA even stronger and more global. Now, it can help coffee lovers and professionals around the world work together more easily. It helps share knowledge and best practices for growing, processing, and enjoying specialty coffee.
What Does the SCA Do?
The SCA does many important things for the world of coffee. Here are some of their main activities:
- Setting Standards: They create rules and guidelines for how specialty coffee should be grown, processed, and brewed. This helps keep the quality high everywhere.
- Education and Training: The SCA offers classes and certifications for people who want to learn more about coffee. This includes baristas, roasters, and even coffee tasters.
- Events and Competitions: They organize big coffee events and competitions, like the World Barista Championship. These events bring coffee professionals together and celebrate amazing coffee skills.
- Research: The SCA supports studies to learn more about coffee plants, how to grow them better, and how to make coffee taste even more delicious.
- Helping the Coffee Community: They work to support everyone in the coffee journey, from the farmers who grow the beans to the people who serve it in cafes. Their goal is to make the coffee industry fair and sustainable for everyone.
The SCA helps make sure that the special coffee you enjoy is produced with care and expertise.
See also
External links
- Specialty Coffee Association website
