Coffee Project NY Brings Women Coffee Roasters Scholarship to Colombia

NEW YORK, February 18th, 2026  – Coffee Project New York has announced that the 2026 edition of its Women Coffee Roasters Scholarship will take place in Medellin, Colombia. Now in its fifth year, the scholarship provides six female-identifying coffee professionals the opportunity to complete the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) Roasting Foundation course.

An annual initiative created to uplift women within the global coffee community, the goal of the scholarship is to provide resources and opportunities where aspiring roasters face employment obstacles at the hands of dated gender stereotypes.

The Women Coffee Roasters Scholarship was established to address systemic barriers that have historically prevented women from pursuing roasting careers. Women already carry coffee production in the lowest visibility and compensated roles; roasting is one of the most direct pathways for upward mobility within the industry. Roasteries have long been male-dominated spaces, due in part to outdated perceptions around physical strength and machinery operation. The scholarship is designed to directly challenge those assumptions and provide equitable access to education and opportunity.

“Coffee roasting continues to be one of the most gatekept corners of the industry,” says Chi Sum Ngai, cofounder and Head Roaster at Coffee Project New York. “We’re committed to changing that reality by providing training, mentorship, and resources for women already working in coffee.”

Six recipients will be selected to participate in a custom Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) Roasting Foundation course instructed by Ngai in September 2026. Upon completing the course exams with a passing grade, students will receive official certification from the SCA. 

This scholarship has historically taken place at Coffee Project NY’s Premier Training Campus in Long Island City, but this year, the team is taking the program abroad to reduce travel barriers and expand opportunities for applicants outside of the United States. Applications officially open on March 1st, 2026 and close on March 31st. Recipients will be announced this April.

To apply or see more information, visit Coffee Project NY’s website.