The SCAE Coffee Diploma System
The Speciality Coffee Association of Europe is proud to announce a significant initiative which will underpin the delivery of one of it's core products, Education.
In June 2011, The SCAE Coffee Diploma System will be launched, which will allow coffee professionals to earn credits in all aspects of coffee education, ultimately leading to the conferral of an SCAE Coffee Diploma.
The structure of the SCAE Coffee Diploma is designed to meet the needs of the SCAE's members, recognising that our members partake in coffee education courses sporadically, as they juggle their professional responsibilities with their professional development. The Coffee Diploma System breaks the Coffee Education Programme into sensible courses, being:
- Basic Coffee Knowledge
- Green Coffee
- Sensory and Cup Tasting
- Roasting
- Grinding and Brewing methods
- Espresso coffee
- Filter coffee
- Barista Skills
While the SCAE's 110 Authorised Trainers have been imparting education on all of these topics over recent years, it has been delivered in an a fairly loose manner. To date, only the SCAE's Barista Certification and Gold Cup Brewmaster training has had any system of controlled certification. The SCAE Coffee Diploma System will introduce a certification standard to all of the courses, with each one having an introductory or basic level and an advanced level, for which a controlled certification criteria will exist.
The Curriculum
With a membership that boasts the very best of Coffee Professionals, the SCAE has created a Coffee Diploma System Working Group to deliver a detailed curriculum for each of the courses, with each course being led by or including an expert from their field and comprising at least 3 peers from that field. Thus, each of the coffee courses has a sub-group which will deliver a curriculum which outlines what must be taught on an SCAE Education Course for that particular topic e.g. Green Coffee. Each course will comprise three parts, all will have a basic coffee knowledge component, a basic level and an advanced level, with the three combining to deliver a comprehensive educational overview of that topic.
The Certification
Currently, SCAE certification exams exist for Barista Basic (Level One), Barista Advanced (Barista Level 2) and for Brewmasters (Gold Cup certification covering grinding and filter brewing). The Barista certification program, launched in 2003 boasts over 3,000 level one Baristas and 540 level 2 Baristas. The Gold Cup Programme, launched in 2007 has yielded over 200 Brewmasters. The success of these programmes is linked to the independent assessment of professionals to meet a standard of education underwritten by the SCAE. The Coffee Diploma System will introduce this rigour to all modules.
Achieving Diploma Status
To be conferred with an SCAE Coffee Diploma, one must amass a total of 100 credits. All module certifications will have credits allocated to them. To achieve a credit, one must successfully complete an authorised SCAE Certification. These will be carried out internationally the SCAE's Authorised Trainers.
For example a Coffee Professional who has successfully completed certifications of the Green Coffee module will have amassed 35 points, 10 for the basic level and 25 for the advanced level. The professional can choose to amass credits to total 100 from whatever field of expertise they feel is of most benefit to their work.
Delivering the Diploma System
The SCAE Education Committee will launch the Coffee Diploma System in Maastricht, The Netherlands at the annual Wonderful World of Coffee Expo in June of 2011. All courses and certifications thereafter will be delivered by SCAE Authorised Trainers only, ensuring a consistency of education and consistent calibrated certifications.
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