KNOWLEDGE
Elevate your business and advance your career: NAMA is the premier knowledge source for industry members.
NAMA Knowledge Center
Certified Coffee Specialist (CCS)
The Certified Coffee Specialist (CCS) designation is the coffee service industry's Mark of Distinction awarded by NAMA. It provides those professionals who are actively involved in convenience services the opportunity to take their skills and knowledge to the next level. Be recognized as an industry leader and prove your expertise.
Who should earn the CCS designation?
- Coffee sales professionals
- Sales managers
- Company owners
- Route sales representatives
In order to qualify to sit for the CCS examination, you must have at least one year of industry-related experience, and have completed at least two of the four The Essence of Coffee modules.
There is a charge of $150 for members and $250 for non-members to register for the exam.
The Essence of Coffee
Module 1 - Coffee Concepts
This first module of a four-part series will take you on a journey starting with the origin of coffee from its history through roasting, blending and the finished product.
View Recording
Module 2 - It’s in the Cup
Module 2 will begin with a discussion and tasting of a variety of coffee taste profiles and blends, and will continue with an overview of brewing equipment and the experience offered to the customer.
View Recording
Module 3 - Coffee Commerce
There is more to growing your office coffee service than just sending out a sales force. Your growth strategy will be defined by a number of factors. In this session, you will gain a better understanding of four key aspects relating to growing your coffee service operation:
- Financial choices relating to business development – organic growth or acquisition?
- Building a sales force and a culture – how to assemble a winning team.
- Sales techniques for OCS – proven strategies that your sales reps can use.
- Storytelling (verbally and online) – how storytelling can help close deals.
Module 4 - Top to Bottom OCS Operations
In today’s OCS environment it is critically important that a company establish a work environment that consists of a strong working relationship between operations and sales. Take a deep dive into how to effectively establish the strategic objectives of revenue growth, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction for an OCS organization. Gain a better understanding of how to bring to fruition the true teamwork of operations and sales, to ensure that the winner is the bottom line!
View Recording
Certified Coffee Specialist Registry
NAME | COMPANY |
Walter Abele | Vistar of Greensboro |
Kim Albrecht | Regency Business Solutions |
Sandy Albright | PrairieFire Coffee Roasters |
David Barrientos | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
John Battaglia | J & J Vending, Inc. |
Tom Bauer | The Standard Companies |
Kathy Bennett | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Britannie Betti | Betson Enterprises |
Leonardo Bettoli | Bettoli Trading Corp DBA J & H Vendor |
Terrie Blackstone | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Mike Blackwell | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Jim Bombeck | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Margie Bonner | Sunrise Beverage Service |
Michael Brooks | Burdette Beckmann, Inc. |
Mike Brown | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Bruce Burch | Jackson Brothers of the South |
Kathy Burfield | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Tara Burnaman | DS Waters |
Joe Capps | Atlanta Coffee Time |
Mario Carrizosa | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Stu Case | Burdette Beckmann, Inc. |
Wayne D. Chai | BVI dba Go Green Vending |
Scott Chancellor | Relyant Coffee Equipment Services |
Howard Chapman | Royal Cup, Inc. |
Mike Craig | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
John Cunningham | Filterfresh Tampa |
Kevin Daw | KNJ Sales |
Jeff Deitchler | PrairieFire Coffee Roasters |
Scott Dimick | Premier Vending |
Tom Dolan | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Linn D. Donkersgoed | PrairieFire Coffee Roasters |
Todd Elliott | Tomdra, Inc. |
Lori Endres | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Keith Enscoe | Grindmaster Corporation |
Michael Esposito | Prestige Services |
Howard Fischer | Mid-America Roasterie |
Michael Flanagan | Canteen Vending |
Jon Ford | All State Manufacturing Co., Inc. |
Jim Fronberry | Pavlic Vending Service, Inc. |
Steve Garbee | Royal Cup, Inc. |
Richard Geerdes | |
Jeff Gehman | Consolidated Coffee Services |
Dean Gilland | |
George Goodwin | Canteen Vending Services |
John Graczyk | Filterfresh Coffee Service |
Larry Gray | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Danny Green | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Matt Greenwald | Betson Enterprises |
Mel Hage | 3M Purification, Inc. |
Patrick Hagerty | Vistar |
Tim Hall | Excelso Coffee, LLC |
Tom Harrington | DS Waters, LP |
Paul Hawley | PrairieFire Coffee Roasters |
Don Haynes | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Frank Heatherly | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Chris Heaton | Enterprise Vending, Inc. |
Jason Helm | Pop Top Vending |
Craig Hesch | A.H. Management Group, Inc. |
Chris Hettinger | Canteen Vending Services |
Eddie Hicks | Prestige Services, Inc. |
Jenny Hill | Pentair Everpure |
Steve Hill | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Kelly Hobson | Atlanta Coffee Time |
Kerry Hoff | Southern Market |
Bill Hoffman | Atlanta Coffee Time |
Edward Holloran | Filterfresh Coffee Service, Inc. |
Ryan Huber | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Steve Hyde | Brew Tek |
Robert Keenan | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Duane Kemp | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Chris King | Paramount Coffee |
Prakash Kopparapu | Seaga |
Dan Kozlak | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Paul LaMontagne | Pepsi Beverages Company |
David Larimer | DCL Consulting Services |
André Larouche | Green Mountain Coffee Roasters |
David Leach | Starbucks Coffee Company |
David Lentz | Mars Drinks |
Sid Lindholm | Green Mountain Coffee Roasters |
Dan Mathews | VisionQuest Associates & Oakridge-Petoskey LLC |
Mike McClure | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Chuck Meyers | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Tico Moreno | The Java Butler |
Jim Mosley | Southern Refreshment Services |
Jim Nelson | Everpure, LLC |
Rod Nester | Smith Vending, Inc. |
David Norvalls | Everpure/Pentair |
Sarah O'Connor | Intermark |
Jeremy Paretti | A.H. Management Group, Inc. |
Geoff Paul | Excelso Coffee & Tea Co. |
Roger Pepper | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Tom Peters | Pentair |
Ann Porter | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Alexander Radosav | Technologies Coffea |
David Rich | Acme Music & Vending Co., Inc. |
Cole Richardson | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Amanda Rodewald | Intermark |
Barbara Russell | Holiday House Distributing |
David Sale | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Jonathan Samster | D & S Food Services, Inc. / Davian's |
Annie Sawa | Patterson Co., Inc. |
Rich Schaafsma | Paramount Coffee Company |
Paul Schindelar | Kraft Foods, Inc. |
Roy, Jr. Seppala | Vistar |
Ken Shea | DS Waters |
Rob Shoemake | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Greg Sidwell | G & J Marketing Company |
Stuart Siegal | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Shawn T. Smith | BE's Coffee & Vending Service |
Craig Stahl | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Gregory Steen | PrairieFire Coffee Roasters |
Brenda Stegeman | Patterson Co., Inc. |
Tom Steuber | Associated Services |
Erik Stevenson | Cascade Bottled Water |
Roger Stewart | |
Ashilyn Sunderman | Smith Vending, Inc. |
Mike Thorpe | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Dawn Tisdell | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Brent Toevs | National Coffee Service & Vending Brokerage |
Gary Tokarski | G & J Marketing and Sales LLC |
Mike Tompkins | Coffee Products Associates, Inc. |
Lyle Trumbley | VVS, Inc. (Canteen) |
Paul A. Tullio | Gourmet Coffee Service |
Peter Tullio | World Wide Vending/Gourmet Coffee Service |
Brian Urban | Compass Group / Canteen |
Butch Winkler | Holiday House Distributing |
Ward Yondo | Paramount Coffee |