About Speciality Coffee Association of Europe
OUR VISION: We are the authority on delivering coffee excellence.
OUR MISSION: To create and inspire excellence in the coffee community through innovation, research, education and communication.
SCAE is a trade association for members -- people like you, who are looking for coffee excellence. You don't have to be European to appreciate the many benefits of belonging to SCAE: we've members in more than 70 countries around the world who network through SCAE events and website, are informed and passionate about coffee and share views on the latest trends and developments in the speciality coffee world. We have national chapters in 35 countries, so we're on the ground locally to meet the needs of members, working within their own national coffee traditions.
Authoritative
SCAE is a recognised force with governments and international organisations on a global level. We lobby strongly for the cause of quality coffee. Together with the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), we represent the speciality sector on the International Coffee Organization's Private Sector Consultative Board. We take positions to defend coffee quality and to ensure a fair deal for everyone, and our voice is heard! We spearheaded the drive, now taken up by the ICO, to develop alternative uses for poor quality coffee and to remove it from the world market.
Democratic
SCAE is open to everyone with a commitment to quality coffee. We operate a one-member one vote policy with regularly scheduled elections to our board of directors.
Committed to Education
We have a well established education programme. SCAE's Coffee Diploma System (CDS) provides practical focus on all aspects of the specialty coffee sector, from roasting through to running a coffee bar. A points based award system is given to candidates who pass courses. Achieve 100+ points and you will be awarded the SCAE CDS Diploma.
Resources
All members get a prestigious membership plaque crafted in wood along with a SCAE window sticker to show their customers their commitment to top quality coffee. Members get special deals on material tailored to the many needs of the speciality sector. Choose from posters, books and instructional CDs from our own list taken from the resource catalogue of our sister organisation, the SCAA. Or pick up one of our DVDs, tampers, ties, T-shirts, polo shirts, aprons or jackets -- Look out for our new web shop due to open during 2013.
Updates, Information & Networking
We keep our members regularly informed through: SCAE's quarterly magazine, Café Europa; through regular mailings and this website. In addition to featuring the latest breaking news, the members area provides exclusive use of our searchable membership database, an invaluable tool for business networking within the speciality coffee trade.
Conferences, Exhibitions & Workshops
SCAE staged the first World Specialty Coffee Conference and Exhibition in Monte Carlo in 2000. Since then, we have held events in Oslo, Rimini, Trieste, Athens, Bern, Antwerp, Copenhagen, Cologne, London, Maastricht and Vienna. Our next big event is SCAE World of Coffee, Nice, France, June 26-28, 2013. In addition, we also fly the SCAE flag at other major coffee shows throughout Europe and through Café Europa, as a media partner.
Site Visits
In 2002, we initiated our programme of site visits, taking over 20 committed coffee professionals to India to learn more about the origin and to exchange views with the aim of fostering coffee quality. Since then, we have organised trips to Brazil, El Salvador, Guatemala, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama and Hawaii. In January 2012, we returned to India, and in March 2013, to Guatemala. Visits are planned for later in 2013 to both Brazil and Tanzania.
Speciality Coffee Championships
SCAE has initiated six world championship competitions in which participants from around the globe, compete in national heats before the winners go on to represent their country in the prestigious World Championships. World Coffee Events (WCE), event management organisation for the SCAE/SCAA produces six world coffee championships annually. Their mission is to develop events that engage the speciality coffee community and promote coffee excellence. For more information on upcoming events, please visit worldcoffeeevents.org.
The six championships are: World Barista Championship (WBC); World Brewers Cup Championship; World Cup Tasters Championship; World Latte Art Championship; World Cezve/Ibrik Championship; and World Coffee in Good Spirits Championship. A new competition, World Coffee Roasting Championship will launch at SCAE World of Coffee, Nice 2013. Each competition is unique and each has been designed to test the best practitioners to the limits of their ability. Our next finals for the World Championships will take place in Nice at SCAE World of Coffee, 26-28 June, they are not to be missed!