$1 Million Fellowship in Coffee Science Established at UC Davis
The Specialty Coffee Association, or SCA, and the University of California, Davis, announced the establishment of the Specialty Coffee Association Endowed Fellowship in Coffee Science, made possible by a $1 million gift from the SCA to support graduate coffee research at the UC Davis Coffee Center, a center of excellence in the College of Engineering.
The endowment represents a long-term investment in coffee research and the next generation of researchers advancing the field. It will provide ongoing support for graduate students at UC Davis, expanding opportunities for international scholars, particularly those bringing perspectives and experience from coffee-producing regions. The fellowship also extends the SCA’s commitment to education and professional development by creating new pathways for emerging researchers to build expertise and contribute to the future of the global coffee industry.
"The future of coffee depends on investing in the people who will shape it," said Yannis Apostolopoulos, CEO of the Specialty Coffee Association. "Through our longstanding partnership with UC Davis, we've seen what's possible when education, research, and industry come together. This fellowship will support the next generation of coffee scientists, and we hope it will open doors especially for talented students from coffee-producing regions, whose perspectives and leadership are essential to our sector's sustainability and resilience. Their work, and the knowledge they carry home, can create an impact that extends far beyond any one student or research project."
Since the UC Davis Coffee Center was established, the SCA and UC Davis have collaborated to advance coffee science and education, including a 2017 partnership on the Coffee Center’s first major research project examining the fundamentals of coffee brewing. The new endowment builds on that history and reinforces a shared commitment to rigorous, independent research with relevance across the global coffee community.
“We are extremely grateful for the generosity and vision of the SCA,” said William Ristenpart, founding director of the UC Davis Coffee Center and the Child-Whitaker Endowed Professor of Chemical Engineering. “One of the longstanding missions of the UC Davis Coffee Center has been to establish and nurture a strong academic talent pipeline in support of the coffee industry. This new endowed fellowship dramatically advances that mission by directly supporting graduate students and bringing perspectives and experience from around the world into coffee research at UC Davis.”
Graduate students play a central role at the UC Davis Coffee Center, contributing to work across disciplines including agricultural and environmental science, engineering, chemistry, sensory science, roasting, brewing, and postharvest processing. The Coffee Center is the first academic research and teaching facility in the United States dedicated entirely to the study of coffee and has an established track record of advancing coffee science.
Under the endowment, UC Davis will manage and invest the $1 million fund for long-term growth. Approximately 4% of the fund, currently estimated at $40,000, will be distributed annually to support an SCA Fellow’s graduate research, with the remaining earnings reinvested in the endowment.
Beyond supporting graduate research, the endowment will also strengthen connections between academia and the wider coffee industry. SCA Fellows will have opportunities to share their research through SCA events and publications, helping new scientific knowledge reach coffee professionals and communities around the world.
The new fellowship and broader partnership reflect a shared vision of coffee science that is global and interdisciplinary. By supporting emerging researchers and fostering international perspectives, the SCA and UC Davis aim to advance research and innovation that can contribute to coffee’s long-term resilience and benefit the people and communities who depend on it.
