In the last installment of a three-part series, JENN RUGOLO offers tips on how to familiarize yourself with the concepts and workflow of CVA, including suggestions about how to teach and implement the assessments in your workplace.

In this second instalment of a three-part series, LAUREL CARMICHAEL shares stories from industry leaders about the ways the CVA’s Affective Assessment has created space for our industry’s increasingly diverse preferences.  

In this first instalment of a three-part series, LAUREL CARMICHAEL shares stories from industry leaders about the ways the CVA’s Descriptive Assessment has become an insightful and powerful tool for their work.  

The 2025 SCA France Chapter Election has started! That means that it’s time to make your voice heard by nominating and voting for the volunteer committee who will be leading the chapter's activities for the next two years. 

Step into the premier platform to connect with key markets, showcase new products, build lasting partnerships, and drive your sales to new heights. Located in the heart of Europe, World of Coffee draws coffee professionals from across the continent and beyond.

The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) is thrilled to announce its flagship North American Specialty Coffee Expo will take place in Houston, TX at the George R. Brown Convention Center, April 25–27, 2025. This extraordinary gathering will welcome more than 17,000 attendees from 85 countries, showcasing the best in coffee innovation, culture, and sustainability as well as several networking opportunities supporting the commerce side of the trade business. Proudly supported by Title Sponsor Middleby Coffee Solutions Group, Diamond Sponsor Sanremo Coffee Machines and Platinum Sponsor Pacific Barista Series. Coffees from Peru will be featured as the Portrait Country with unique cultural activations, and a pop-up café experience.

We are pleased to announce that the SCA Ireland Chapter has successfully formed a new committee to continue its important work within the community.

Following a preliminary release in June, the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) is proud to announce the adoption of three Coffee Value Assessment components as its official cupping standards: SCA-102 Sample Preparation and Cupping Mechanics, SCA-103 Descriptive Assessment, and SCA-104 Affective Assessment. These standards, approved by the SCA Standards Development Panel, supersede the 2004 Cupping Protocol and Form, advancing the SCA’s comprehensive approach to coffee evaluation. Use these free resources in your cupping practice at sca.coffee/value-assessment

As presented to SCA members on August 30, the SCA Board of Directors, led by President Pamela Chng, nominated a group of seven professionals from a pool of dozens who responded to our annual call for nominations made in June. As the number of candidates this year is equal to the number of open seats, there is no need to proceed with a voting process, and the SCA Board has confirmed the seven professionals listed below as members of the SCA Board of Directors, in accordance with Section 7.4(f) of the SCA Bylaws.

The Coffee Value Assessment (CVA) for Cuppers Course is a two-day, immersive professional development experience tailored specifically for coffee cuppers and other sensory professionals.

After valuable input from 800 Early Adopters, community groups, and various industry stakeholders, we are progressing to the next phase of the SCA Coffee Value Assessment—the tool the global industry uses to discover value in coffee!

If you’ve been following along with the SCA’s project to evolve the 2004 cupping system into a Coffee Value Assessment, there’s a good chance you’re already aware of the importance of extrinsic, or symbolic, attributes.

The Specialty Coffee Association is the world’s largest coffee membership association, with a sustainability-driven purpose deeply ingrained in its structure as a non-profit trade organization: to make coffee better.

SARAH CHARLES, writer, Communications Officer at the International Trade Centre, and author of a recent dissertation on mandatory supply chain due diligence, outlines the history, opportunities, and challenges of regulatory sustainability approaches while offering a path forward for coffee businesses grappling with the shift from a voluntary to a regulatory approach.

Neuroscientist Dr. FABIANA CARVALHO shares the recent results of a Coffee Science Foundation study, supported by Savor Brands Inc., to understand how packaging color influences consumer behavior.

Economists DAVIDE DEL PRETE and ROCCO MACCHIAVELLO recently completed a literature review of sustainability interventions for the Coffee Science Foundation; here, with PETER GIULIANO, they summarize its findings.

Cognitive psychologist BENTE KLEIN HAZEBROEK and language professor ILJA CROIJMANS explore the role and construction of coffee’s linguistic descriptions—those flavor notes and descriptions across coffee packaging and websites!—in a consumer’s willingness to pay.

The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) is delighted to announce that the Aarke Coffee Maker has been awarded the SCA Certified Home Brewer mark. In a crowded and competitive market, the SCA Certified Home Brewer mark helps consumers find and choose the best coffee makers, backed by the science and experience of the Specialty Coffee Association.

Step into the premier platform to connect with key markets, showcase new products, build lasting partnerships, and drive your sales to new heights. Located in the heart of Europe, World of Coffee draws coffee professionals from across the continent and beyond.

The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) is delighted to announce that the Aiden Precision Coffee Maker by Fellow has been awarded the SCA Certified Home Brewer mark. In a crowded and competitive market, the SCA Certified Home Brewer mark helps consumers find and choose the best coffee makers, backed by the science and experience of the Specialty Coffee Association.

The SCA is excited to announce the very first Intro to Cupping Workshop – a beginner-friendly and inclusive experience designed to familiarize anyone without cupping experience to the foundational practices of cupping and sensory analysis.

We're thrilled to announce the dates and locations for the 2025 World Coffee Championships (WCC) Judge Certification events! If you're passionate about the World Coffee Championships and ready to take the next step to become a WCC Certified Judge, mark your calendars for these upcoming events in Dubai, Malaysia, Jakarta and Milan in 2025.

The Specialty Coffee Association is delighted to release updated Rules & Regulations for the 2025 World Latte Art (WLAC), World Coffee in Good Spirits (WCIGS), World Cup Tasters (WCTC) and Cezve/Ibrik (CIC) Championships Rules & Regulations.  The updated rules and scoresheets follow the 2025 World Coffee Roasting Championships and World Brewers Cup Rules and Regulations announced last month. The updated Rules & Regulations will be used at the at the 2025 World Latte Art, World Coffee in Good Spirits, World Cup Tasters and Cezve/Ibrik Championships at World of Coffee Geneva, from June 26-28, 2025.  

The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) is proud to announce that the Mr. Coffee Perfect Brew Intelligent Multi-Beverage Brewer has been awarded the SCA Certified Home Brewer mark. In a crowded and competitive market, the SCA Certified Home Brewer mark helps consumers find and choose the best coffee makers, backed by the science and experience of the Specialty Coffee Association.  

The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) is thrilled to announce its flagship North American Specialty Coffee Expo will take place in Houston, TX at the George R. Brown Convention Center, April 25–27, 2025. This extraordinary gathering will welcome more than 17,000 attendees from 85 countries, showcasing the best in coffee innovation, culture, and sustainability as well as several networking opportunities supporting the commerce side of the trade business. Proudly supported by Title Sponsor Middleby Coffee Solutions Group, Diamond Sponsor Sanremo Coffee Machines and Platinum Sponsor Pacific Barista Series. Coffees from Peru will be featured as the Portrait Country with unique cultural activations, and a pop-up café experience.