Professional SCA Courses

Designed for coffee professionals who would like to further their knowledge. Sense it London offer four different SCA modules, at three levels, that will take you on a journey from beginner to pro. Whether you are individual looking to build your knowledge in barista skills, or a coffee professional looking to learn more about green coffee or improve your sensory skills, we have something for you.

Introduction to coffee

A Pre-requisite to Barista Skills

The Introduction to Coffee 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 in person course also includes a cupping, an industry-specific process for evaluating coffee through a sensory experience.

Barista Skills Module

Barista Skills teaches the essential 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.

This 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

8 hours completed in 1 day. In person

Skills report

6 students per class

Hackney, London

Details coming soon

Book foundation

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.

16-24 hours, spread over 2 days. In person

Practical Exam

6 students per class

Hackney, London

Details coming soon

Book Intermediate

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.

24-36 hours, spread over 3 days. In person

Practical Exam

6 students per class

Hackney, London

Details coming soon

Book Professional

Sensory Skills Module

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.

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.

8 hours completed in 1 day. In person

Skills report

6 students per class

Hackney, London

Details coming soon

Book foundation

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.

16-24 hours, spread over 2 days. In person

Practical Exam

6 students per class

Hackney, London

Details coming soon

Book Intermediate

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.

24-36 hours, spread over 3 days. In person

Practical Exam

6 students per class

Hackney, London

Details coming soon

Book professional

Green Module

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.

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.

8 hours completed in 1 day. In person

Skills report

6 students per class

Hackney, London

Details coming soon

Book foundation

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.

16-24 hours, spread over 2 days. In person

Practical Exam

6 students per class

Hackney, London

Details coming soon

Book intermediate

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, analyse samples, and make purchasing decisions.

24-36 hours, spread over 3 days. In person

Practical Exam

6 students per class

Hackney, London

Details coming soon

Book professional