Functions for the scholarship open on March 1, 2026.
BY EMILY JOY MENESES
ONLINE EDITOR
Pictures courtesy of Chi Sum Ngai
Worldwide Girls’s Day is approaching, and, for a lot of, the subject of gender inequity throughout the specialty-coffee world is prime of thoughts.
Whereas gender inquality is a urgent concern throughout the espresso world at massive, espresso roasting particularly stays one of the vital male-dominated sectors of the business. In line with Cafecita Espresso, over 75% of espresso roasters within the U.S. are males, with girls roasters incomes 16% lower than their male counterparts on common. In an effort to fight these statistics, Espresso Mission New York affords an annual Girls Espresso Roasters Scholarship, an initiative they plan to take to Medellín, Colombia, in 2026.
Now in its fifth yr, the annual scholarship will give six female-identifying espresso professionals the prospect to finish the Specialty Espresso Affiliation (SCA) Roasting Basis course, instructed by Espresso Mission New York’s co-founder and Head Roaster, Chi Sum Ngai.
Sum shares the motivation behind their resolution to take the scholarship to Colombia this yr, citing how tough it’s been for these outdoors of the U.S. to enter the States lately. “Final yr was a really difficult yr—two of our college students couldn’t come to class due to visa points. So, this yr, I’ve determined to carry the category to Colombia,” Sum instructed Barista Journal. “My good friend Juan Medina, the founding father of Espresso 5 Mission and a 4th era espresso farmer, has graciously agreed to host us at their lab in Medellín.”
Empowering girls by means of roasting
Since its inception, the Girls Espresso Roasters Scholarship has sought to handle a persistent imbalance inside specialty espresso: the under-representation of girls in roasting. Whereas girls have lengthy performed central roles in espresso manufacturing worldwide—typically within the least seen and lowest compensated positions—roasting has remained largely inaccessible to girls, largely partially attributable to outdated perceptions round girls’s bodily power and talent to function heavy equipment.
“Espresso roasting continues to be one of the vital gatekept corners of the business,” Sum says. “We’re dedicated to altering that actuality by offering coaching, mentorship, and assets for ladies already working in espresso.”
The staff at Espresso Mission New York shares their perception that roasting represents one of many clearest pathways to management and better wages inside specialty espresso. Since its inception, the scholarship has benefited over 20 recipients, permitting them to take part in a custom-made SCA Roasting Basis course and, upon passing course exams, obtain official SCA certification.
Creating espresso leaders at origin
Since its first yr, the Girls Espresso Roasters scholarship has sponsored girls from El Salvador, the Philippines, Vietnam, Guatemala, Mexico, and extra—and, in 2026, Espresso Mission New York hopes to increase their attain even additional.
The espresso firm’s resolution to take the initiative to Colombia—one of many world’s most vital espresso producers—represents a larger name throughout the business to middle origin international locations. The transfer displays the staff’s overarching dedication to increasing entry to espresso schooling and profession alternatives, to girls across the globe.
Study extra & apply
Functions for the 2026 Girls Espresso Roasters Scholarship open March 1, 2026, and shut March 31, with recipients introduced in April. For updates, go to the Espresso Mission New York web site.
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