Advanced Barista Course /Barista Intermediate skills SCA
Immerse yourself in our advanced barista class in Italy, mastering espresso, latte art, extraction techniques, and coffee cocktails, while aiming for SCA and IBC certifications
The Advanced Coffee and Barista Class is designed to provide you with a comprehensive immersion into coffee, covering everything from the basics to advanced latte art.
This course is perfect for those seeking a professional, up-to-date approach to coffee, aiming for international SCA and IBC certifications, and who identify as true home baristas.
Alongside other courses in the “Espresso Academy Coffee Week,” this will be an unforgettable coffee experience in Italy, offering hands-on learning in espresso extraction, latte art, specialty espresso tasting, and more.
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.
One Week Coffee
Are you interested in this course?
During this advanced class in Italy, you will:
- Understand the concepts of TDS and extraction. Using the refractometer we will learn how to…
- … change the extraction parameters according to the coffee varietal and blend we want to use
- How to taste espresso in a professional way, starting to build your “tasting skills library”
- How to make latte art, unmissable for any barista and source of fun for every coffee lover!
- Setting your espresso machine: the volumetric system, the temperature, pressure and so on…
This course allows access to two international certifications, both widespread and recognized in the world: IBC and SCA Barista 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
Program of the Advanced Barista Course. DAY 1
- The world of coffee: arabica, robusta, varietals from bourbon to catimor.
- Coffee in the plantation: washed, natural and the new fermentation methods..
- A brief history of coffee: from Yemen to the plantations in Sicily.
- Introduction to roasting and how coffee blends are made. We visit the roastery area!
- The invention and evolution of espresso machines from 1900 to today
- Practical work begins with the extraction of the espresso and coffee tamping
- Coffee grinding: how to manage it and how to modify it with the various types of coffee grinders
- Make and taste espresso made with historical espresso machines: from the lever one to the modern machines (where you can set all the parameters…)
- Which is the best machine for your project of for your home? Leveller, special tampers, special filters or needles are important?
- How to choose the best coffee for my project or for my house?
- A technical section: setting the volumetric system, setting the temperature, changing the gaskets and.
- The perfect milk frothing managing different temperatures and frothiness.
- Vegetable (Plant Based) milks: try soya, oats and milks specifically designed for the barista
- Cappuccino in practice: lots of exercises on milk frothing and classic cappuccino
- Italian preparations: latte macchiato, latte coffee, espresso macchiato etc.
- Cleaning and maintenance of espresso machines. The softeners, the blind filter and the cleaning of the showers.
Eventual practical exam for the Italian Barista Certificate
Eventual support in SCA exam (SCA foundation level is only theoretical)
Program of the course. Day 2
- Introduction to professional coffee tasting: body, acidity, bitterness, sweetness and flavours.
- The use of the refractometer in extraction measurement. The concept of TDS and extraction.
- Espresso tasting exercises : commodity arabica e robusta, coffee blends, caffè specialty.
- Grinding setting exercises with dose and extraction weighing, preparatory to the IBM and SCA exam
- Not just espresso: brewing, filter coffee and pour over, practical tests
- Worldwide trends: babyccino, flat white, cortado and other preparations.
- Latte art basics: height of pouring, flow control and movement of the wrist
- Practice latte art base: the heart
- Basic latte art practice: the figure of the leaf or rosetta
- Basic latte art practice: the tulip
- Basic setting and fixing of the espresso coffee machine: showers, volumetric, temperature
Eventual exam for the Italian Barista Certificate advanced certification (this exam involves a quite demanding speed test, any participation in this course will therefore be evaluated during the course according with the trainer)
Possible additional procedure for SCA intermediate exam.
Barista Skill SCA - Intermediate Level
At the end of this course it’s possible to part-take in the SCA Barista Coffee Foundation level certification. Anyone wishing to part-take in the certification exams is asked to report it to us when registering for the course. In our school you can also book the courses for Professional certifications.
BARISTA SKILLS PROFESSIONAL SCA COURSE.
Three days. Florence, February 28th, March 1st and 2nd 2025
Three months after passing the intermediate exam, SCA allows you to aim for the Barista Skills SCA professional exam.
A journey more than a course, through the influence of water on extraction, the TDS measurements of the various calibrations, the preparation of single-origin coffee in espresso and latte art at the highest levels.
Here the programs and upcoming dates.
What You Will Learn in the Advanced Barista class
From roots to sky: this is the poetic approach of this class.
In the first part of the course, you'll learn how cultivation and roasting affect the final taste of espresso.
Next, we dive into the barista's world. You’ll explore the evolution of espresso machines from the 1900s to today and evaluate the best machine for your needs, along with essential accessories like levelers and special filters.
You'll practice extracting espresso, adjusting parameters based on the coffee used. Tasting with trainers, you'll learn how to use the “coffee flavor wheel” and measure extraction with a refractometer. No advanced barista training is complete without latte art. You’ll get plenty of practice and latte art training for great hearts, rosettas, and tulips on your cup!
Are you ready to begin?
Your Barista Course in Florence, Italy
It sounds like a wonderful opportunity to combine a Barista Course with the cultural and artistic riches of Florence, Italy.
Upon completing the course, which is ideal for home barista and coffee enthusiast and regularly features a diverse group of students from across the world in a highly international setting, participants will have the opportunity to explore sites such as the Uffizi Museum, Ponte Vecchio, The Duomo, and immerse themselves in the enchanting atmosphere of Florence's 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.
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...