SCA Community Lounge Activities during world of coffee brussels 2026

Learn About Equity and Value in Coffee

What does receiving value from coffee mean to you?

In 2025, the SCA asked coffee professionals from all over the globe how they perceive equity in the coffee sector. We asked how equitable they believe the sector currently IS, and how equitable it SHOULD be. We also asked how they feel about how value is distributed in the supply chain.

Come to the Sustainability Booth in the SCA Community Lounge, Hall 11 to learn how respondents from over 60 countries answered these questions. Watch a short video, participate in a mini-quiz, and be in the draw to win one of six 1ZPresso hand grinders!

Ask the Experts: SCA Office Hours

Are equity, impact, and sustainability important values to you, but it’s a challenge to put them into practice? Do you want to hear about recent and important research, from the scientists themselves? Do you have questions about specialty coffee that you want credible, research-informed answers on?

Join us at SCA Office Hours in the SCA Community Lounge, Hall 11 for informal one-on-one conversations with Sustainability Award Winners, leading researchers, and SCA staff.

Schedule

Thursday, June 25, 2026

11:00 – 12:00 | Standards for the Coffee Sector
Learn how and why the SCA develops standards, how you can participate in the process, and how standards could benefit your work.

SCA Technical VP: Dr. Mario Fernández

12:00 - 13:00 | Meet the 2026 Sustainability Award Winners: Coffee Circle
Learn how Coffee Circle has built a business model that combines high-quality coffee sourcing with direct reinvestment into coffee-growing communities.

Founder and CEO, Coffee Circle: Martin Elwert

14:00 - 15:00 | What’s New at the Coffee Science Foundation (CSF)?
Learn about the CSF's current projects, future plans, and how recent research can inform your work.

Executive Director, Coffee Science Foundation and SCA Research VP: Eliana Cossio, PhD

Friday, June 26, 2026

10:00 - 16:00 | Key Takeaways from the SCA’s Research on Equity and Value in Coffee
Watch a short video and enter a prize draw.

10:00 - 11:00 | Understanding the Development and Use of the Coffee Value Assessment (CVA)
Dive deep into the science and research behind the CVA. Get answers to practical questions about how the tool can be used in different contexts.

SCA Technical VP: Dr. Mario Fernández

11:00 - 12:00 | Grounding Green Grading in Sensory Science
Researchers from the Coffee Excellence Center at the Zürich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) share findings on green coffee defects research, funded by the Coffee Science Foundation. They can discuss their findings, including the sensory thresholds at which we can actually taste defects, and what this could mean for the coffee sector.

Coffee Excellence Center: Dr. Samo Smrke and Dr. Sebastian Opitz

12:00 - 13:00 | Meet the 2026 Sustainability Award Winners: Bean Voyage
Women coffee producers perform an estimated 50–70% of the work in coffee production, yet historically receive far less than their fair share of income. Speak with the founders of Bean Voyage about how they champion women producers to build thriving businesses—ones that support families, restore ecosystems, and create lasting generational change.

Bean Voyage Founders: Sunghee Tark and Abhinav Khanal

15:00 - 16:00 | What’s in My Coffee?
The processing revolution and the rise of "infused" and "co-fermented" coffees have multiplied the number of named processes on the market. Working with a group of experts, the SCA has developed guidelines to help buyers and sellers of green coffee communicate clearly about what's in their coffee. Come learn about the research behind these guidelines and how to apply them in practice.

SCA Innovation VP: Jenn Rugolo

Saturday, June 27, 2026

10:00 - 16:00 | Key Takeaways from the SCA’s Research on Equity and Value in Coffee
Watch a short video and enter a prize draw.

10:00 - 11:00 | I’m Excited About Specialty Coffee! Where Do I Start?
Whether it’s your first time at World of Coffee or your first experience with the SCA, there’s a lot to explore. Bring your interests and we’ll help you find your way: on the show floor and within SCA’s activities, programs, and resources.

SCA Innovation VP: Jenn Rugolo

11:00 - 12:00 | Specialty Coffee is Growing and Global: What Does That Mean?
In 2025, the SCA surveyed coffee consumers across 14 countries. Their responses reveal key similarities and differences across countries, coffee cultures, and generations. Come explore the most surprising and significant findings.

SCA Chief Strategy Development Officer: Kim Elena Ionescu

12:00 - 13:00 | Building the Bridge Between Good Intentions and Sustainability in Practice
People across the coffee sector are committed to a more equitable and sustainable industry, but turning those goals into action can be challenging, especially in uncertain times. Speak with the SCA Sustainability Manager about building meaningful sustainability programs and embedding them into your organisation.

SCA Sustainability Manager: Andrés Montenegro

15:00 - 16:00 | Do You Measure or Communicate Roast Color?
Roast color shapes a coffee's sensory profile and influences how consumers make purchasing decisions. But is your "light roast" someone else's "medium dark"? What does "French roast" mean? Learn about the SCA's research into how the sector measures and describes roast color, and whether a shared language would be useful.

SCA Content Development Manager: Laurel Carmichael