The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) is a global, not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing every part of the specialty coffee value chain. We bring together thousands of coffee professionals — from farmers and green-bean purchasers, to exporters, roasters, green graders, baristas, café owners, equipment manufacturers, trainers and researchers — to share knowledge, set standards, and create practical opportunities that raise quality and sustainability across the industry.
SCA work is grounded in three core principles:
- Openness: we promote transparent, evidence-based practices and encourage the free exchange of information so that members at every stage of the supply chain can learn, adapt and improve.
- Inclusivity: we actively seek to represent diverse voices — geographic, cultural and professional — so that local expertise informs global thinking and decisions.
- Shared knowledge: by collecting, evaluating and disseminating best practice, research and technical guidance, we help members make better decisions that benefit both their businesses and the people who depend on them.
We act as a unifying force within specialty coffee. While we support consistent, high-quality standards, we celebrate difference: unified but not uniform. Local traditions, crop conditions, economic realities and cultural practices shape how coffee is produced, processed and prepared — and those differences are strengths we nurture rather than erase. Our goal is to connect every individual with the resources, training and networks needed to improve their opportunities and to make their voice heard on a global stage.
As a membership-led organization, our collective expertise is our greatest asset. Members contribute practical experience, scientific research and commercial insight that inform our programs, certifications, events and advocacy. Together, we work toward a more resilient and sustainable future — one that improves livelihoods, protects ecosystems, and enhances the quality and value of specialty coffee from farm to cup.
Membership delivers tangible benefits:
- Access to industry guilds for Baristas and Roasters, including training curricula, certification pathways and professional development resources.
- Invitations to regional and international events, competitions, workshops and cuppings where members can learn, network and showcase their skills.
- Technical resources and research on agronomy, processing, roasting, sensory analysis, equipment and quality control.
- Opportunities to influence industry standards, educational programs and sustainability initiatives through working groups and committees.
- Connection to our global network of National Chapters that organize local activities, provide community support and adapt SCA resources to national contexts.
