Green Coffee Foundation SCA Course

Varieties, processes, selection and tasting. Everything you need to know about coffee in an unforgettable experience: your green coffee course in Italy

The first answer to the question “How to become a coffee expert?” is: know your raw material!

With this green coffee course, you'll dive into the vast world of coffee as a product: from commodities to specialty, exploring different species, varieties, and production processes, and how these factors affect the coffee cup's final result.

The green coffee class—the first step for every coffee connoisseur!

Discover the program

Where

Florence Italy
One of the most beautiful cities in the world

Next dates

Jan 13th
Feb 15th
March 15th 2025
From 10am till 6pm, with a lunch break from 1pm to 2pm

Price

180€
including handbooks, slides and CVA protocols sheets

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

This course is part of the “Espresso One Week Coffee Route”. Discover more about coffee through the Espresso Academy Coffee Week

Are you interested in this course?

BOOK YOUR SPOT NOW

Through this green coffee class in Italy you will

Gain foundational knowledge about different coffee species.
Learn about the key processes involved in coffee cultivation and processes, from the nursery to the plantation.
Discover how to classify coffee defects and understand the sieve classification system used in the industry.
Get introduced to the fundamentals of cupping, the professional method for assessing coffee quality.

This course allows access to two international certifications, both widespread and recognized in the world: IBC and SCA green Foundation.

Courses are held in English

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

Read what previous students say about us!

Online Green Coffee Course

Do you want to become a coffee connoisseur but no time for in-person courses?
Get your coffee tasting class online with Espresso Academy.

The best coffee education directly in your home!

Get your online class!

Foundation Green Coffee SCA Class

The botany of coffee, Arabica, Canephora, liberica, excelsa ...
The origins of Coffea
Characteristics and market shares of the main producing countries
Coffee cultivation on the plantation, the harvest
The processing processes of the drupes, natural, washed, honey, Pulped Natural
Coffee drying: patios, African beds, mechanics
The removal of the parchment and the other processing steps
The methods of classification of green coffee
Classification by sieve, practical tests
Classification by number of defects, the New York scale. Practical tests
Moisture analysis and allowed limits
The transport and storage of green coffee
Green coffee certifications (UTZ, Fair Trade and others)
What are caffeine and decaffeinated coffee
The Brazilian Cupping tasting, recognizing the species, recognizing the defects. Practical tests.
The evaluation sheet to define a specialty coffee
How to manage the new Coffee Value Assessment SCA

BOOK YOUR SPOT NOW

Green Coffee SCA - Foundation Level Class

At the end of this course it’s possible to part-take in the SCA Green 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 Intermediate and Professional certifications.

Costs

The cost of the course is €180, which can also be paid in three installments through Stripe.

Certification

The course allows participants to part-take in the SCA Green Foundation exam

Practice

This is a practical course with a number of exercises & cupping sessions

Are you looking for a job?

We have a network of micro-roasters and specialty coffee shops. Contact us if you are looking for a job.

Coffee campus

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

One week coffee route

This course is part of the “Espresso One Week Coffee Route”. Discover more about coffee through the Espresso Academy Coffee Week

What you will learn in this green coffee class

Through this course, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of coffee, starting from its botany to its journey from the farm to the market.

You will learn about different coffee species, including Arabica and Robusta, and the origins of coffee production. The course covers the entire coffee cultivation process, including harvesting and various processing methods like natural, washed, and honey.

You will explore different drying techniques, such as using patios and African beds, and understand how to remove parchment and other processing steps.

The course will also teach you how to classify green coffee by size and defects using practical tests and classification systems like the New York scale.

You will learn about moisture analysis, coffee certifications such as UTZ and Fair Trade, and the basics of caffeine and decaffeinated coffee. Finally, you'll practice Brazilian cupping techniques to identify coffee types and defects and use evaluation sheets to define specialty coffee.

Your Green Coffee Class in Florence, Italy

It sounds like a wonderful opportunity to combine what is considered by many students the best green coffee course in the world 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.

[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...

Espresso Academy

4.9

review us on

Stefano Ambrogi

11:04 17 Nov 24

Well done course especially for people new to this industry

V 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.

Francesco Garbati Pegna

07:10 28 Oct 24

Basic barman course meets expectations

Sarah

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 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 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 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 :)

Stephen

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 Henley

13:04 14 Jan 24

The course at the academy was very good. very friendly team and professional teaching.

Daniel 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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!!

Our Trainer

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.

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.

Green Coffee Foundation SCA Course