What is the SCA and the SCA-score?
2.1 Introduction to the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA)
The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and advancing quality coffee worldwide. It was founded through a collaboration between the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) and the European Specialty Coffee Associations (SCAE) in 2017.
The SCA aims to promote the craftsmanship and passion of coffee professionals and to develop and support quality standards. They strive to share expertise and knowledge and ensure a sustainable, ethical, and economically viable coffee value chain. They achieve this through organizing congresses, events, training sessions, and competitions.
One of the main tasks of the SCA is to develop and maintain quality standards for the coffee industry. This includes, for example, the SCA-score for coffee beans, which I will explain further below.
As a member of the SCA, you gain access to an extensive network of coffee professionals, training and education programs, events, and research opportunities. This can be valuable for those working in the coffee industry or those planning to enter this sector in the future.
The SCA also offers various certifications for coffee professionals, such as barista and roaster certifications, which are recognized worldwide as standards for quality coffee. By completing these training programs, you can develop yourself and improve your skills.
2.2 The importance of the SCA-score for coffee beans
The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) is the leading global organization dedicated to promoting the specialty coffee industry. One of the key tools created by the SCA to assess coffee quality is the SCA-score. The SCA-score is an evaluation system for coffee beans used to assess the quality of coffee based on various parameters such as aroma, flavor, and acidity.
Why is the SCA-score important?
The SCA-score is important because it provides an objective measurement of the quality of coffee beans. It also offers a uniform way to evaluate coffee, meaning that people involved in the specialty coffee industry worldwide use the same metrics to assess the quality of coffee beans.
The SCA-score can be an evaluation for an individual coffee sample or a batch of coffee beans. It is not only important for coffee bean supply chains and tasting rooms but also for coffee roasters who want to use and sell high-quality coffee beans. A higher SCA-score typically means that coffee beans are more valuable, so the SCA-score is also used as a way to determine the price of coffee beans.
How is the SCA-score calculated?
The SCA-score is calculated based on various parameters such as aroma, flavor, acidity, body, and aftertaste. Each of these parameters is assessed on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best score.
The taste profile a coffee receives is the sum of the scores for each of these parameters. A coffee that has a total score of 80/90 or higher is generally considered specialty coffee.
How can the SCA-score help in selecting high-quality coffee beans?
If you are looking for high-quality coffee beans for commercial or personal use, the SCA-score can help assess the quality of the coffee beans. This ensures that you get a high-quality and flavorful coffee.
You can compare the SCA-score of different coffee brands or varieties to see which coffee has the highest score. By using this method, you can accurately select the coffee beans that provide the best taste experience.
Conclusion
The SCA-score is an important tool for assessing the quality of coffee beans and providing uniformity in the specialty coffee industry. It offers an objective way to evaluate coffee specimens and can also assist in determining the prices of coffee beans. When searching for high-quality coffee beans, the SCA-score is a useful tool to use in selecting the best coffee beans for your criteria.
In short, the SCA is a significant organization in the coffee industry and offers various opportunities to develop knowledge and skills and contribute to the further development of the coffee industry.
2.3 How is the SCA-score calculated?
The SCA-score, also known as the Specialty Coffee Association score, is an important tool for evaluating the quality of coffee beans. It provides an indication of the taste, aroma, acidity, and other characteristics of the coffee. But how exactly is this score calculated?
The SCA-score is determined using a standardized method developed by the Specialty Coffee Association. This method involves an evaluation form, also known as a cupping form, on which various aspects of coffee flavor are assessed by a panel of trained tasters, or cuppers.
The evaluation form includes various criteria including sweetness, acidity, mouthfeel, and aftertaste. Each criterion is rated on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being the least desirable and 10 being the most desirable. These scores are then totaled to obtain an overall score.
The total score can range from 0 to 100, with a score of 80 or higher representing high-quality specialty coffee. In some cases, coffees can even score 90 or higher, indicating that these coffees are among the absolute top.
It's important to emphasize that the SCA-score provides only an indication of the quality of the coffee. It's not an absolute truth but rather a tool for evaluating and selecting coffee beans. Additionally, it's important to know that the SCA-score is not the only criterion when choosing coffee, as individual customer preferences also play a significant role.
Other factors to consider
While the SCA-score is of great importance in selecting high-quality coffee beans, it's not the only factor that matters. There are other factors to consider.
- Freshness: Fresh coffee beans have a better flavor than aged beans
- Roasting method: Different roasting methods can result in different flavors
- Brewing method: The way coffee is brewed can also affect the flavor of the coffee
It's important to consider all of these factors to achieve the best flavor from your coffee.
