SCAA Creates Certification for Coffee Cupping Judges
The Specialty Coffee Association of America has finished creating a certification course that gives instructor accreditation to train cupping judges. The five-day course administered by members of the SCAA can teach you to train other people to accurately cup coffees. You can read the full extent of the requirements and training procedure right here.
This course is indicative of a recent industry trend: the coffee industry in general is seeing a sea change in its move towards metrics-driven practices. What that means is that it’s no longer enough to buy a roaster and set up shop, learning as you go–there are now certifications, similar to A+ or MCSE certification in the tech industry, to prove that you know certain aspects of the coffee business, from roasting to cupping to simply pulling shots.
I generally approve of the coffee industry’s growing emphasis on being able to back up your product with proven knowledge and training, but there is a dark side to the trend that I think many people are overlooking. That’s a pretty big discussion, though, so I will save it for an upcoming post where I’ll weigh the pros and cons of coffee-related certifying institutions.
