SCA Barista Skills Foundation
The Barista Skills Foundation course focuses on the key skills required to set a grinder, make espresso and foam, and texture milk for
cappuccinos. This course allows one to gain an introductory understanding of the coffee itself and set a foundation from which to build practical
skills for milk technique and latte art, while implementing health and safety practices and customer service.
Prerequisites: None; Introduction to Coffee recommended
Assesment: Online Written Exam & Course Skills Report
Total Number of Questions on Online Written Exam: 20 (worth one point each)
Total Time Allowed for Online Written Exam: 22 minutes
Passing Score (Online Written Exam): 60%
Duration: 1 Day/ Ca. 7 Hours
SCA Barista Skills Intermediate
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 dialling 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.
Pre-requisites: Introduction to Coffee and Barista Foundation are recommended (but not mandatory) pre-requisite modules.
Written Exam Information:
Total Number of Questions on Online Written Exam: 35 (worth one point each)
Total Time Allowed for Online Written Exam: 37
Passing Score (Online Written Exam): 70%
Practical Exam Information:
Total Time Allowed for Practical Exam: 40 minutes
Total Number of Sections on Practical Exam: 3
Passing Score (Practical Exam):
Section 1 – 50% = 3 points correct
Duration: 2 Days/ Ca. 14 Hours
SCA Barista Skills Professional
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.
Prerequisites: Barista Skills Intermediate
Written Exam Information:
Total Number of Questions on Written Exam: 34 (worth one point each)
Total Time Allowed for Online Written Exam: 45
Passing Score (Online Written Exam): Pass rate is 80%
Practical Exam Information:
Total Time Allowed for Practical Exam: 80 minutes
Total Number of Sections on Practical Exam: 5
Passing Score (Practical Exam): 80%.
PS: Learners must pass all 5 sections in order to pass exam.
Duration: 3 Days/ Ca. 21 Hours