SCA Coffee Education

SCA Barista Skills Courses

SCA Barista Skills is a practical three-level pathway for espresso-bar professionals. Start with coffee, espresso and milk fundamentals; progress to extraction control and workflow; then advance into sensory quality, recipes, menu development and leadership.

This pathway includes three levels: Foundation, Intermediate and Professional. Course details and registration options appear below.

On successful completion of the required assessment(s), learners earn the relevant SCA certificate. Completed certificates may contribute toward an SCA Skills Diploma.

Scroll down to compare the full Foundation, Intermediate and Professional course information. Choose an available delivery and class type before you send a request.

Barista preparing espresso at a coffee bar

Compare the three levels

Foundation

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Selected option price €300,00

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Intermediate

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Selected option price €600,00

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Professional

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Selected option price €2.200,00

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Foundation

Selected option price

€300,00

Duration

7 hours

Available as

In-person, distance learning (online), or hybrid; public group and private requests are available.

Who it’s for

New and early-career baristas who need a practical introduction to coffee, espresso, milk and service.

Level and prerequisites

Required: none. Recommended: Introduction to Coffee.

What you’ll cover

Coffee basics, grinder set-up, espresso, milk texture and latte art, with safe working practices and customer service.

Foundation syllabus

Coffee basics, grinder and espresso-machine components, safe workflow and cleaning.
Espresso recipes, grinder calibration, dosing, distribution and tamping.
Milk freshness and steaming, espresso-based drinks, water quality and customer experience.

Assessment

Written exam — 60%.

Credential

On successful completion of the required assessment(s), learners earn the relevant SCA certificate. Completed certificates may contribute toward an SCA Skills Diploma.

Intermediate

Selected option price

€600,00

Duration

14 hours

Available as

In-person or hybrid. In-person applies to practical learning; fully online is not available.

Who it’s for

Baristas with practical experience who want to improve quality and prepare for more complex barista work.

Level and prerequisites

Required: none. Recommended: Introduction to Coffee and Barista Skills Foundation.

What you’ll cover

Coffee origin and processing, dialling in, extraction analysis, drink construction, workflow, sensory evaluation, milk and latte art.

Intermediate syllabus

Origin, processing and roasting effects on flavour; equipment layout and service workflow.
Grind, dose, distribution, tamping, brew ratios, refractometer use and recipe development.
Espresso sensory, milk composition and substitutions, latte art, multi-drink preparation, safety, water tests and cost of goods.

Assessment

Written exam — 70%; practical exam — pass each section (section thresholds vary).

Credential

On successful completion of the required assessment(s), learners earn the relevant SCA certificate. Completed certificates may contribute toward an SCA Skills Diploma.

Professional

Selected option price

€2.200,00

Duration

21 hours

Available as

Private, in-person training only at Coffee Matters. Public, hybrid and distance-learning requests are not available.

Who it’s for

Experienced baristas progressing toward senior or head-barista responsibilities; the catalog gives 12 months or more of work experience as an example.

Level and prerequisites

Required: Barista Skills Intermediate. Recommended: Barista Skills Foundation and Brewing Intermediate.

What you’ll cover

Advanced coffee flavour, espresso extraction, sensory quality, team leadership, recipe and menu development, milk science and latte art.

Professional syllabus

Coffee density, varieties, processing, decaffeination, packaging, storage and freshness.
Advanced espresso-machine systems; particles, pressure and temperature; blends and measuring extraction.
Sensory evaluation, milk science and free-pour latte art; water chemistry and filtration; drink production and cost of goods.

Assessment

Written exam — 80%; practical exam — pass each section (section thresholds vary).

Credential

On successful completion of the required assessment(s), learners earn the relevant SCA certificate. Completed certificates may contribute toward an SCA Skills Diploma.