The United States will end the commercialization of the barista contest Division Competition SCAA.

Regional barista competition photo by the Barista Guild of America.

The American Fine Coffee Association (SCAA-SPECIALTY COFFEE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA) announced a few days ago that it will make major changes to the qualification system of the USBC-United States Barista Championship (or "American baristas"). From 2016, the American baristas Championship will only hold one finals instead of regional competitions, with a total of 50 participants. They are no longer winners from various sectionals, but from:

(1) 35 people who have obtained the first or second Class Certificate of SCAA baristas and those who have participated in the 2014 or 2015 American baristas Competition must register after the registration date begins on January 18, 2016. the quota is full in the chronological order.

(2) Twelve members of the community who are interested in participating in the competition must register after the entry date begins on 27 January 2016, in the order of the entry time.

(III) three people who have won SCAA scholarships, SCAA will provide more details on how to obtain scholarships at the end of 2015.

The first American barista tournament, held in 2002, had seven divisions across the United States in its heyday and was compressed into the Eastern, Central and Western divisions in 2013. This division-the finals competition system, has produced a number of contestants and champions of the World baristas Championship (WBC-World Barista Championship). Pete Licata won the 2013 world championship and Michael Phillips won the 2010 world championship. Before winning the world championship, they were both US barista championships and division champions.

The American baristas Championship, which is based on the division tournament-finals, has played an important role in improving the level of coffee workers and promoting the development of the coffee market in the United States, and has also been welcomed by coffee workers and coffee lovers. However, holding the competition requires a lot of manpower and material resources. For example, the cost of the division tournament is about 50, 000 US dollars. SCAA has tried all his tricks and is still unable to make ends meet, which may be the main reason why SCAA is considering not holding the division tournament. Second, the US coffee market is now quite mature, and Specialty coffee already accounts for half of the entire coffee market, so SCAA can devote its energy to more profitable businesses such as training, such as membership-oriented programs such as barista training camp (barista camps), coffee training courses (certification classes), and so on. In the past five years, regional activities focused on baristas have increased significantly, with the barista training camp (Barista Camp), which began in 2010, growing by 400%. Although the barista guild members' community activities were launched in 2013, there were as many as 150 activities last year.

USBC has changed its original seven divisions to three major divisions in 2013.

The disappointment and frustration of many people were caused by the suspension of the division tournament. But SCAA is a trade association of non-governmental organizations, the largest boutique coffee association in the world, and the best commercial trade association, which must be constantly improved on the road of commercialization. Founded in 1982

Since then, it has been committed to specifying coffee industry standards, popularizing coffee technical training, and promoting the development of coffee industry. The annual meeting of the American Fine Coffee Association (ACAA Annual Event) in April has grown into the most influential coffee party in the world. Set industry seminars, free promotion lectures, special lectures, paid education and training, new product shows, industry-wide equipment exhibitions, coffee raw bean competitions, coffee roasting competitions, baristas competitions, cup testing competitions, baristas parties, roasters parties, coffee flower shows and other activities. SCAA has explored a set of effective ways of commercialization, which provides a good reference for coffee people in other countries.

(source: http://www.scaa.org/chronicle/2015/06/24/scaa-announces-changes-to-united-states-barista-championship-program/)

Source: Huang Wei's boutique coffee roasting blog