About the chapter
The Romanian chapter of the Specialty Coffee Association has existed since 2008. What follows are the rules it runs by — public, and the same for every chapter in the world.
01
What a chapter is
An SCA chapter is the association's community in one country, led by an elected committee of volunteers from the local industry. It is not an office and not a company: these are people who work in coffee and who carry, on top of their own jobs, the education, events and competitions of that country.
02
What a chapter does
It runs the national competitions to world rules, brings and supports education, keeps the community connected and represents the country with the SCA. Volunteers put in a few hours a month on average, over a three-year term.
03
What a Competition Body is
To run championships whose winner goes to the worlds, you need a licence. World Coffee Championships grants Competition Body status annually, and the natural candidates are SCA chapters with organisational capacity. Without the licence a competition stays local — with it, the winner represents the country on the world stage.
The committee
A chapter is led by an elected committee of at least three members, on a three-year term. These are the official roles and what each one answers for.
National Body
Silvia Constantin Graham
The initiator of Romania's specialty coffee movement — Silvia Graham online. Founder of Barista School (2012), owner of First Coffee Bucharest and Coffee Break magazine; a sensory and technical judge.
Holds the relationship with World Coffee Events: holds and pays for the Competition Body licence and each national competition licence — the framework under which winners go to the worlds.
National Coordinator
Bogdan Andrei
In coffee competitions since 2013: 5th at the 2013 barista nationals, runner-up in 2014, and 3rd at Coffee in Good Spirits the same year.
Chairs the committee and represents the chapter with the SCA. Calls the meetings and keeps continuous contact with members and the SCA community team.
Education Coordinator
Laurențiu Ștefan
National barista champion in 2013 and 2014, two years running. Represented Romania at the 2013 World Barista Championship in Melbourne.
The point of contact for SCA educational programmes. Talks to local trainers about what the market needs and supports certification pathways.
Events Coordinator
Andrei Ianoși
Events coordinator on the 2020 and 2023 committees as well — the only role held three terms in a row. Technical service specialist at Visolux Coffee, Arad.
Runs the national competitions to World Coffee Championships rules, recruits volunteers, coordinates the judging panel and is accountable for licensing compliance.
Judges Coordinator
Alexandru Niculae
2016 World Coffee Roasting Champion — Romania's only world title — and eight-time national champion, in roasting and Brewers Cup.
Handles judge training and calibration, runs judging workshops and oversees adherence to the Code of Conduct.
Marketing & Community Coordinator
Covered by the team
Communicates with competitors, keeps brand consistency, deals with the press and organises member meetings, including the Annual General Meeting.
Roles without a named holder are covered, for now, by the same team. Members' photographs are added as each person gives written consent.
The legal entity
Behind the competitions stands an association, not a company. Its details are public.
- Name
- Asociația pentru Educația și Cultura Cafelei
- Tax ID
- 17244360
Specialty Coffee Association
The SCA, briefly
The Specialty Coffee Association is the global body of specialty coffee: education, standards, research and the world championships. Chapters are how it exists locally.