Advanced Coffee Brewing course / Brewing Intermediate SCA

Master brewing techniques and earn the SCA Brewing Intermediate certification, optimizing extractions with advanced tools for your coffee shop or home setup!

A course designed for those looking to create or manage the brewing area of a specialty coffee shop professionally, as well as for home baristas eager to use the latest tools and techniques—perfect for real coffee geeks!

In addition to allowing you to get the SCA Brewing Intermediate certification, this course will equip you with the skills to optimize your extraction and bring out the best flavors in your coffee. This course, along with others in the "Espresso Academy Coffee Week," will be an unforgettable coffee experience in Italy.

  Courses are held in English

Installment payments

You can pay our courses in three installments with Stripe, making it easier to manage your budget and enjoy flexibility.

Coffee campus

This course is part of the “Espresso Academy Coffee campus”. The most advanced training program for professionals. Discover more

Are you interested in this course?

 
 

Through this coffee class in Italy you will learn

  • Learn how to measure your brewing extractions with the brew control chart.
  • Learn how to change the extractions parameters.
  • Learn how to prepare an inverted Aeropress or other uncommon techniques
  • Learn the many tools and methods of the cold brew section of the course. 
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This course allows access to two international certifications, both widespread and recognized in the world: IBC and SCA Brewing Intermediate.

 

Why Espresso Academy?

  • 1500+ students from all over the world at our Italian headquarters
  • All courses taught in English by certified trainers
  • 30+ branches around the world 

 

  • #1 school in the world on Tripadvisor and Google 
  • The highest number of SCA, LAGS and IBC certified students
  • And… we are in Florence, a city worth  visiting

Intremdiate Coffee Brewing SCA Class Program

The intermediate brewing course has an extremely practical approach. It consists in several sessions about:

  • Understanding Coffee Brew Chart and its Practical Application
  • Explore the significance of brew charts in tracking and optimizing coffee extraction and learn to interpret brew charts for achieving the desired flavor profiles in coffee.
  • Utilizing Refractometers in Coffee Brewing
  • Discover the purpose and benefits of using Refractometers in coffee brewing, and gain hands-on experience with a refractometer for precise extraction control.
  • Measuring and Adjusting Strength, TDS (Total Dissolved Solids), and Extraction: Understand how to quantify coffee strength, TDS, and extraction percentage. Practice modifying these parameters to fine-tune your coffee's taste and balance.
  • Modifying Extraction in Cold Brew: Master techniques to control and enhance the cold brew extraction process.
  • The Role of Water and Its Chemical Composition: Study the impact of water's chemical composition on coffee flavor. Use waters with different mineral contents to understand their influence on taste.
  • Practical Exercises with Various Brewing Methods: Experiment with popular brewing methods such as V60, Chemex, Siphon, and Kalita Wave.
  • Exploring Different Filter Materials for Flavour Modification: Conduct experiments using various filter materials with the same coffee. Observe how different filters alter the aromatic profile of the coffee.
  • Particle Size Analysis and Grain Size Curve: Explore the importance of particle size in coffee extraction. Introduce the concept of a grain size curve for a comprehensive understanding and learn how grinding consistency affects extraction and flavor.

    * SCA suggests to have already attended the SCA Brewing Foundation level before this exam.

 Coffee Brewing SCA - Intermediate Level Class

At the end of this course it is possible to take part in the SCA coffee brewing intermediate level certification. Anyone wishing to take part in the certification exams are asked to report it to us when registering for the course. In our school you can also book the Brewing coffee foundation SCA class  and the Brewing professional class, for those who aim for the highest level of professional knowledge.

What you will learn in the intermediate coffee brewing class

In the intermediate brewing course, you will engage in highly practical sessions designed to deepen your coffee brewing skills. You will explore the significance of the Coffee Brew Chart, learning how to interpret and apply it to achieve the desired flavor profiles in your coffee. You will also discover the purpose of using refractometers in coffee brewing, gaining hands-on experience to ensure precise extraction control.

Understanding how to measure and adjust strength, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), and extraction percentage will be key components of the course. You will practice modifying these parameters to fine-tune your coffee’s taste and balance. The course will cover techniques to control and enhance the cold brew extraction process and study the impact of water's chemical composition on coffee flavor, using waters with different mineral contents to understand their influence on taste.

Through practical exercises, you will experiment with various brewing methods such as V60, Chemex, Siphon, and Kalita Wave. You will conduct experiments using different filter materials to observe how they modify the aromatic profile of the coffee. 

A specific section of the course is dedicated to train the cold brew methods.

Your Coffee brewing SCA intermediate class in Florence, Italy

One of the first surprises you'll encounter at Espresso Academy will be the opportunity to meet and connect with fellow coffee enthusiasts from around the world. Your course will take place in a vibrant international environment where you and the other participants will experiment, learn, and grow together.

Perfect for those aiming to become coffee experts or enthusiasts seeking the highest level of expertise, this course is set in Florence, one of the world's most beautiful cities

You'll have the chance to visit iconic landmarks such as the Uffizi Museum, Ponte Vecchio, and The Duomo, and immerse yourself in the enchanting medieval city center.

If you wish to enjoy the city or participate in several courses, we have numerous accommodations offering discounts to Espresso Academy students.

It will be a great coffee course, It will be a fantastic journey, It will be an unforgettable experience!

Combine Multiple Courses in One Trip! 

Are you interested in expanding your coffee knowledge beyond tasting and cupping? Our courses are always organized on consecutive days allowing you to participate in multiple courses through a single training trip. Check out our course schedule!

All the professional SCA courses in a row

Do you want to get the best for your coffee education? Join the SCA professional Coffee line. Take all the intermediate coffee SCA classes consecutively, maximizing the value of your time.

[Find out more]

The Espresso Academy Coffee Campus

Are you aiming for  professional level education? This course can also be one of the starting points of the “Espresso Academy Coffee Campus”. The most comprehensive coffee training program globally for coffee professionals.

[Find out more]

Student says...

Stefano AmbrogiStefano Ambrogi
11:04 17 Nov 24
Well done course especially for people new to this industry
V IvanV Ivan
03:12 02 Nov 24
I attended it in November this year..just a fantastic experience..Roberto ,the lecturer, is an amazing guy ,delivering lessons in asuch easy manners.He also takes you for a lunch break to experience real Italian cuisine for little money.Overall, I cam only recommend this course to anyone who wants to learn about coffee machines and have fun along the way.Highly,highly, highly recommend.
Basic barman course meets expectations
SarahSarah
16:14 19 Oct 24
It was a great experience with very nice teachers who spoke English very well. We received a warm welcome and learned a lot about coffee.
Ryan LevyRyan Levy
19:00 10 Jul 24
Traveled to Florence and thought it was a great area to learn more about espresso. The Espresso Academy class was fun, informative and the instructor was very knowledgeable. Would recommend!
Alberto Nuñez GomezAlberto Nuñez Gomez
14:46 14 Jun 24
Not only is it a great school full of great coffee enthusiasts and professionals, they also make you live a unique experience in a beautiful city. The combination between theory and practice is perfectly balanced for any level. I recommend it 100% to all those who have a passion for coffee and want to delve deeper into this world. Thank you!
Ollie de SavignyOllie de Savigny
19:56 17 Mar 24
I found Espresso Academy after doing some research into espresso machine maintenance courses; after reading the reviews, and not finding anything suitable based in the UK, I reached out to ask some questions about the course...From the very first email, Cristina was so friendly, knowledgable and welcoming that she put my mind at rest and showed me that Espresso Academy know exactly what they are doing.I booked my flights, my accommodation, and told the team I was coming for the course!I could not recommend these guys enough - they are knowledgable, friendly and absolutely professional. I learned so much in such an engaging, interesting and thorough way that I have come home and been able to apply my knowledge immediately - starting my own small business in the UK.The course leader - Robert - is so kind, welcoming and full of knwoledge - but most importantly he is an excellent teacher, delivering the information in an easy to understand way to a mix of abilities in the class.I met some fantastic people and have made some friendships for life - and for even more joy, you get to stay in Florence when you're visiting for a course and what a beautiful city to stay in!Thank you for such a wonderful experience, and I hope to come back and visit again in the future :)
StephenStephen
20:19 17 Jan 24
Fantastic course on coffee machine maintenance, learned a lot in the short amount of time the course runs. Robert is a great teacher, easy going, explains things well and answers all questions. All other staff members we met during the course were also incredibly polite and welcoming. Well worth the travel.
Andrew HenleyAndrew Henley
13:04 14 Jan 24
The course at the academy was very good. very friendly team and professional teaching.
Daniel AguadoDaniel Aguado
21:00 13 Jan 24
I would like to thank the academy for providing a qualitative formation in a time where such things are difficult to find and sadly underrated.I would also like to particularly commend Robert, our teacher, who has managed to show me in a very short amount of time a wealth of accessible and comprehensible information on a difficult subject. He is awesome, poised, didactic, knowledgeable, approachable and generally very pleasant to be around.
Amit BiswasAmit Biswas
16:33 03 Dec 23
It was fantastic 3 days of learning. It was one of the important learning experiences I had. Trainer was very professional, calm, respectful and friendly. If you are in coffee business, you must do one of their course depending on what you need. Highly recommend.
Ferdinando FerraraFerdinando Ferrara
09:47 27 Nov 23
Excellent experience, recommended to all those who want to expand their knowledge of the world of coffee. I was followed by Professor Michele Cantarella at the Castorino roasting company and here I had the opportunity to see the roasting, to taste many types of coffee, to learn the basics ofMilk art.
Tobias EngelTobias Engel
12:53 02 Nov 23
If you want to learn everything about Coffee, the way how to do your own tasty Espresso, Latte Art this is the place to go. Enthusiatic trainers, very good mix of theory and practice. I wish the team of Espresso Academy all the best and a big thank you for the 2 day's of introduction of italian coffee philosophy 🙂
Maha HamdanMaha Hamdan
09:42 28 Apr 23
I’ve been planning to follow my passion for coffee with a professional training course and I found what I was looking for at The Espresso Academy. From the start Cristiana was very helpful for planning and booking this course for me, responding promptly and making it easier for my needs. During the course Gabriele was doing his best for me to get the most of this course, he was very kind, helpful and attentive. He went above and beyond to give the best experience. It was obviously about the coffee and the passion of coffee rather than just another commercial training course. , I really enjoyed every moment and learned a lot. I also gained confidence in my knowledge and skills. Thank you Espresso Academy.
Sherly CSherly C
11:21 20 Feb 23
High quality classes offered by friendly, serious and very experienced teachers??? i loved it- i can only recommend!
Yuanshi NiYuanshi Ni
09:51 17 Feb 23
Super recommended!!! Instructor was super nice, the content was engaging , I made my first espresso & cappuccino, it was an absolutely fun experience ?
Martyna PakoszMartyna Pakosz
19:20 11 Oct 22
An excellent experience, highly recommend to someone just getting into coffee. Very calm, patient and knowledgeable teachers with whom it was only pleasure to work with. :) 10/10
Pinja ErikssonPinja Eriksson
16:42 12 Dec 21
Took the two day advanced barista course and it exceeded my expectations. Great teachers, great content, and even though it was a short course we got plenty of time to practice actual coffee making without sparing milk. And a bonus is the opportunity to meet coffee students from all over the world, that most likely share similar goals to yours. Highly recommend for anyone getting into coffee business.
Arianna BärArianna Bär
21:22 15 Feb 21
I've attended many courses at Espresso Academy Firenze and I loved it! The staff is incredibly friendly and the courses very nice structured. Theory and lots of practice and we could even visit the roastery! The whole place smells of coffee :) During the pandemic I've also attended a couple Online Courses which were great and the teacher answered all the questions. I totally recommend going there to learn about coffee and become friends with the most amazing teachers :) Hope to see you soon guys!!
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Our Trainer

Espresso-academy-trainer-Robert-Brinck

Robert Brinck

Robert entered the coffee industry at the age of twenty and since then he's collaborated with us as a trainer in our courses and contributed to bring to life many of our projects. Together we've been able to develop a specific course for espresso machine maintenance and created a small international community of expert technicians helping each other by sharing professional advice Outside of our courses Robert has a role in quality control and roasting of specialty coffees for CaffeLab and, in our consultancy projects for roasting companies and coffee shops he is responsible for the selection of the necessary equipment, coffee and development of the final product.

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