Knutsen Coffees, Ltd is no stranger to the coffee industry. Its founder, Erna Knutsen, was one of the early members and organizers of the Specialty Coffee Association of America, serving on its Board of Directors twice, and has also served on the Board of Directors of the Pacific Coast Coffee Association (www.paccoffee.com). She continues to educate roasters, retailers, and the public about the joys of fine coffee. Trade associations, institutions, and organizations aim to improve the industry through quality coffee, information exchange, technical standards, and coffee grower enhancements. |
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The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), (www.scaa.org) is the trade association that focuses on quality coffee. Although the Association's members are predominantly located in the Americas, the SCAA works to improve the industry on a global level and from a "seed to cup" perspective, ensuring specialty coffees are available long into the 21st century. Its members are any company involved with the coffee industry that has any interest or dedication to quality coffee.
The Specialty Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE), (www.scae.com)Â aims to develop a forum for exchanging information and promotion through education for the participants of the coffee industry who share a commitment to quality.
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Some of the professions within our industry, that is to say Roastmasters and Baristas, have developed strong affiliations warranting the formation of Guilds, namely the Roasters Guild (www.roastersguild.org) and Baristas Guild (www.baristaguild.org). In 1995, the industry's commitment to developing technical standards and conducting quality coffee research funded the creation of the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI), (www.coffeeinstitute.org), a non-profit 501(c)(3) research foundation. |
The Brazil Specialty Coffee Association (BSCA), (www.bsca.com.br) was founded by a group of growers of high quality coffees grown in Brazil to bring to the market their finest specialty products, the very best of Cafés do Brazil. BSCA has members in all areas of Brazil where high quality Arabica coffees are grown: Sul de Minas, Matas de Minas, Cerrado, Chapadas de Minas, Mogiana, Bahia and Parana.    The International Coffee Organization (ICO), (www.ico.org) is an intergovernmental body whose members are coffee exporting and importing countries. From its headquarters in London, it administers the International Coffee Agreement and is committed to improving conditions in the world coffee economy through international cooperation, helping price equilibrium by developing demand for coffee in emerging markets and through projects to reduce damage from pests and improve marketing and quality, enhancing coffee growers’ long-term competitiveness and contributing to the fight against poverty.
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