Today we are announcing the cancellation of the 2021 World of Coffee (WOC) trade show, scheduled to take place in Athens this June, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. We are continuing to pursue an alternative solution for the 2021 World Coffee Championships (WCC), which were to take place at the WOC trade show, and we will have more information on that subject in the coming weeks.

The Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), in collaboration with the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), has launched a new postgraduate Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Coffee Excellence.

The Specialty Coffee Association has launched the SCA Coffee Directory, a new digital platform connecting buyers and sellers in the global coffee industry.

Register now to join us on Wednesday, February 24 for an informational webinar on the application process for professionals interested in becoming Authorized SCA Trainers (ASTs) for the new Coffee Technicians Program.

We are in conversations with our partners, assessing the viability of moving forward with hosting the 2021 WOC and WCC events in Athens this June. Our community and staff's health and safety remain our top priority. We are committed to communicating a firm decision to you regarding these important events by Friday, February 26.

Updated Rules & Regulations have been released for the 2021 Athens World Coffee Championships; the World Barista Championship, World Brewers Cup, World Cup Tasters Championship, and Cezve/Ibrik Championship. You can find the rules now on worldcoffeeevents.org/rules, which are primarily focused on COVID-19-related precautions, which have been introduced to facilitate better logistics for competitors, coaches, judges, and volunteers at the event, hosted at the Specialty Coffee Association World of Coffee Show from June 23-26, 2021.

The 2020 Coffee Technicians Guild slate selection process has come to an end. CTG members have confirmed the slate of six professionals put forward by the CTG Elections Committee and presented to members on November 5.

Barista Guild Leadership Council elections for 2020-2022 are completed with the selection of two new members—Francisco (Paco) Gudiño and Zoey Thorson!

🎉 It’s official! The 2020 Coffee Roasters Guild slate selection process has come to an end. CRG members around the globe have confirmed the slate of five professionals presented on November 5 by the CRG Election Committee, chaired by Past Chair Sonja Björk Grant.

We are excited to announce our newly expanded annual awards program, the SCA Awards, recognizing excellence in product innovation, design, and sustainability across the industry. Taking place online for the very first time, the 2021 SCA Awards are open to companies and individuals around the globe, expanding the reach and prestige of these important annual competitions.

In some ways, this issue is all about rebuilding our industry’s foundations.

The Specialty Coffee Association is looking for professionals to apply to open positions in sales, certifications, and marketing and communications. Visit our ‘Work with Us’ page to learn more and apply today.

In 2003, the SCA put forward a Cupping Protocol as a tool to discover a coffee’s value and sensory attributes. We’re revisiting this protocol now and are asking for input from you, our community of coffee professionals and connoisseurs.

We are actively seeking proposals from individuals from all backgrounds to lead virtual workshops in 2021. Our workshops aim to provide a venue for a more in-depth understanding of different topics relevant to specialty coffee.

The 2021 World Latte Art Championship (WLAC), World Coffee In Good Spirits Championship (WCIGS), and World Coffee Roasting Championship (WCRC) are heading to the Taiwan International Coffee Show.

The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) has chosen the University of Oregon for a four-year espresso extraction research project, supported by the Simonelli Group, "Towards a Deeper Understanding of Espresso Extraction."

The project is slated to run for two years and is aimed at understanding how packaging affects and influences consumers’ perceptions of specialty coffee quality, attributes, and value.

You may have seen more World Coffee Championships branding on our social media channels this year. As all of the competitions continue to grow and branch into new digital features, we want to make sure they continue to have a cohesive identity.

Meet the six professionals in the slate of candidates for the 2020 CTG Leadership Council elections. In the latest post of the CTG blog, CTG Chair Hylan Joseph presents the technicians selected this year by the Nominating Committee.

Today, it is my pleasure to present the slate of candidates in the 2020 CRG Leadership Council elections. The CRG Election Committee, chaired by Past Chair Sonja Björk Grant, has put forward a list of five professionals after an extensive interview process.