Coffee Skills Program
The SCA Coffee Skills Program is a modular, skills-based training program designed to prepare learners to gain more success in their career while contributing to the progress and evolution of the specialty coffee industry. Join the approximately 50,000 learners who engage with SCA Certificate Programs each year.
Courses
The Coffee Skills Program consists of five different modules and one introductory course. The five specialist modules are Barista Skills, Brewing, Green Coffee, Roasting and Sensory Skills. These are offered at three different course levels. Introduction To Coffee is a popular, standalone course that familiarizes participants with specialty coffee and the broad topics that can be explored within the specialist modules.
In addition to the certificate earned by successfully completing a course, learners can also achieve the SCA Coffee Skills Diploma. SCA has introduced a new set of diplomas that give you in-depth knowledge and practical experience you can immediately apply in an industry setting. Each diploma requires a combination of advanced level learning and foundational coursework. Learn More about the SCA Skills Diploma here.
Introduction to Coffee
The Introduction to Coffee course is ideal for anyone who is new to specialty coffee. It charts coffee’s journey from its origins in Ethiopia to the major commodity that it is today. This course gives a general overview of the specialty coffee supply chain and explores topics such as history and cultivation, variables that affect coffee quality, basics of sensory analysis, fundamentals of roasting, factors of coffee freshness, and principles of brewing. In addition, learners will discuss the importance of water quality, cleanliness and maintenance. This interactive course also includes a cupping, an industry-specific process for evaluating coffee through a sensory experience. There is an online written exam administered upon the completion of the course
Barista Skills
Barista Skills teaches the essentials practical skills needed behind the espresso bar such as how to set your grinder, make espresso, foam and texture milk for cappuccinos, and create latte art as well as an exploration of health and safety issues, customer service protocols, and basic business practices.
Foundation Course
The Barista Skills Foundation course allows learners to gain an introductory understanding of the coffee itself as well as foundational skills required to set a grinder, make espressos, foam and texture milk and latte art techniques as per SCA quality standards, while implementing health and safety practices and customer service. Practical learning objectives and activities prepare the learner to conduct key foundational tasks of a barista. A written exam tests theoretical knowledge based on Foundation course learning objectives.
Intermediate Course
The Barista Skills Intermediate course builds on the concepts and skills introduced in the Foundation course. It is ideal for someone who has barista skills experience and wants to explore how to improve coffee quality and prepare for more complex job functions found in the barista profession. Through this interactive course, learners will gain a deeper understanding of the coffee itself, specifically the impact of a coffee’s variety, origins and processing methods on flavor; the parameters of coffee quantity, grind texture, water quality, and shot time and their interaction when dialing in a brew recipe; drink construction and taste differences; workflow management and efficiency, sensory aspects of the espresso extraction; milk handling and techniques as well as latte art. In addition to coffee preparation, this course also covers key concepts regarding health and safety, customer service, and basic business practices. A written exam tests Intermediate course knowledge while a practical exam assesses the learner’s ability in terms of grinder calibration, espresso extraction analysis, latte art skills and drinks construction.
Professional Course
The Barista Skills Professional course is designed to test advanced skills and detailed knowledge of the science behind processes used by a professional barista (for example, a barista with 12 months or more of work experience). Successful candidates will have explored and demonstrated the advanced skills typically expected of a head barista. In particular, participants will learn a sophisticated tasting methodology and descriptive explanation of coffee flavors; gain a detailed understanding of drink ingredients and the techniques available to maximize the quality of the drinks made; understand how to manage the skills of others to produce quality drinks; demonstrate an understanding of how to develop brew recipes and a systematic method of structuring beverage menus; and finally be able to consistently apply the highest standard of latte art and milk steaming techniques. A written exam tests professional course knowledge while a practical exam tests the skills described above based on different working activities carried out during the course.
Brewing
The Brewing courses cover numerous brewing coffee methods as well as the brewing variables that affect quality. Hands on learning is emphasized with a focus on grind profiles, brewing methods, coffee strength measurements, and coffee extraction charting.
Foundation Course
The Brewing Foundation course introduces the learner to the different methods of brewing coffee. The learner will receive theoretical and practical hands-on instruction for a range of devices including automatic and manual gravity brewers, as well as other commonly used brewers within their local culture. Practical learning objectives and activities prepare the learner to produce a tasty brew based on an understanding of the essential brewing elements and an analysis of their brew results. A written exam tests theoretical knowledge based on Foundation course learning objectives.
Intermediate Course
The Brewing Intermediate course builds on the concepts and skills introduced in the Foundation course. It is ideal for someone who has brewing experience and wants to further explore how to improve coffee quality. This course covers a wide range of topics, including an exploration of the brewing process in terms of device usage; extraction order and wetting; the essential elements of brewing and their individual influence on the final cup; the scientific measurement of extracted coffee strength and charting a coffee’s extraction; analysis of brewed coffee and espresso and adjustments to consider in order to deliver a correctly extracted, well-balanced cup; and the importance of cleaning and maintenance. A written exam tests intermediate course knowledge while a practical exam assesses the learner’s ability to Identify strength and extraction differences in brewed coffee; prepare brews from different devices and diagnose how to correct the recipe for a poorly brewed coffee from an automatic filter brewer.
Professional Course
The Brewing Professional course builds upon the concepts and skills introduced in the Brewing Intermediate course. Learners take a deeper and more scientific look at the essential elements of good brewing, what happens when brewing parameters are manipulated, and how to master navigation of the coffee brewing control chart. Learners will gain a deeper understanding of water and its impact on brewing, specifically utilizing the ideals of aim, measure, and treatment. The most powerful tools that a professional brewer possesses are an analytical mind and the ability to process and manipulate a multitude of changing variables. These variables help the brewer to understand how best to interpret the information and then offer a solution or opinion that will improve the coffee quality, service, and delivery for their clients. A written exam tests professional course knowledge while a practical exam tests the skills described above based on different working activities carried out during the course.
Green Coffee
Green coffee courses cover concepts and skills relevant to the evaluation, trade, and handling of green coffee. Content of these courses include applicable aspects of botany, coffee farming, processing, grading, storage, transport, markets, certifications, contracts, and more.
Foundation Course
The Green Coffee Foundation course introduces basic concepts regarding the production, trade, and evaluation of green coffee. Participants will learn about the specialty coffee supply chain from farm to roaster, including cultivation, harvesting, processing, drying, shipping, storage, and delivery. Within this supply chain, learners take a closer look at the principles of coffee growing, processing, grading, trade, and portfolio management. Practical learning objectives and activities prepare the learner to conduct basic assessments of green coffee. A written exam tests theoretical knowledge based on Foundation course learning objectives.
Intermediate Course
The Green Coffee Intermediate course builds on the knowledge gained in the Green Coffee Foundation course and prepares the learner for more complex job functions found in the green coffee profession. Learners will take a deeper and balanced look at botany, agronomy, seasonality, processing, resting, shipment, storage, decaffeination, markets, certifications, transactions, and quality differentiation. Learners are also introduced to grading, defects, and positive attributes as they relate to green coffee contracts. A written exam tests intermediate course knowledge while a practical exam assesses the learner’s ability to grade coffee by size; identify physical defects; visually differentiate samples based on process, species, and variety; detect sensory defects; and conduct basic procedures of sample analysis.
Professional Course
The Green Coffee Professional course builds on the concepts and skills introduced in the Green Coffee Intermediate course and prepares the learner for managerial job functions found in the green coffee profession. This interactive course covers key aspects of coffee botany, impact of climate change, farm management, processing methodologies, common sensory defects, sample analysis, futures markets as they relate to green trade, portfolio management, factors in the costs of green coffee production, contract considerations, targeted purchasing plans, supplier assessments, and third-party accreditations. A written exam tests professional course knowledge while a practical exam assesses the learner’s ability to identify certain sensorial defects, conduct sampling processes for consistency, create standards for a client, analyze samples, and make purchasing decisions.
Roasting
The Roasting modules teaches about the roasting process, including roast cycle, roast levels, identifying defects, the physical changes that beans undergo during the roasting process, as well as workspace management and lean production.
Foundation Course
The Roasting Foundation course gives the learner an understanding of the roasting process, including the physical changes that take place during the process and how to control sensory aspects of the coffee by roasting light or dark. Learners will also gain an understanding of the basic structure of the roasting machine, general maintenance, and fire prevention. Practical learning objectives and activities prepare the learner to follow instructions, given by the trainer, for three different roasts and record relevant data and observations per roast using a suitable roast log. A written exam tests theoretical knowledge based on Foundation course learning objectives.
Intermediate Course
The Roasting Intermediate course builds upon the introductory concepts of the Foundation course. It is ideal for someone who has roasting and desires to gain a deeper understanding of the roast profile, how the profile relates to color, the relationship between roast profile and sensory expression, and the impact of development time. Learners will further explore the physical and chemical changes as well as basic thermodynamics and heat transfer that occurs during the roast. Thereafter there will be an introduction to sample roasting and a review of safety and maintenance protocols in the roasting plant. A written exam tests intermediate course knowledge while a practical exam assesses the learner’s ability to roast correctly and remove the coffee at the correct color using a reference, while accurately completing the roast log form.
Professional Course
The Roasting Professional course is designed to build upon the concepts and skills introduced in the Roasting Intermediate course. Learners will gain advanced skills in profile development and sensory analysis evaluation. This course dives deep into a wide range of topics including control and color matching within different and specified time limits; use and configuration of roast profile software; molecules involved in browning reactions; gas formation during roasting process; chemical causes of color and impact on solubility; visual identification of roasting defects; blending and quality control; as well as an exploration of production options to help meet differing customer preferences. A written exam confirms professional course knowledge while a practical exam assesses the learner’s ability to roast to different development time targets within narrow limits, score a roast color visually, identify common roast defects through cupping, and finally distinguish between small and large differences in a roast profile to simulate production quality control processes.
Sensory Skills
Sensory Skills courses cover concepts and skills relevant to the evaluation of coffee and related products. The content of these interactive courses includes sensory science, industry-specific protocols, common sensory attributes of coffee, physiological sensory training, implementation of sensory programs, consumer testing design, application in business, and more.
Foundation Course
The Sensory Skills Foundation course introduces the essentials of sensory evaluation in a practical and interactive manner. It investigates the way human senses influence perception and how to apply this knowledge when evaluating coffee’s natural characteristics. Learners gain the ability to differentiate certain sensorial aspects of coffee including body, acidity, bitterness, and more. The course introduces fragrance identification references and also focuses on the purpose and procedure for conducting an SCA cupping. Learners gain insight into identifying specialty coffee qualities, as well as an overview of how to implement this in business. Practical learning objectives and activities specifically prepare the learner to identify basic differences in coffee attributes, recall fragrance identification and set up a cupping according to the SCA Cupping Protocol. A written exam tests theoretical knowledge based on Foundation course learning objectives.
Intermediate Course
The Sensory Skills Intermediate course builds on the concepts and skills introduced in the Sensory Skills Foundation course and prepares the learner for more complex job functions in the sensory evaluation of coffee and related products. This course covers a wide range of topics, including the physiology of taste and aroma; the types of sensory analysis tests, the operation of a cupping session; the diversity of coffee attributes; the use of the SCA Flavor Wheel and WCR Sensory Lexicon; and the implementation of a sensory analysis panel and session. A written exam tests intermediate course knowledge while a practical exam assesses the learner’s ability to identify basic differences in coffee attributes and recall fragrance identification.
Professional Course
The Sensory Skills Professional course builds on the concepts and skills introduced in the Sensory Skills Intermediate course and prepares the learner for managerial job functions in the sensory evaluation of coffee and related products. In this interactive course, learners gain alignment with industry coffee and sensory standards; learn about the implementation of sensory evaluation in a coffee business; acquire the skills required to start identifying and evaluating qualities in specialty green coffee; and demonstrate how to accurately measure and describe coffee beverage characteristics. Participants will learn how to generate repeatable and methodical sensory measurements of coffee, along with interpretation of those results. A written exam confirms professional course knowledge while a practical exam tests the skills described above based on different working activities carried out during the course.
Course Catalog
The SCA Coffee Skills Program Course Catalog consists of information on the SCA Certificate Programs, the SCA Coffee Diploma, and key information about each module and course of the Coffee Skills Program.
Click the button below to download the SCA Coffee Skills Program Course Catalog.
Distance Learning available for select courses
Learn more about distance learning experiences across the globe.
Pricing
Authorized SCA Trainers (ASTs) set their own schedules and tuition fees. SCA collects a Course Enrollment Fee from each learner. As you identify the right AST for you, please consult with them regarding the pricing and payment processes for their courses.
Find a Course
Our courses are taught by Authorized SCA Trainers (ASTs) all around the globe, with some courses including distance learning. View the course calendar to find course details and contact information for ASTs near you.