Coffee Shop Foundations

This comprehensive weeklong program is more than a barista training course. Coffee Shop Foundations was developed to prepare coffee shop owners and baristas to lead and work confidently in coffee businesses. Students build a broad set of professional barista skills and coffee shop operations knowledge through a combination of SCA-certified courses and our own workshops.

You will start with Coffee Fundamentals, a 6-hour introduction to coffee knowledge across the full supply chain – from seed to cup. You will then spend three full days building espresso skills in our fully-equipped coffee bar, beginning with Barista Skills Foundation, then continuing to Barista Skills Intermediate. You will finish the week with Coffee Business Fundamentals, a full-day course focused on coffee shop leadership and management.

Over the course of the week, you will:

• Build bar speed and efficiency while practicing making a range of popular espresso beverages
• Pull espresso shots using espresso blends and single origin coffees
• Practice adjusting an espresso grinder, exploring the range of flavors possible with different extractions and recipes
• Practice steaming dairy and plant based milks to the proper texture and temperature
• Learn how coffee is sourced, processed, and roasted, and how each stage affects flavor
• Brew using a variety of methods and equipment found throughout the specialty coffee industry
• Experience using different styles of espresso machines, grinders, coffee bar layouts, and accessories
• Develop sensory skills through guided coffee and espresso tasting exercises
• Practice latte art fundamentals
• Discuss strategies for achieving excellence in hospitality and the guest experience
• Discuss espresso drink cost of goods sold calculations, pricing, cafe waste reduction strategies, coffee shop systems, standard operating procedures, and checklists
• Practice cleaning and caring for espresso machines and grinders

Students will receive our Coffee Shop Foundations Workbook as well as access to a growing set of online resources and links. These include essential coffee information, articles, guides, checklists, templates, worksheets, and recipes.

No prior experience is necessary.