Bangladesh’s coffee culture is growing fast. From trendy specialty cafés in Gulshan and Banani to bustling coffee corners in Dhanmondi and Mirpur, Dhaka’s café scene has transformed dramatically over the last five years.
With this boom comes a rising demand for one thing: skilled, certified baristas. And when it comes to professional barista certification, nothing carries more global weight than the SCA Certification.
But what exactly is SCA Certification?
Why does it matter so much especially in Bangladesh?
And how can you get it right here in Dhaka?
Let’s break it all down.
What Is SCA Certification?
SCA stands for the Specialty Coffee Association, a global non-profit organization that sets the international standards for specialty coffee. Founded in 2017 through the merger of the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) and the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE), the SCA is now the world’s largest coffee trade association with members in over 100 countries.
The SCA Coffee Skills Program (CSP) is a structured, modular certification pathway that covers everything from the basics of brewing to the advanced science of espresso, sensory evaluation, barista skills, green coffee, and roasting. Each module is scored and certified individually, and baristas can accumulate points to earn a Foundation, Intermediate, or Professional level diploma.
When you earn an SCA certification, it is recognized worldwide, whether you’re applying for a barista role in Dhaka, Dubai, London, or Singapore.
Why SCA Certification Matters in Bangladesh
1. Bangladesh’s Café Industry Is Going Global
Over the past decade, hundreds of new coffee shops have opened across Dhaka, Chittagong, and Sylhet. International café chains are entering the market, and home-grown specialty cafés are raising their standards to compete. Café owners today are not just looking for someone who can pull a shot of espresso. They want professionals who understand the science, consistency, and artistry behind a great cup.
An SCA-certified barista tells employers immediately: this person meets international standards.
2. Opportunities for Bangladeshis Abroad Are Real
A huge number of Bangladeshis work or aspire to work abroad in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe, and beyond. The hospitality and F&B industry is one of the top sectors for overseas employment. An SCA certification is a passport-ready credential that can open doors to barista and café management roles in countries where specialty coffee is already a mainstream industry.
Unlike a local training certificate that may not be recognized outside of Bangladesh, an SCA certification is verifiable online and respected globally. This is a career advantage that can literally change your life.
3. Specialty Coffee Is the Future of Bangladesh’s F&B Sector
Tea has always been Bangladesh’s national drink, but coffee is quickly carving out its own identity. The youth demographic in Dhaka (particularly those aged 18–35) is increasingly choosing specialty coffee experiences over traditional tea houses. This is not a passing trend. As disposable incomes rise and café culture deepens, the market for skilled coffee professionals will only grow.
Getting SCA certified now means you’re ahead of the curve.
4. It Commands Better Pay and Respect
Let’s be honest: in Bangladesh, “barista” is still sometimes seen as a casual job. But an SCA-certified barista is a specialist. And specialists command higher salaries. Cafés that invest in specialty coffee are also willing to pay premium wages to the right talent. Certification is the clearest signal you can send to justify that premium.
What GBTA’s SCA Certification Covers?
The SCA Coffee Skills Program is divided into five modules:
Barista Skills: Covers espresso preparation, milk techniques, workflow, customer service, and sensory analysis. This is the most popular module for those entering the café industry.
Brewing: Focuses on filter coffee, water quality, extraction theory, and manual brewing methods like pour-over, French press, and AeroPress.
Sensory Skills: Teaches you how to taste, evaluate, and describe coffee. It’s a must-have skill for anyone aspiring to be a café manager or head barista.
Green Coffee: Covers coffee origin, processing methods, grading, and trading standards.
Roasting: Dives into the science and craft of turning raw green beans into roasted coffee.
Each module has three levels: Foundation, Intermediate, and Professional. The SCA Foundation Certificate is ideal for beginners, while the Professional level is suited for experienced baristas and industry leaders.
How GBTA Brings SCA-Standard Training to Bangladesh
At Global Barista Training Academy (GBTA), we are proud to be one of the very few training institutions in Bangladesh that offers barista training conducted by SCA-certified trainers. This is not a small distinction. It means our students learn from professionals who have been evaluated and certified by the world’s most respected coffee authority.
Our trainers, including Senior Trainer Zobayer Hosen and Theory Trainer Owaniul Haque Tamij, bring internationally certified knowledge into every class, ensuring that what you learn at GBTA is aligned with global specialty coffee standards.
We also issue online-verified certificates, which means any employer from around the world can verify your credential digitally. In a world that increasingly demands transparency and accountability, this matters.
Our training programs range from entry-level courses like: Basic Barista & Mixology Course (2 days, ৳6,500) to comprehensive professional pathways like our Intermediate to Advanced Program (20 days, ৳25,000).
Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced barista looking to upgrade your skills, there’s a program at GBTA designed for you.
Who Should Pursue SCA Certification in Barista Training in Bangladesh?
SCA certification is valuable for a wide range of people:
Aspiring baristas who want to enter the café industry with a credential that stands out from the crowd.
Working baristas who want to formalize their skills and advance to head barista or café management roles.
Café owners and managers who want to understand quality standards and build a high-performing coffee team.
Bangladeshis planning to work abroad in the hospitality, tourism, or F&B sector.
Coffee enthusiasts who want to deepen their knowledge of specialty coffee beyond home brewing.
The Coffee Industry in Bangladesh: A Growing Opportunity
According to industry observers, Dhaka alone now has hundreds of specialty and semi-specialty cafés, and the number is growing every year. Cities like Chittagong and Sylhet are not far behind. With the rise of social media café culture, consumer expectations are rising too — customers want latte art, single-origin brews, and well-crafted espresso drinks.
For baristas, this is a golden moment. The demand for skill is there. The café infrastructure is being built. The only missing piece, for many, is professional training and certification.
That’s exactly the gap GBTA exists to fill.