SCAA selects Ethiopia as the ‘Official Portrait Country’ for the Upcoming Annual Event

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - For the second time, Ethiopia has been selected as the ‘Portrait Country’ for this year’s Specialty Coffee Association of America’s (SCAA) Annual Event in Seattle, Washington from April 9 to 12. The annual event attracts more than 8,000 visitors and 2,700 exhibitors. Coffee industry professionals from over 75 countries will attend the event to further develop business relationships, learn about new products and trends in specialty coffee, and take part in skill-building workshops and lectures.

Each year, a single country of importance in the specialty coffee industry is highlighted. This year, Ethiopia has been selected and will be integrated into the professional, cultural, and social events that take place at the event. Ethiopia plays an important role in the world of coffee. Arabica was first discovered here, making it the birthplace of coffee. From that discovery, coffee culture and production has flourished and grown. Ethiopia is home to over 6,000 known coffee varieties, and is the only country with wild varieties that remain to be discovered.

In addition to the featured role of Ethiopian coffee at the event, the organizers have integrated the unique coffee culture of Ethiopia via events such as video screenings and traditional coffee ceremonies. Ethiopian coffees from a variety of regions will be served exclusively at the coffee bar during the symposium and will be used for the roasting and cupping workshops.

With funding from the U.S. Government’s Feed the Future initiative, the United States Agency for International Development in Ethiopia provided significant assistance, design, planning, and coordination support to the Ethiopian working group to promote Ethiopian coffee internationally while also strengthening the Ethiopian Coffee Exporters’ Association, Ethiopian Commodity Exchange, and Ethiopia’s Ministry of Trade.

The Ethiopian delegation to the 2015 SCAA Annual Event includes over 40 representatives, including coffee producers and exporters, government officials and development representatives. The country’s pavilion will offer visitors an opportunity to meet a wide variety of coffee professionals from the nation.

To learn more, please visit www.ethiopianfinecoffees.com

About SCAA

The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) is a non-profit trade organization and the world-recognized leader in coffee knowledge development. With over 9,000 members located in more than 40 countries, including member companies and their employees, SCAA members represent every segment of the specialty coffee industry, including producers, roasters, importers/exporters, retailers, manufacturers, baristas and other industry professionals. For over 30 years, the SCAA has been dedicated to creating a vibrant specialty coffee community, recognizing, developing and promoting specialty coffee by setting and maintaining quality standards for the industry; conducting research on coffee consumption, brewing and perfection of craft; and providing education, training, resources and business services for its members. Visit SCAA at: www.scaa.org

About ECEA

The Ethiopian Coffee Exporters’ Association (ECEA) was established as a non-profit association in 1969, and has since grown to more than 140 members. ECEA’s members represent close to 80 percent of the Ethiopian annual coffee export income and export volume. As a trade association, ECEA’s primary goal is to promote Ethiopian coffee in the global market. In addition to providing services to its members, the organization acts as the focal institution for the relationship between the government, international buyers, and its members.

See also

USAID Ethiopia Feed the Future

Something's Brewing in Ethiopia [Frontlines article]