Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) – What Training Baristas is all about

In a recent survey by Perfect Daily Grind asked “Which essential skills should a barista have?” Customer Service came out on top with 30.77% of people claiming it to be the most important, with consistency coming in second with 15.38%.  Coffee knowledge was next at 12.83%.

For those inside the industry, these statistics may be surprising. It’s easy to get caught up in the technical aspects or distracted by latte art. However, these things can cost time, resulting in a longer wait for the customer. Which, as we now know- forms a large part of the Customer Service statistic.

From a consumer perspective, they’re not surprising at all. No coffee is worth waiting 20 minutes for- whether there’s a swan or 5 stack tulip on top or not. Customers want a consistent, good tasting coffee, served in good time by a passionate barista.

Our courses encourage the importance of finding balance between all aspects of coffee service. Speed and efficiency are a natural result of the other skills being implemented and practiced properly. But most importantly, we cover how enjoyable the role of a barista can be and inspire you to develop it to its full potential.

The ultimate test of any arabica is how it tastes. This test falls at the feet of the barista, and it’s out job to make sure this final step is as successful and completed to the same high standard as the ones before it.

With all of this in mind, here’s what we offer:

Adams + Russell Barista Training: New & Existing Customers

We want all of our customers to serve amazing coffee. We offer training sessions for existing clients and their team. These can either be completed here at Adams + Russell or on site at your café / premises. Our registered trainers will enthuse and educate baristas in understanding how a coffee shop menu should be created, making it fun and enjoyable at the same time.

What to expect from the training session:

• Espresso Extraction: How to extract coffee perfectly. Observing taste and mouthfeel of a balanced espresso compared to under / over extracted.
• The tamp: The dos and don’ts of tamping
• The grind: How to dial in espresso and create consistent, high quality extraction.
• Milk Techniques: Learn the difference between aerating, frothing and everything in between. We also look at how to control air flow and temperature.
• Pouring: How to create each drink and the basics of latte art.
• Menu: Understand the standard composition for each espresso based drink
• Cleaning: The ‘clean as you go’ mentality. Daily cleaning requirements for the machine and equipment.
• Best Practice: Hints and tips to create a workflow that’s efficient and customer focused.

Barista Training: The Speciality Coffee Association

In addition to our own barista training we are also proud to offer SCA accredited courses. The SCA hold the global standard for Speciality coffee, from cupping to roasting and then to brewing. Each session is facilitated by our AST Andreas Constantinou. His depth of knowledge and experience was founded during his upbringing in Greece. Since then he has helped introduce Speciality Coffee to the public all across the North West. At our roastery in Birkenhead we have every tool available to help you successfully master the art of coffee and gain SCA accredited qualifications. Here’s an overview of the SCA training programmes:

Course Breakdown

SCA Introduction course:

Duration: 4 hours
Required Pass Rate: 60%
Price: £240 including certification

A great starting point for coffee enthusiasts to deepen their understanding of the coffee industry. Learn about the origins of coffee and how it has transformed into the booming culture we see today.

Areas of green coffee are also explored: such as cultivating, harvesting and grading before looking at an overview of the roasting process.

SCA Foundation Course:

Duration: 6 hours
Required Pass Rate: 60%
Price: £310

Covering basic and key skills needed to operate espresso machines efficiently, including calibration and troubleshooting. Learn how to correctly distribute, tamp and extract espresso, understanding what espresso should look and taste like.

This course also looks at creating a barista menu, as well as how to clean and maintain coffee shop equipment. Ideal for those who are looking for more insight into the life of a barista.

SCA Intermediate Course:

Duration: 2 days (6 hours per day)
Required Pass Rate: 70%
Price: £520

An in-depth understanding of espresso extraction and key flavour components, identifying a range of traits an Espresso holds, and how to control them (specifically brew ration and bypass) The course looks at particular areas of green coffee that

SCA Professional Course:

Duration:3 days (6 hours per day)
Required Pass Rate: 80%
Price: £730 including certification

This course covers the science behind the bean and milk composition and aims to break down each complexity of espresso to maximise barista potential. Baristas should be able to recognise how acids in green coffee alter taste and how to control these aspects in the roasting house. Focusing on high execution of a coffee menu, three latte art patterns will be taught.