An AST is a SCAE member who is, or wants to be involved in coffee education and training. The process is simple: First, in a written interview, as a trainer you will confirm that you have a broad coffee knowledge, or else a specialised coffee knowledge, enabling you to train and educate others in various aspects of coffee.

SCAE will then market your specific services through SCAE's website and other relevant coffee media that seen by those seeking education in the various coffee disciplines.

As a trainer, you can be working in-house for a company, offering training to business clients, or offering training sessions to the public. You can continue to offer the training courses you have been doing, or you can choose, in addition, to do extra training courses under the new SCAE Coffee Diploma System. (Click here for information)..

Under the Coffee Diploma System, SCAE offers a series of basic and advanced courses prepared in detail by the best SCAE experts across the individual areas of coffee education. With each course there are written and practical exams, recommended reading lists just as there is in the present SCAE Barista Certification and Gold Cup programmes. Only SCAE ASTs are permitted to hold these exams.

As an AST, you will be offered a two-day introductory course in the art of educating others. This is not in aspects of coffee. The course also gives an introduction to the new SCAE Coffee Diploma system.

As an AST, you will be an integrated part of SCAE's Educational programme and you will enjoy all of the credibility that come with being linked to the Association.

Being an AST will enable you to improve your performance as in-house or business client trainer, or give you increased business opportunities as public trainer. The fees for your courses will be determined by you, and you or your company will benefit from them entirely. Only the income generated from the exams will be shared with the SCAE.

The cost of participating in the AST programme is €1,000, which will include the introductory training course and accreditation as an AST for a period of three years.

For further information, and to register for the AST programme, contact Annemarie Tiemes at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Further information on the AST programme will be sent to participants directly.