New 2026 Edition
Introduction to Coffee SCA online Course
Start your journey with the ultimate introduction to coffee SCA online. This 100% updated 2026 course includes the official exam for your SCA coffee certificate online.
UPDATED SCA PROGRAM In accordance with the latest SCA curriculum revision, this course aligns with the new official guidelines: focusing heavily on the coffee value chain, the evolving definition of specialty coffee, and modern sensory assessment methodologies.
79€ 118€ Your course with Espresso Academy quality!
Payment in three installments | Espresso Academy Guarantee
Why choose us?
- We focus exclusively on coffee training — it's our specialty!
- Our trainers are in-house experts and always available to support you.
- We’re the only ones offering an IBC-accredited diploma and internationally recognized SCA certification.
- We don’t just do online courses — every year, over 1,300 students attend our in-person classes
Who is this course for?
Are you curious about the world of specialty coffee?
This course will guide you through a world that is much more than just “good coffee” — it is a journey into coffee traceability and the entire coffee value chain.
Are you aiming for SCA certifications?
This introductory course is essential for understanding the philosophy and future vision of the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA).
Are you a barista?
This course will provide you with professional foundations covering the entire coffee journey, from botany to roasting, helping you communicate the value of the coffee you serve every day with confidence and expertise.
Is one of your loved ones a coffee enthusiast?
Gift them an Espresso Academy Online Course!
You’ll make them happy, and they’ll probably talk about coffee even more (but thank you with lots of amazing brews)!
We’ll also send you a beautiful gift card, because a gift should look like on1
What Will You Learn in the Introduction to Coffee Course?
How to manage coffee/water extraction time
The Complete Coffee Supply Chain: Understand the journey of the coffee bean, from the plant to the cup.
Coffee Botany: Learn the key differences between Arabica and Robusta varieties.
History & Origins: Explore the major milestones in the global spread of coffee..
Coffee Processing at Origin: Analyze harvesting and processing methods with a focus on sustainability.
Roasting Techniques: Discover how coffee beans are transformed through the roasting process
Blending Fundamentals: Learn the principles and logic behind creating balanced coffee blends
Sensory Analysis: Develop your sensory skills to identify aromas, flavors, and defects in coffee.
SCA Standards: Understand the international criteria that define a Specialty Coffee.
Extraction Basics: Learn the technical foundations of preparing both Espresso and Brew Coffee.
Freshness & Storage: Discover how to preserve coffee quality and maximize its freshness.
Do you need more information?
The course trainers and our staff are at your disposal to answer any questions or to send you a free trial chapter. Contact us!
YOUR TRAINER FOR THIS COURSE
Simone Celli
- Simone is a resident trainer at Espresso Academy and part of a team with several SCA Certified Trainers (AST). He is also an IBC Certified Trainer.
- With over 25 years in the coffee world, Simone started as a barista and then moved into entrepreneurship and training. He has strong expertise in roasting, brewing, and tasting.
- Simone has led training and consultancy projects worldwide.
YOUR TRAINER FOR THIS COURSE
Gabriele Cortopassi
- Gabriele's journey in the hospitality industry began in 1989, working as a waiter, bartender, manager, and entrepreneur. In 2008, he founded Espresso Academy, a coffee training school with over thirty locations worldwide, where he currently serves as CEO.
- He has also created industry-leading blogs and authored books on café and restaurant management. For many years, he has been providing consultancy services in multiple countries, helping businesses optimize their operations and grow successfully.
- Gabriele is a Certified SCA AST Trainer and an IBC Authorized Trainer, bringing extensive expertise to every course he teaches.
YOUR TRAINER FOR THIS COURSE
Robert Brinck
- Robert is a trainer at Espresso Academy, an IBC Authorized Certifier and an SCA Authorized Trainer.
- Specialized in every aspect of the coffee world, he focuses on green coffee, roasting, brewing, and latte art
- He collaborates as a consultant for companies and international projects, including La San Marco.
Online Introduction to Coffee Course with Certificate
This online Introduction to Coffee course includes a certificate of completion issued by Espresso Academy, a coffee education institution present in more than thirty countries worldwide.
This course covers the full curriculum of the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) Introduction to Coffee program. If desired, participants may choose to take the corresponding SCA certification exam upon completion of the course, following the required examination procedure.
Student says...
I left there very happy.
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.
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 :)
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.
Milk art.
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Intro to coffee course program
Botany and Coffee Origins
- SCA coffee certificate online: history: From native legends and origins to global expansion, up to the historical impact of colonial trade flows.
- Species and varieties in the introduction to coffee SCA program: Biological and sensory differences between Arabica and Robusta (Canephora), focusing on native regions, altitudes, and caffeine levels.
- Geography and the "Coffee Belt": The tropical band of the planet and the study of the main global leading producing nations.
The Value Chain & The Specialty Coffee Concept
- The "Seed to Cup" Model: The six key activities of the supply chain and an examination of the multiple actors involved in the system.
- Defining Specialty Coffee: Understanding the specialty market through the concept of a "continuum" compared to commodities.
- Intrinsic and Extrinsic Attributes: How physical traits, sustainability, and certifications add commercial value.
From Farm to Green Coffee
- Harvesting Systems: Anatomy of the cherry and seed; selective hand-picking techniques and mechanized approaches.
- Processing methods and SCA coffee certificate online foundational concepts: Natural and Washed methods; stability requirements for storage, process innovation, and flavor profile impacts.
- International Logistics: Core roles, essential tasks, and financial risk management during export and import phases.
The Art of Roasting & Blending
- The Roasting Cycle: Thermal transformations, color changes, and physical/dimensional modifications of the bean inside the drum.
- Roasting Profiles: Managing heat to balance or maximize specific raw material sensory attributes.
- Blending Logics: Commercial and sensory reasons for blending vs. Single Origin offerings.
Sensory Analysis & Standards (Introduction to Coffee SCA)
- Introduction to Professional Cupping: The official tasting protocol as a vital decision-making tool across the trade.
- Physiology of Tasting: Human perception mechanisms and the technical distinction between Taste and Flavor.
- Coffee Value Assessment: New global metrics and international systems used to define official specialty coffee standards.
- Freshness & Preservation: Environmental degradation factors (light, oxygen, moisture, heat) and quality control.
Extraction, Brewing & Maintenance
- Core Brewing Variables: Grind size, time, temperature, turbulence, and brew ratio essentials required for the introduction to coffee SCA exam.
- Brewing Methods Compared: Infusion vs. percolation mechanics across Espresso and manual or geometric filter configurations.
- The Importance of Water: Advancing your path toward an SCA coffee certificate online through water chemistry, optimal extraction targets, and machine scaling prevention.
- Cleaning & Maintenance: Periodic hygiene protocols to protect consumer health and preserve cup flavor purity.
The Introduction to coffee online course includes:
- 11 hours of course
- 8 chapters
- Watch it with no limits, when you want, how you want, forever!
- Manuals and slides used during the course
- Coffee flavour wheel
- IBC recognized certificate
- Valid for the preparation of the SCA "Introduction to Coffee" exam
- Free calls with the trainer
Still doubts about an online course?
Request a free Chapter, so you can better evaluate it! Send us an email with your request
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Why Espresso Academy?
- 1500+ students from all over the world at our Italian headquarters
- All courses, from basic to the most professional ones 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
Introduction to Coffee - SCA online course
Why Choose the Introduction to Coffee SCA Course?
The specialty coffee industry is evolving rapidly, demanding highly updated skills. Enrolling in the introduction to coffee SCA online course allows you to immediately align with the latest international standards of the Specialty Coffee Association. This comprehensive foundational path is not just the official starting point for anyone looking to build a career, but a key pillar for baristas, roasters, and enthusiasts aiming to master today's global coffee market.
From Botany to Cup: The Value Chain
In this module, we explore the entire supply chain through the "Seed to Cup" model. You will learn to distinguish the biological and sensory traits of Arabica and Robusta (Canephora) based on altitude and country of origin. We will deep-dive into post-harvest processing methods and modern import/export logistics. With science-backed roasting and blending insights, you will understand exactly how green coffee transforms and how to maximize its attributes.
A New Vision of Specialty Coffee & Sensory Analysis
The concept of specialty has transformed into a continuum based on rigorous intrinsic and extrinsic attributes. In this online course, you will study the physiology of taste, learning to technically separate Taste and Flavor. Through an introduction to professional cupping and the new SCA Coffee Value Assessment system, you will gain the technical vocabulary required to navigate the international market with confidence.
Brewing Fundamentals & Equipment Maintenance
This course provides the essential variables for a perfect extraction (time, temperature, grind size, ratio), comparing espresso with manual filter methods, alongside a crucial introduction to water chemistry. Furthermore, a dedicated section covers the fundamental rules of equipment cleaning and maintenance—a vital requirement in the new exam standards to ensure consumer safety and cup flavor purity.
Join the Espresso Academy Community
Choosing Espresso Academy means learning from highly experienced ASTs (Authorized SCA Trainers). Our online platform is completely optimized to help you prepare for and pass the new official exams. Start your professional coffee journey today and gain the most updated SCA coffee certificate online!
