The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) has unveiled the world's first certification for top coffee industry experts, the 'Master of Specialty Coffee,' in South Korea.
Similar to the 'Master of Wine' in the wine industry or the Michelin three-star rating in culinary arts, this initiative aims to officially recognize the highest level of expertise in the coffee sector.
On June 9, SCA held a media briefing at the Four Seasons Hotel in Jongno, Seoul, to announce the official launch of the 'Master of Specialty Coffee.' Yanis Apostolopoulos, CEO of SCA, stated, "It is hard to find a place in the world that takes coffee as seriously and continuously expands its value as much as Korea," explaining the choice of South Korea as the first launch location. According to SCA, South Korea has the highest number of professionals globally who hold all four SCA diplomas and the Q Grader qualification.
Holding the four SCA diplomas and the Q Grader qualification is a prerequisite for applying to become a Master of Specialty Coffee. Candidates must also have at least four years of relevant industry experience and a recommendation from an expert.
Candidates who pass the document review, knowledge assessment, and oral interview will undergo a five-day intensive preparatory course. They must then pass a final evaluation based on real-world scenarios covering café operations, roasting, trade, supply chain sustainability, and communication to earn the 'Master of Specialty Coffee' title.
Once awarded the title, individuals will have their profiles listed in the official SCA global directory and will play key roles in the industry, such as judges for international coffee competitions, speakers at origin conferences, and expert commentators in the media. Apostolopoulos emphasized, "Earning the title is not the end of the journey but a great beginning that redefines one's life as a professional."
SCA defines the 'Master of Specialty Coffee' not merely as a certification but as a title. This title assesses not only specific skills but also integrates expertise across five key areas: sensory evaluation, processing and roasting knowledge, extraction techniques, supply chain economics, and communication and leadership.
Until now, there has been no overarching certification system for the coffee industry, despite it being a massive sector with over 22.5 billion cups consumed daily worldwide. Apostolopoulos noted, "While the wine and culinary fields have established systems to recognize top-level experts, the coffee industry lacked such standards. The 'Master of Specialty Coffee' is the result of long-term, systematic preparation to fill that gap."
Applications opened on June 9, with core classes and preparatory courses for qualification set to begin in South Korea by the end of this year. SCA currently estimates around 80 potential candidates worldwide who meet the application requirements.
Apostolopoulos expressed hope that, as the first launch country, South Korea will include local experts among the inaugural cohort. He added that the program will be gradually launched in other major Asian markets, including China and Taiwan.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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