LEARN COFFEE SKILLS WITH
SCA COURSES
SCA Courses are designed to build practical skills across different areas of the coffee industry.
EDUCATION
Coffee skills courses
Develop the core skills used across coffee, from brewing and barista techniques to roasting and sensory. Learn how to assess coffee quality, understand key variables, and work confidently with coffee and equipment.
Course structure
The Coffee Skills Course follows a clear, flexible path designed to build well-rounded knowledge across the industry.
Start with Introduction to Coffee, then choose from five specialist areas, each with three progressive levels, so you can build your skills at your own pace.
Course pricing
To understand how course pricing works, click here.
Introduction to Coffee
Learning Mode: In-person or Distance
Duration: 4-6 hours
A starting point for understanding coffee from seed to cup:
Follow coffee’s journey from farm to cup
Learn basic brewing fundamentals
Understand flavor and freshness
Introduction to Coffee
Barista Skills
Learning Mode: In-person or Distance
Duration: 7 hours
Related Diploma(s):
Foundation
Build essential skills for working behind the espresso bar:
Prepare basic espresso drinks
Apply cleaning routines
Learn basic brewing fundamentals
Practice service fundamentals
Learning Mode: In-person or Distance
Duration: 14 hours
Related Diploma(s):
Intermediate
Improve consistency and workflow with deeper technical understanding:
Control extraction variables
Texture milk consistently
Manage workflow efficiently
Learning Mode: In-person or Distance
Duration: 21 hours
Related Diploma(s):
Professional
Develop advanced skills for managing coffee service:
Lead quality control practices
Create custom drink recipes
Execute advanced latte art
Brewing
Foundation
Learning Mode: In-person or Distance
Duration: 7 hours
Related Diploma(s):
Learn core brewing methods and techniques:
Use brewing equipment correctly
Follow standard recipes
Understand extraction basics
Intermediate
Learning Mode: In-person or Distance
Duration: 14 hours
Related Diploma(s):
Refine brewing control and consistency:
Adjust recipes for flavor
Measure strength and extraction
Work across multiple methods
Professional
Learning Mode: In-person or Distance
Duration: 21 hours
Related Diploma(s):
Master advanced brewing and quality control:
Apply advanced brewing techniques
Control water chemistry
Develop custom brew recipes
Green Coffee
Learning Mode: In-person or Distance
Duration: 7 hours
Related Diploma(s):
Foundation
Introduction to green coffee and quality evaluation:
Understand the coffee value chain
Learn basic grading
Assess quality fundamentals
Learning Mode: In-person or Distance
Duration: 14 hours
Related Diploma(s):
Intermediate
Build skills in evaluation and market understanding:
Grade coffee accurately
Identify defects
Understand processing methods
Learning Mode: In-person or Distance
Duration: 21 hours
Related Diploma(s):
Professional
Develop advanced sourcing and purchasing skills:
Evaluate samples professionally
Understand contracts
Build buying strategies
Roasting
Learning Mode: In-person or Distance
Duration: 7 hours
Related Diploma(s):
Foundation
Learn the basics of roasting and machine operation:
Understand roasting stages
Follow basic profiles
Apply safety practices
Learning Mode: In-person or Distance
Duration: 14 hours
Related Diploma(s):
Intermediate
Control roast development and consistency:
Adjust roast profiles
Match roast levels
Understand heat transfer
Learning Mode: In-person or Distance
Duration: 21 hours
Related Diploma(s):
Professional
Master production roasting and profile design:
Create custom roast profiles
Manage production roasting
Apply quality control
Sensory Skills
Foundation
Learning Mode: In-person or Distance
Duration: 7 hours
Related Diploma(s):
Introduction to coffee tasting and evaluation:
Identify basic flavors
Follow cupping protocol
Understand sensory principles
Intermediate
Learning Mode: In-person or Distance
Duration: 14 hours
Related Diploma(s):
Develop advanced tasting and evaluation skills:
Improve flavor identification
Conduct sensory tests
Lead tastings
Professional
Learning Mode: In-person or Distance
Duration: 21 hours
Related Diploma(s):
Build expertise in sensory programs and training:
Lead professional cuppings
Design evaluation programs
Train tasters
EDUCATION
Coffee sustainability courses
Understand the challenges shaping coffee today, including environmental impact, pricing, and long-term resilience. Learn how sustainability connects across the coffee value chain and how to apply practical approaches in real-world contexts.
Course structure
The Coffee Sustainability Course includes one foundation course and three specialized courses, building practical skills across key sustainability topics.
Through a mix of instruction, discussion, and activities, you develop a toolkit to apply sustainability in your work and support a more resilient coffee sector.
Coffee Sustainability (Foundation)
Learning Mode: In-person or Distance
Duration: 7 hours
Related Diploma(s):
Introduction to coffee tasting and evaluation:
Identify basic flavors
Follow cupping protocol
Understand sensory principles
Climate & Coffee
Learning Mode: In-person or Distance
Duration: 14 hours
Related Diploma(s):
Develop advanced tasting and evaluation skills:
Improve flavor identification
Conduct sensory tests
Lead tastings
Compliance, Governance, and Reporting
Learning Mode: In-person or Distance
Duration: 21 hours
Related Diploma(s):
Build expertise in sensory programs and training:
Lead professional cuppings
Design evaluation programs
Train tasters
Coffee Economics
Learning Mode: In-person or Distance
Duration: 21 hours
Related Diploma(s):
Build expertise in sensory programs and training:
Lead professional cuppings
Design evaluation programs
Train tasters
EDUCATION
Coffee technician courses
Build the technical skills needed to install, maintain, and repair coffee equipment. Learn how machines work, how to diagnose issues, and how to keep equipment performing consistently.
Course structure
The Coffee Technicians Course is designed for hands-on learning, with in-person training supported by written and practical assessments.
Foundation courses run over two days. Intermediate and Professional courses take between two and four days.
Electrical (Foundation)
Learning Mode: In-person or a combination of in-person and distance learning
Duration: 9 hours
Learn the basics of electrical systems and safety in coffee equipment:
Use basic electrical testing tools
Understand power requirements
Apply safe connection practices
Diagnostics and Repair (Intermediate)
Learning Mode: In-person or a combination of in-person and distance learning
Duration: 32 hours
Develop troubleshooting and repair skills for coffee equipment:
Diagnose common issues
Perform complex repairs
Adjust machine settings
Hydraulics (Foundation)
Learning Mode: In-person or a combination of in-person and distance learning
Duration: 7 hours
Introduction to hydraulic systems and water connections:
Identify hydraulic components
Use basic plumbing tools
Connect machines to water supply
Water Treatment (Intermediate)
Learning Mode: In-person or a combination of in-person and distance learning
Duration: 16 hours
Explore water treatment systems in detail:
Install treatment systems
Maintain water quality
Troubleshoot system issues
Water & Preventive Maintenance (Foundation)
Learning Mode: In-person or a combination of in-person and distance learning
Duration: 9 hours
Related Diploma(s): All
Understand water treatment and routine maintenance:
Know key water quality parameters
Follow maintenance schedules
Perform basic system repairs
Equipment Support (Professional)
Learning Mode: In-person or a combination of in-person and distance learning
Duration: 32 hours
Manage advanced repairs and maintenance programs:
Plan maintenance strategies
Manage equipment inventory
Handle complex repairs
EDUCATION
How course pricing works
When you enroll in a course, the course price is set by the trainer, not SCA.
Course prices include:
The trainer’s course price (tuition, materials, delivery)
An SCA course enrollment fee (a smaller portion of the total, dependent on your pricing group) . The trainer may or may not cover the SCA enrollment fee.
Only the SCA course enrollment fee goes to SCA.
Pricing Group Details
SCA Course Enrollment Fee Calculator
The SCA course enrollment fee is a subset of the total course fee set by the trainer. It may or may not be covered by the trainer.
FEATURED
Convert your courses into a diploma
Each completed SCA course contributes toward an SCA Skills Diploma. By combining courses across different areas and levels, you can build a learning pathway that supports your career goals and leads to an industry-recognized qualification.
Find available courses
Already know which course and level you want to take? Use the Course Finder to explore upcoming courses and dates.