Coffee Project New York’s scholarship program for women and femme coffee roasters is back for another year to honor and celebrate Women’s History Month. For the 2026 program, we’re doing something special: the Women Coffee Roasters Scholarship is going to Colombia! 

Travel arrangements to enter the United States are more difficult than ever right now. Because our past programs have taken place in New York City behind a barrier of logistical challenges, access to the scholarship by students outside of the U.S. has been extremely limited. So, we’re reaffirming our promise to provide opportunities for women in the coffee industry where they are currently scarce, and taking our scholarship abroad. 

Six recipients will be selected to participate in a custom Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) Roasting Foundation course instructed by our cofounder and Head Roaster, Chi Sum Ngai. 

• Applications open March 1st, 2026, and close on March 31st, 2026.  
• Recipients will be selected by a panel of judges and announced in the following weeks.
• Class will take place in Colombia in mid September 2026.
  
• Class will be taught in English, but Spanish translation will be available when needed.
• After completing exams with a passing grade, students will receive certification from the SCA. 

Since its inception, our goal with this program is to uplift members of the coffee community and provide opportunities where they are currently scarce. Women face many obstacles to entry in roasting jobs because of dated perceptions in capability and strength; coffee roasteries are frequently male-dominated workplaces despite being one of the main pathways for upward mobility within the industry. 

Location and Travel Information
This class will be held in person in Medellín, Colombia, with no remote learning option. This scholarship is for students willing to pay out-of-pocket for travel; Coffee Project New York will not contribute to any costs for travel or accommodation of scholarship recipients. 

Experience Requirement
This scholarship is intended for women and femme-identifying individuals within the coffee industry. Our goal is to uplift coffee professionals and provide opportunities where they are needed. Scholarship recipients will be selected with this in mind. 

Community Initiative
While this is not a requirement, we ask our scholarship recipients to describe how they intend to give back to their own communities and share skills gained from this class. 

Class will be held in September in Medellín, Colombia. The Coffee Five Project has graciously offered to host and let us teach in their facility. Coffee Project New York will sponsor class fees, exams, and materials, but students will be responsible for travel arrangements, accommodations, and visa applications.