The Barista Guild of America (BGA) is an official trade guild of the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) that consists of professional baristas. A barista is a coffee professional who has the experience and training to deliver coffee and espresso-based beverages to customers that demonstrate craftsmanship and quality, creating a culinary experience for the customer.

The BGA, founded in 2003, offers its members a variety of exceptional educational opportunities including the BGA Barista Certification Program. Courses toward BGA Certification Levels 1, 2, and 3 are available at SCAA Skill-Building Workshops throughout the year and at the SCAA Annual Exposition. SCAA's Regional Barista Competitions and the annual United States Barista Championship (USBC) provide excellent year-round networking opportunities for BGA 2 Specialty Coffee Association of America members and a venue for refining the industry's cutting-edge trends in coffee preparation. The BGA is led by an annually elected Executive Council of 7 members, providing vision in standardizing educational tracks for those seeking a career in specialty coffee, and increasing awareness of the skill involved in crafting the perfect coffee beverage.

Interested in becoming a member? You can join annually for only $45. Visit www.scaa.org or contact us at membership@scaa.org for more information.