Become a coffee sommelier with our professional cupping course or tasting classes!

SCA Sensory

Coffee tasting is a fascinating world both for coffee enthusiasts and home baristas and for the professional who aims to become a coffee taster and a Q grader.

The coffee tasting course, as well as the SCA sensory foundation, intermediate and professional tasting and cupping courses aim to train the skills of recognition, analysis, comparison and description of coffee.

The final goal of these coffee appreciation classes for the most ambitious is to become a professional coffee taster, a Q Grader capable of selecting coffee from international markets.

Experience an unforgettable holiday in Italy!

These courses are held in Florence, one of the most beautiful cities of Italy and of the world.
The courses are always in English, in a super friendship and international environment.

Risorsa 1@2x

COFFEE SENSORY BASIC COURSE / FOUNDATION SCA.

One day. Florence - January 8th, February 10th or March 10th 2025

Join our beginner's coffee tasting course and embark on a journey of coffee appreciation! Starting from understanding the physiology of taste and recognizing basic tastes like bitterness and acidity. Then we work on the different degrees of the body and on the three main categories of aromas: sugar browning, enzymatic and empyreumatic.
Discover the origins of these flavors, coffee varieties, origins and processing methods. 

With extensive practical exercises, including coffee tasting and comparisons in both cupping and espresso, you'll sharpen your palate and deepen your coffee knowledge.

 

Risorsa 3@3x

COFFEE SENSORY INTERMEDIATE COURSE SCA.

Two days. Florence - January 24th and 25th or March 19th and 20th 2025

If in the basic coffee tasting class you learn to know and recognize, in the intermediate course you learn to measure and compare. A largely practical course with several coffee cupping and triangulation sessions dedicated to the recognition of defects and the ability to recognize the different degrees (and types) of acid and sweetness.

This course also covers the SCA tasting sheet to start evaluating a specialty coffee introducing concepts as balance and “clean cup”.

Risorsa 4@3x

COFFEE SENSORY PROFESSIONAL COURSE SCA.

Three days. Florence -  February 17th, 18th and 19th

The SCA professional sensory coffee course is the pinnacle for aspiring professional coffee tasters and a stepping stone for those aiming to become Q Graders.

No time for a coffee vacation in Italy?

Our online courses offer the most updated and comprehensive coffee knowledge, all from the comfort of your couch.

  • Covers every area: from green coffee to barista skills.

  • In english: learn from experienced, SCA-authorized trainers.

  • Access anytime, forever: your courses are yours to revisit whenever you like.

  • Certifications available: valid for SCA and IBC certifications after the required procedures.

Check out our online classes catalog today!

Are you interested in this course?

 
 

A coffee tasting course for enthusiasts and coffee lover

Every December, many people contact us to gift a coffee course to their loved ones, an heartwarming gesture for those who are truly passionate about coffee!

Throughout our catalog, the most popular and gifted course remains: the coffee tasting course!

And we're pleased about this! We're pleased because finally, coffee is being discovered and becoming interesting even for many people who are not professional baristas, but who discover coffee much like discovering cuisine or wine, a wonderful world to explore and love!

 

What's the layout of a coffee tasting course?

How many coffees do you drink? Are they made with a Moka pot? With an espresso machine? Do you add sugar? These are just a few of the questions we receive from people who are interested in taking their first coffee tasting course.

But how does it really work? A coffee tasting course doesn't start with coffee, actually. We begin by tasting various solutions of water with dissolved substances (all natural!) that gradually allow us to distinguish between sweet, acidic, and bitter flavors and balance these tastes.

Then, we work deeply into aromas—the ones that come from the coffee plant, those that arrive from roasting, and those that are considered technical defects.

At this point, we're ready for the main event: tasting the coffee. And the technique/ceremony of cupping will simply be fascinating!

Discover Coffee's Secrets: Is There a Coffee Sommelier Course?

In recent years, coffee has become a much more experiential product. Many people, even non-professionals, have discovered this beverage not just as a simple morning pick-me-up, but as an interesting product, with different production regions and varieties, each with its own unique flavor profiles.

That's why a coffee tasting course has become such a fascinating experience, both for those approaching coffee as an "interesting" product and for the more dedicated "home baristas".

Is there a course to become a "caffelier"?

The word "caffelier" has become very common in recent years. It's easy to understand that it's a mix of the word "coffee" with the word "sommelier," a term used to describe a wine taster.

At a professional level, this figure doesn't exist, and the professional coffee taster is often referred to as a "Q grader."

However, for coffee enthusiasts, those who want to discover the aromas and wonderful sensory notes of this beverage, even without making it their profession, a caffelier course is definitely a beautiful experience that will completely change the way they approach to coffee!

Q Grader Course

The professional coffee taster, who has the opportunity to travel among the various coffee fincas and farms around the world, tasting extraordinary coffees, is called a Q Grader, short for Quality Grader.

Becoming a Q Grader is not a simple task. In fact, the Q Grader course starts by taking part in the courses you'll find on this page, the various SCA levels.

Once you've completed the professional SCA Sensory course, you can apply to the Coffee Quality Institute to take the exams, which are very difficult and very costly
A big effort for a big achievement!

 

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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One Journey, One Vacation In Italy

The dates of the Espresso Academy courses are always set in such a way as to allow you to take part in several courses, one day after another, to give the maximum value to your trip, and your Italian vacation.

Find out below the dates coordinated on our calendar

CHECK OUT OUR COURSE CALENDAR >>
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Our Trainers

Marco-Cremonese

Marco Cremonese

One of the most known italian coffee and roasting experts. Marco has a large portfolio of consultancies for famous coffee roasting companies and is an official SCA trainer for coffee roasting, tasting and green coffee. He´s also frequently been chosen by the World Barista Championship to roast the coffees for the competitions.
Helena-Oliviero-1

Helena Oliviero

Helena is young and very experienced in the world of coffee. She´s the italian champion of Ibrik, AST for Barista and Brewing and also an R-Grader.. the first woman in Italy! She´s the responsible of the Brewing courses and Espresso Academy abroad.

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