Focus on Quality Could Save Brazil’s Small Coffee Farms
Can the world’s growing appetite for unique coffee save Brazil’s specialty coffee farms? by Aleszu Bajak Brazil, long known for being one of the world’s leading producers of bulk commodity coffee, is now trying to make a name for itself as a country where smallholder farms produce specialty coffees. But low wholesale prices and limited international …
SCAA Releases Candidate Profiles for 2014 SCAA Board of Directors Elections
The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) has released the official slate of candidates for the 2014 Board of Directors Elections and members should review candidate profiles below prior to voting. Voting will open February 19, 2014; ballots will be distributed through email to all eligible voting members. Voters must be the primary contact for a current …
SCAA and European Coffee Brewing Center Renew Cooperation on Certified Home Brewer Program
The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) and the European Coffee Brewing Centre (ECBC) have announced their renewed cooperation on the coffee brewer certification program through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The ECBC and SCAA are neutral trade organizations and therefore the ideal stakeholders in the coffee industry to serve as non-biased and reputable evaluators …
SCAA Announces Collaboration with ACE on Coffees of the Year Program
The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) announced today that they will be collaborating on an improved Coffees of the Year (COTY) program with the Alliance for Coffee Excellence (ACE). While the official COTY program will remain on hiatus for the 2014 SCAA Event in Seattle, WA, ACE will present an exhibition of compelling coffees representative of …
You’re Invited to the 26th Annual Exposition & 6th Annual Symposium: The Event
by Ric Rhinehart, executive director of SCAA Each year it is my task (and my pleasure) to write a note for inclusion in this issue of The Specialty Coffee Chronicle. With each passing year, I find myself considering not only what is new and exciting for this year’s Event, but, more and more, reflecting on …
On Behalf of Starbucks Coffee Company, Welcome to SCAA’s 26th Annual Exposition in Seattle
Starbucks is honored to serve as the official host of the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s 2014 Annual Event. Forty-three years ago, we opened our first store just seven blocks away from The Event’s location, at the historic Pike Place Market. Since then, we have watched the specialty coffee industry flourish. This is due to …
2014 Portrait Country: Peru
Whenever people from around the world think about Peru, they think about our rich history and world-famous archeological sites such as Machu Picchu. Recently, however, the tasty and flavorful coffees that we have developed over the last two centuries may also come to mind. In fact, South American nation Peru has become one of the …
The Discovery Engine: The Power at the Source of the SCAA Symposium
by Peter Giuliano, SCAA director of Symposium Six years ago, a collection of coffee leaders sat around a dinner table, talking. The discussion was about the future of coffee: how would we navigate the challenges of the coming decades? How would we prepare ourselves to understand and grasp the vast opportunities presented to us by …
Ask Emma: Should I worry about over-caffeinating anyone?
Hi Emma, Can you explain why the amount of caffeine in a beverage varies so much between retailers, among types of beverage, and even cup to cup? Everyone seems to ask for the strongest coffee we have, but I don’t know what to recommend. Should I worry about over-caffeinating anyone? Thanks! Drowsy in Delaware * …
The Market | China: The Sleeping Dragon Awakes
by Al Liu, trader and certified coffee specialist, Atlas Coffee Importers “Let China sleep, for when she wakes she will shake the world.” —Napoleon Bonaparte Although the French dictator never actually visited China, his prescience has proven itself two hundred years later. In the talk I gave six months ago at the SCAA Symposium in Boston, …
SCAA Lecture Series at The Event
by Anna Gutierrez, northwest regional sales manager, Gourmet Source and member SCAA Lectures Committee Whether you’re just entering the coffee industry or are a well-seasoned veteran of the bean, you will be sure to gain useful information that you can take back with you and put into action in your business. Below is a snapshot of …
SCAA Skill Building Workshops at The Event
by Dorothea Hescock, total quality manager, Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA and chair, SCAA Skill Building Sub-Committee The Specialty Coffee Association’s Professional Development Committee is the world leader in coffee education, for all facets of the coffee industry. No matter what aspect a person is interested in within the wonderful industry called coffee, SCAA has consistently brought …