EDUCATION

COURSES FOR THE ENTHUSIAST

Developed for either total beginners, or those with some experience who want to brush up their skills, we offer courses to help improve your knowledge and skills.

SCA COFFEE SKILLS PROGRAM

We take education seriously at PLOT and can offer the full range of SCA courses from Foundation to Professional levels in Barista Skills, Brewing, Sensory Skills, Green Coffee and Roasting. These courses are invaluable learning opportunities for people working in the industry and budding enthusiasts alike.

We have a wealth of experience in the industry and are passionate about encouraging others to develop their skills, learning through practical experience. We believe that great education is about more than just passing on information.

INTRODUCTION TO COFFEE

The Introduction to Coffee course is ideal for anyone who is new to specialty coffee. It charts coffee’s journey from its origins in Ethiopia to the major commodity that it is today. This course gives a general overview of the specialty coffee supply chain and explores topics such as history and cultivation, variables that affect coffee quality, basics of sensory analysis, fundamentals of roasting, factors of coffee freshness, and principles of brewing.

BARISTA SKILLS

Barista Skills teaches the essentials practical skills needed behind the espresso bar such as how to set your grinder, make espresso, foam and texture milk for cappuccinos and create latte art as well as an exploration of health and safety issues, customer service protocols and basic business practices.

BREWING

Learn about the variety of methods for brewing coffee and the brewing variables that affect quality. The Brewing module provides hands-on learning of grind profiles, brewing methods, measuring coffee strength and charting a coffee’s extraction.

SENSORY SKILLS

Sensory Skills courses cover concepts and skills relevant to the evaluation of coffee and related products. The content of these interactive courses includes sensory science, industry-specific protocols, common sensory attributes of coffee, physiological sensory training, implementation of sensory programs, consumer testing design, application in business and more.

GREEN COFFEE

Green coffee courses cover concepts and skills relevant to the evaluation, trade and handling of green coffee. Content of these courses include applicable aspects of botany, coffee farming, processing, grading, storage, transport, markets, certifications, contracts and more.

ROASTING

The Roasting modules teaches about the roasting process, including roast cycle, roast levels, identifying defects, the physical changes that beans undergo during the roasting process, as well as workspace management and lean production.