The best seat at the house for any barista championship is at the judge’s table. You get to taste all those experimental espressos, to sip those super beyond milk drinks, to experience the innovative flavor combinations from the signature beverage. Of course, getting a seat at that table isn’t so easy to come by. But for the World Coffee Championships, the Specialty Coffee Association is making it just a little bit easier. Introducing the Judge Skills Program, “a new educational initiative designed to equip coffee professionals with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to pursue becoming a World Coffee Championships Judge.”
Announced last week, the Judge Skills Program provides in-person, hands-on training from certified WCC representatives—current WCC judges who have undergone additional training in order to lead the course—to give participants a deeper understanding of the WCC judging process, scoring systems, and competition rules, and will “[integrate] the latest WCC Rules & Regulations and the Coffee Value Assessment system.”
First piloted last November in Brazil, the success of the program had led to it becoming an official part of the SCA Educational curriculum. It is designed for those looking to make the jump from judging national competitions to Worlds, but is also suited for competitors “aiming to optimize their competition preparation through a comprehensive understanding of judging criteria and scoring methods” as well as coffee professionals and enthusiasts who simply want to have a better idea of goes on during at competitions.
Judge Skills Program courses will be “hosted in coffee hubs around the world—making it easier for professionals to access high-quality training locally.” After successful completion, participants will receive an official digital certificate from the WCC and SCA.
The first non-pilot class took place the weekend, with more future classes occurring in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and Lima, Peru. A full schedule can be found here. For more information on the Judge Skills Program, visit the World Coffee Championships official website.
Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
