How to Choose A Course?
Wondering which courses are suitable for you? Here's a simplified guide:
For home brewers and coffee enthusiasts, you may opt for:
- SCA Foundation Level in Barista and/or Brewing
- Leisure Workshop Series
- Basic Latte Art
- Beginners' Guide to Espresso
- Home Brewing Basics
- 3-in-1 Leisure Workshop Bundle
For industry professionals or those looking to enter the coffee industry, you may opt for:
- SCA Coffee Skills Program
- Foundation, Intermediate & Professional
SCA program pathways are internationally recognized. You may start a level or module with us, and complete the rest of the curriculum at any SCA campus worldwide. SCA programs are divided into 6 modules, each of which has 3 levels. At Emery School of Coffee, we offer 5 out of the 6 modules: Introduction to Coffee, Barista Skills, Brewing Skills, Roasting Skills & Sensory Skills.
For a group of friends and family looking to know more about specialty coffee, you may opt for:
- Private Brewing Session
- Coffee Tasting & Appreciation
- One-Day Private Training
- Bespoke Corporate Training Session
SCA Coffee Skills Program — Course Pathway Comparison
Not sure which module or level to start with? Use this table to compare all five SCA modules we offer across Foundation, Intermediate, and Professional levels.
| Module | Level | Recommended Starting Point | Recommended Course Order | Duration | Assessment | Career Outcome | Counts Toward SCA Diploma? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barista Skills | Foundation | No experience needed — ideal first course for anyone entering the café industry | Start here → Intermediate → Professional | 1 day (7–8 hrs) | One-time SCA Barista Skills Foundation examination & certification included | Barista, café crew | Yes |
| Barista Skills | Intermediate | Working baristas seeking advanced technique, menu creation, and café management skills | After Barista Foundation | 2 days | Practical exam on Day 2; SCA certification included | Senior barista, team lead, café supervisor | Yes |
| Barista Skills | Professional | Professionals pursuing educator or senior specialist roles; prerequisite: Intermediate passed ≥ 3 months prior | After Barista Intermediate (min. 3-month gap) | 3 days | SCA Professional exam & certification | Head barista, coffee educator, SCA Trainer pathway | Yes |
| Brewing Skills | Foundation | No experience needed — great entry point for those passionate about filter and manual brewing | Start here → Intermediate → Professional | 1 day (8 hrs) | Written & practical exams; SCA certificate (worth €100) | Brew bar specialist, café staff | Yes |
| Brewing Skills | Intermediate | Coffee professionals exploring grind analysis, extraction science, and brewing competition preparation | After Brewing Foundation | 2 days | Practical exam on Day 2; SCA certification included | Brew bar competition, quality control | Yes |
| Brewing Skills | Professional | Advanced specialists in extraction science; prerequisite: Intermediate passed ≥ 3 months prior | After Brewing Intermediate (min. 3-month gap) | 3 days | SCA Professional exam & certification | R&D, brew specialist, advanced quality control | Yes |
| Roasting Skills | Foundation | Aspiring roasters or hobbyists; basic coffee knowledge recommended | Start here → Intermediate → Professional; Barista/Brewing Foundation helpful first | 1 day (8 hrs) | SCA Roasting Foundation exam & certification | Roastery assistant, aspiring roaster | Yes |
| Roasting Skills | Intermediate | Roasters deepening roast profiling, thermodynamics, and color matching skills | After Roasting Foundation; Sensory/Brewing Foundation also recommended | 2 days (18 hrs) | Practical exam on Day 2 (roast log accuracy & color matching); SCA certification | Production roaster, roast profiler | Yes |
| Roasting Skills | Professional | Advanced roastery managers and head roasters; prerequisite: Intermediate passed ≥ 3 months prior | After Roasting Intermediate (min. 3-month gap) | 3 days (24 hrs) + online written exam within 1 month | Practical exam Day 4 (roast targets, color scoring, defect detection) + online written exam | Head roaster, roastery manager, quality director | Yes |
| Sensory Skills | Foundation | Anyone wanting to develop objective tasting and aroma analysis skills; no prior experience required | Start here → Intermediate → Professional; pairs well with Barista/Brewing Foundation | 1 day (8 hrs) | SCA Sensory Foundation exam & certification | Cupper, QC assistant, café buyer | Yes |
| Sensory Skills | Intermediate | Cuppers, quality managers, and analysts building tasting panels; prerequisite: Sensory Foundation recommended | After Sensory Foundation | Multi-day | Practical exam (solution intensities, aroma kits, triangulation); SCA certification | Sensory analyst, cupping panel lead, QC manager | Yes |
| Sensory Skills | Professional | Senior sensory specialists and QA leads; prerequisite: Intermediate passed ≥ 3 months prior | After Sensory Intermediate (min. 3-month gap) | Multi-day | SCA Professional exam & certification | Head of quality, sensory science lead | Yes |
| Introduction to Coffee | Foundation (Online) | Perfect first step for complete beginners — done entirely online at your own pace | Take before any other SCA module to build foundational knowledge | Self-paced (online) | SCA online examination; e-certificate upon passing | Entry-level orientation; supports all other SCA pathways | Yes |
- The SCA Diplomas can be divided into SCA Cafe Diploma, SCA Roastery Diploma, SCA Coffee Trade Diploma and SCA Sustainable Coffee Diploma
- Attaining all SCA Diplomas grants a learner access of application as Master of Specialty Coffee