About Us

SCAE is an association with a growing number of 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 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 (SCA, 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 2012.

Updates, Information & Networking

We keep our members regularly informed through: the new look 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 specialty 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 and Maastricht. Our next big event is in Vienna, Austria, June 12-15, 2012. In addition, we also fly the SCAE flag at all the other major coffee shows throughout Europe and through Cafe 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, Hawaii and, in January 2012 returned to India. Read the India article in the next issue of Cafe Europa No. 47.

Championships

SCAE has initiated six world championship competitions in which participants from around the globe,  battled it out in national heats before the winners represent their country in the prestigious World Championship crowns. The six championships are: the World Barista Championship (WBC); the World Brewers Cup Championship; the World Cup Tasters Championship; the World Latte Art Championship; the World Cezve/Ibrik Championship; and the World Coffee in Good Spirits Championship. Each competition is unique and each has been designed to test the best practitioners to the limits of their ability. These are serious events, where every competitor is out to win. Make no mistake, these events will be hotbeds of tension and excitement. Our next finals for the World Championships will take place in Austria at SCAE World of Coffee, Vienna 12-15 June, they are not to be missed!