The Specialty Coffee Association of Japan (SCAJ) and the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the SCAJ Conference in Tokyo, Japan.
The MoU aims to establish a commitment to the global collaboration of specialty coffee education, and to promote education and professional development of the Coffee Value Assessment (CVA) in Japan.
Under this partnership, SCAJ aims to broaden access to CVA and Q Program education for Japanese coffee professionals while aligning local practices with global standards. The collaboration is designed to prioritise developing a network of CVA instructors, enhancing the accessibility and understanding for Japanese stakeholders, and promoting training opportunities throughout the coffee value chain.
“It is my great pleasure that, within the long-standing friendship between SCA and SCAJ, we are able to conclude this MoU today,” says Yoshihito Kato, President of SCAJ.
“Through the cooperation of our two associations, we aim to deepen the understanding of specialty coffee, raise awareness of its value and further promote its development. We sincerely hope this agreement will enrich the global coffee community and strengthen our shared journey together.”
Developed by the SCA, the CVA is a tool designed to evaluate coffee quality across four dimensions: physical, descriptive, affective, and extrinsic. The Assessment is already used in many coffee producing countries, providing a shared language for producers, buyers, and educators to communicate quality and value in new ways.
“Our collaboration with SCAJ reflects a shared vision for the future of specialty coffee,” says Yannis Apostolopoulos, CEO of the SCA.
“By expanding education and professional opportunities, we are investing in the people who shape coffee’s future and helping to make coffee better, together.”
