vol. 59 The Game Behind the Game
Janet 感官笔记
How does the competition system actually work? It is about institutions.
Using ideas from institutional economics, I discuss why coffee competitions create both opportunities and problems. Who pays? Who benefits? How do certifications, judging systems and reputation shape the specialty coffee industry?
Most importantly, I want to thank Aga Rojewska. She inspired me to dream about competitions, and she also inspired me to think more deeply about the system behind the stage.
Timeline
00:26
Why Coffee Hero inspired me and why I want to thank Aga.
01:05
Competition looks like freedom—but it is also expensive.
01:57
The hidden costs of competing.
03:47
Coffee competitions as institutions, not just competitions.
03:53
How WCC and SCA are connected.
05:13
Institutional economics: rules of the game.
05:45
Competition as a signalling system.
07:24
Judges are also part of the game.
08:48
Professional work with a volunteer model.
09:45
What is the Judge Skills Program (JSP)?
11:12
What does a WCC Representative (Rep) do?
12:19
Why governance matters.
13:00
Conflict of interest is more than a written policy.
14:01
Repeated games and small professional networks.
15:01
Volunteer labour and moral hazard.
16:22
Why people still join competitions.
18:13
Coffee competitions and accounting standards: speaking the same language.
19:31
Brewers Cup as both education and marketing.
20:44
Open Service vs Compulsory Service.
22:15
What does "Coffee Ambassador" really mean?
22:48
Big words like sustainability and inclusivity.
23:31
The political economy of coffee competitions.
25:04
Why few people openly question the system.
25:58
Why I still love coffee competitions.
27:15
Why this became my first English episode.
29:00
Final thoughts.
Topics
* Coffee Hero
* Aga Rojewska
* Sasha Sestic
* World Coffee Championships (WCC)
* Specialty Coffee Association (SCA)
* Brewers Cup
* World Barista Championship
* Judge Skills Program (JSP)
* WCC Certified Judge
* WCC Representative (Rep)
* Coffee Value Assessment (CVA)
* Institutional Economics
* Signalling
* Moral Hazard
* Repeated Games
* Conflict of Interest
* Volunteer Labour
* Coffee Ambassador