Overview
Want to judge at the World Coffee Championships (WCC) or refine your judging skills? The WCC Judge Skills Program is designed for aspiring and experienced judges looking to improve their competencies and prepare for certification. This hands-on training breaks down WCC rules, scoring, and sensory evaluation, helping you judge with confidence and consistency. Whether you're new to judging, a competitor wanting to understand scoring, or an existing judge preparing for certification, this program will sharpen your skills. *Please note this is an education program with a certificate of participation from the SCA/WCC. This is not the same as a judge certification.
Highlights
Develop Sensory Alignment for Judging
Learn how to evaluate and align your perception of coffee quality with the WCC scoring system, ensuring fair and accurate assessments.
Understand WCC Scoring & Evaluation
Gain in-depth knowledge of competition formats, scoresheets, and rules to confidently assess competitors at the highest level.
Prepare for WCC Judge Certification
Improve the judging competencies needed to pass WCC judge certification in order to take your place in the world of competitive coffee judging.
Schedule
Previous
Next
Pre-Course Online Session
Topics:
- Purpose & History of the World Coffee Championships – Understanding how WCC competitions evolved and their role in the specialty coffee industry.
- WCC Competition Structure & Roles – Exploring the ecosystem of WCC, including judges, reps, competition bodies, and organizing committees.
- Code of Conduct & Ethics for Judges – Reviewing the responsibilities of judges, conflict of interest policies, and professional expectations.
- Rules & Regulations Overview – Learning why WCC rules exist, how they evolve, and how they serve as tools for fair competition judging.
- Preparation for the In-Person Judge Skills Program – Reviewing key resources and what to expect in the hands-on sessions.
Day 1: WCC Judging Theory
Topics:
- Judging Mindsets & Alignment – Understanding the competitor-first spirit, collaborative judging, and recognizing bias.
- WCC Competition Format & Judge Roles – Overview of WBC/WBrC structure, scoring system, and different judging roles.
- Scoring Fundamentals & Scoresheets – Breaking down sensory, technical, and head judge scoresheets and how they impact results.
- Types of Sensory Evaluations – Discriminative, descriptive, and affective evaluations in WCC competitions.
- Scoring Scales & Quality Assessment – Learning Yes/No (0-1), Accuracy (0-3), Impression (0-3), and Experience (0-6) scales.
- Comment Writing & Feedback – Best practices for writing rule-based, supportive, and constructive comments.
- Technical Judging Principles – Evaluating station cleanliness, workflow, dosing, tamping, extraction times, and milk waste.
- Sensory Judging Principles – Assessing espresso, milk, and signature beverage courses, focusing on taste, tactile, and balance.
- Preparing for Practical Application – Understanding the importance of sensory alignment and collaborative deliberation.
Day 2: Practical Application & Hands-On Judging
Topics:
- Sensory Alignment Exercise – Calibrating perception of coffee quality and aligning scoring within a judging panel.
- Judging Individual Beverages – Evaluating brewed coffee with live scoring.
- Full Routine Judging Practice – Simulating WBrC competitor routines and applying full sensory and technical judging.
- Deliberation & Score Review – Practicing score adjustments and learning how head judges lead deliberation.
- Comment Calibration Exercise – Reviewing and refining written comments to ensure clarity, fairness, and rule alignment.
- Debriefing Practice – Conducting competitor debriefs with constructive and supportive feedback.
- Final Review & Q&A – Key takeaways, addressing final questions, and preparing for WCC judge certification.
Gallery
What's included
What's Included
Facilitator Fee
Facility Fee
All Required Equipment, Supplies, and Coffee
WCC/SCA Issued Certificate of Participation
Lunch & Snacks
Free-Flowing Brewed Coffee Throughout The Course
What's Not Included
Travel to The Course
Any Required Accommodations While in Calgary
Tickets
Course Fee + Certification
All-in course fees including all SCA and certification fees.
FROM$291.52/pp
Hosts
Trent Rollings
Accredited SCA Trainer, World Coffee Championships Representative & Judge
Reviews
I took the SCA Foundation and Intermediate Barista Training with Trent, which only fueled my passion for good coffee even more. The lessons were interactive and easy to understand, with detailed and high-quality materials that prepared me well for the exams. My coffee-making skills have greatly improved as a result. Trent is extremely welcoming and has a way of making you feel like old friends. I look forward to returning for more training.
Corrine J.
Dates
April 2025
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FAQs
Who is this course for?
This course is ideal for:
- Aspiring WCC Judges looking to develop the skills and knowledge needed to evaluate competitors at national and world-level coffee competitions.
- Current Coffee Professionals who want to deepen their understanding of competition scoring, rules, and best practices in sensory and technical judging.
- Competitors & Coaches seeking insight into how judges assess routines, helping them refine their competition strategy and performance.
Am I guaranteed certification for this course?
Yes, participation in this course guarantees you a certificate of participation from World Coffee Championships/SCA.
How long is the course?
There is a 2 hour pre-course online session. The in-person course is 16 hours including breaks split over two days. During this time, you'll receive both theory and practical hands-on judging training.
Is there an exam?
Nope, there is no exam for this course.
What certification do I receive upon completing the course?
Upon passing the exam, you’ll earn the WCC Judge Skills Program Certificate of Participation signifying that you have successfully completed WCC's flagship judge training program.
Is there a payment plan available for this course?
Yes, all of our courses have payment plans when booking more than one month in advance. The final payment for the course is due one month before the course.
Do I need experience to take this course?
No prior experience is required—this course is designed for beginners and experienced judges.
Do I need to bring anything to the course?
Everything you need will be provided, including meals and snacks, but you may want to bring a notebook for personal notes.
What if I have dietary restrictions?
We will send you a pre-course email before your course where we ask for any dietary restrictions you may have so that we can accommodate for them when ordering snacks and lunch.
What is the difference between courses and camps?
Courses are structured training classes focused on developing specific coffee skills, such as barista techniques, brewing, and sensory analysis. They typically don't include accommodations or additional opportunities beyond the course itself.
Camps are all-inclusive, immersive experiences that include but go beyond structured courses. They combine hands-on coffee education with community-building, outdoor activities, and unique experiences, creating a deeper connection to coffee and the people behind it.