Lectures & Stage Programs

The first half of the event will feature a special seminar on the theme “Coffee Meister Meets the Coffee Museum”, presented by Hidefumi Sakae, Director of the UCC Coffee Museum at UCC Japan Co., Ltd.

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In the second half, the SCAJ Training Committee will hold the 12th Coffee Meister Blind Tasting Championship, a competition in sensory evaluation open to qualified SCAJ Coffee Meisters. Participants will test their cupping accuracy, with those who give the most correct answers advancing through sudden-death rounds. The winner will be awarded the title of “2026 Coffee Meister Blind Tasting Champion”.

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This stage offers an enjoyable way to learn how flavour profiles differ across producing countries, from commodity to specialty coffee.

After 25 years, specialty coffee has reached a major turning point. Climate change, shifts in coffee varieties and quality, new evaluation systems such as the CVA, and changing consumer values are reshaping the coffee industry.
Coffee now faces two paths: prioritizing production volume or preserving quality and flavor. This lecture proposes a shift from “evaluating quality” to “creating quality” and considers how coffee can remain a valuable agricultural product for the future.

We often hear that used coffee grounds can be turned into compost. For those of us who brew coffee every day and feel a little guilty about simply throwing away the large amount of grounds left behind, this sounds like good news.
But can coffee grounds really become compost? Why are they suitable for composting? And what exactly is compost in the first place?

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In this seminar, we will explore these questions while considering practical ways to make use of spent coffee grounds. Building on last year’s SCAJ2025 seminar, “What Should We Do with Used Coffee Grounds?”, this session takes a deeper look at one of the most popular topics from that seminar: the agricultural use of coffee grounds.

Legends of Excellence is an elite designation awarded to coffee producers who have consistently demonstrated exceptional quality, earning multiple Cup of Excellence wins over the years. Selected from six countries, these producers represent the pinnacle of craftsmanship, innovation, and dedication. The class of 2026 grows the family. Six legends return from last year — their stories deeper, their impact wider — joined by six new inductees who have earned their place through years of relentless pursuit of quality.

Hand-drawn POP signs and lettering can be used both outside and inside cafés as effective visual elements to catch customers’ attention. This seminar will cover the basics of hand lettering, tips for creating clear and easy-to-read lettering even without perfect handwriting, and how to select and use the most suitable art materials for chalkboards and POP signs. The session will also include live demonstrations showing how to create chalkboard POP signs that can be put to immediate use in cafés. Participants will gain practical techniques and ideas that they can apply to their own shops right away, helping them create more attractive and engaging café spaces.