An SCA certified barista: what it means for your event

What the SCA is

The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) is an international association of people who work in coffee: growers, roasters, baristas and researchers. It sets standards for quality and offers training and certification, the Coffee Skills Program.

That programme consists of modules, including barista skills, brewing, green coffee, roasting and sensory skills. A certificate in barista skills shows that someone knows and controls the technique behind espresso and milk.

What specialty coffee is

By the SCA's definition, specialty coffee is coffee that scores at least 80 out of 100 points when assessed by qualified tasters. It is coffee that has been grown, processed and roasted with care, and whose origin is known.

I regularly work with specialty coffee. For you that means you can ask for beans from a particular roaster or origin, instead of a standard blend.

What that means for your event

A certificate says something about knowledge and technique: how to set an espresso, steam milk and deliver the same quality every time. At an event, experience with pace, guests and changing conditions counts as well. The two belong together.

I am SCA certified and have worked more than 300 shifts, with an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 on Temper. More on what else to look for when you hire a barista is in Hiring a barista in Amsterdam.

Beans and milk in your request

If you have a preference, put it in your request:

• a roaster or origin you would like to serve
• whether you want an espresso with a soft or a strong flavour
• which milk and whether decaf is needed: all kinds of milk and decaf are possible and I arrange them myself

If you have no preference, we discuss the beans in the proposal. What else can be on the menu is in Which drinks to put on the menu at an event.