Specialist · 2 days
Climate & Coffee
From the farm to the roastery, learn how coffee is exposed to climate change, how emissions are measured, and what real mitigation looks like.
- Level
- Specialist
- Duration
- 2 days
- Format
- In person · Online
- Teaching
- Theory
- Certificate
- SCA certificate
- Materials
- Theory handout + presentation
- Before you start
- Sustainability Foundation
The SCA Coffee Sustainability Program
Foundation first, then any order.
Four theory courses. Foundation is the prerequisite for the three specialist courses.
- Start · 1 dayFoundationSee the course
- Specialist · 2 daysClimate & CoffeeYou are here
- Specialist · 2 daysCoffee EconomicsSee the course
- Specialist · 2 daysCompliance, Governance & ReportingSee the course
What you’ll learn
By the end of the course, you can:
- 01
Explain climate change, adaptation and mitigation in the context of coffee.
- 02
Describe climate-smart agriculture and why it lowers risk for producers.
- 03
Understand coffee's impact on water, forests and biodiversity, and the value of agroforestry.
- 04
Explain how research and new coffee varieties help the sector adapt.
- 05
Use the Greenhouse Gas Protocol's Scope 1, 2 and 3 to map a coffee business's emissions.
- 06
Run basic emissions calculations with activity data and emission factors.
- 07
Tell mitigation from offsetting and insetting, and know what net zero really means.
- 08
Apply circular economy and waste reduction ideas in a café or roastery.
Who it’s for
- Roasters and café owners who want to measure and reduce their carbon footprint.
- Producers and exporters facing climate risk at origin.
- Sustainability, quality and sourcing managers.
- Anyone preparing environmental claims or reports for a coffee business.
Before you come
- SCA Coffee Sustainability Foundation.
- A calculator: some exam questions involve simple emissions calculations.
Taught by
Maryam Tabatabaei
Authorized SCA Trainer, licensed Q Arabica Grader and Q Instructor, and the UAE’s first SCA Coffee Sustainability Program trainer. Judge at the UAE National Roasting Championship, January 2026.
Small groups, in Persian or English. You learn on the floor, not just from slides.
Her story and certificatesQuestions
Before you book.
Who teaches this course?
Maryam Tabatabaei, the UAE’s first SCA Coffee Sustainability Program trainer. She teaches it in person in the UAE and live online for learners anywhere in the world.
How long is the course?
Two days, with a minimum of 16 hours of live teaching as set by the SCA.
Do I need to be good at maths?
No. The calculations are simple multiplications and unit conversions, and every one is worked through in class first.
Can I take it online?
Yes. The SCA allows this course in person, online or a mix of both, as long as the teaching is live. Maryam offers both.
Will I be able to calculate my company's carbon footprint?
You will understand how it is done and be able to start with Scope 1 and 2. Full emissions accounting, especially Scope 3, is usually done with a specialist, and the course shows you how to work with one.
Something else? Ask Maryam on WhatsApp.