Meet your trainer
Trail Blaze Coffee was founded by Brady Butler, an experienced trainer who has been leading barista, brewing, and coffee technician training classes since 2009.
Brady is an Authorized SCA Trainer with licenses in Brewing, Barista Skills, Sensory Skills, and Coffee Technicians Program Core modules.
He has developed and led courses at the SCA Expo, World of Coffee, Coffee Fest, Barista Camps in the USA and Taiwan, Roasters Guild Retreat, Coffee Technicians Guild Summit, and numerous cafes and coffee roasters’ training centers.
Developing high-quality coffee training experiences is Brady’s specialty. He is currently the Lead Author for the SCA’s Coffee Technicians Program Core Modules and co-led the SCA’s Brewing Content Creators Group.
Brady is happy to deliver group training courses on location in the USA and internationally. Please contact us to discuss your group’s training needs.
Our Training Center
Learning is easier and more fun in the right environment, and that’s what we’ve created in our coffee training center
This private 1200 sq-ft training space is fully equipped with the top-of-the-line equipment that current and aspiring baristas need to make great coffee
Our classroom area is quiet, spacious, and comfortable, with a large projector screen for presentations
Flexible workstations in the hands-on activity area can be reconfigured to create barista training, brewing, tasting, and equipment repair stations
The Trail Blaze Coffee Training Center exceeds the requirements for delivery of all SCA Barista, Brewing, and Coffee Technician Program courses
Coffee Equipment Variety
We have assembled a diverse and growing collection of espresso machines, coffee grinders, and batch brewing equipment in our training center. Learners in our Coffee Technician Training Camp will gain hands-on experience working on machines from Nuova Simonelli, La Marzocco, Victoria Arduino, Rancilio, Bunn, Mahlkönig, and Mazzer
With small class sizes, usually 4 students per session, learners receive individual coaching and plenty of hands-on time using tools and equipment
Coffee Training Destination
Trail Blaze Coffee Academy has become one of the USA’s most popular destinations for Specialty Coffee Association classes. Since July 2021, we’ve welcomed students from 16 states and US territories and awarded over:
- 60 Introduction to Coffee certificates
- 75 Barista Skills and Brewing certificates (Foundation, Intermediate, and Professional)
- 110 Coffee Technicians Program certificates
Check out our list of scheduled and available classes here and you too can join us for an upcoming session
Visit us!
The Trail Blaze Coffee Training Center is located in Cornelius, NC, USA, about 30 minutes from uptown Charlotte and Charlotte Douglas International Airport
Learners from out of town find Charlotte to be an easy place to visit, with direct flights from many major airports. Our location itself is a short walk or easy drive from reasonably priced hotels, restaurants, a grocery store, and even a local brewery
Want more information about traveling to Trail Blaze Coffee Training Center and the Charlotte area? Contact us to plan your visit!