Open and run a successful café — without costly mistakes.
A hands-on, 3-day masterclass that gives you the systems, skills, and confident decision-making to plan, open, or improve a café that actually works.
"So glad I took this masterclass. It cleared so much up for me and gave us a solid plan to open our café."
Maya S. · Past Timberline Student
Opening a coffee shop shouldn't feel like guesswork.
You're excited — but you don't know where to start, or in what order.
Costly wrong turns on build-out, equipment, and pricing can sink a café early.
Every consultant has a pitch. You need real operators, not just talkers.
Conflicting YouTube, Reddit, and IG wisdom — none of it in one system.
We built this masterclass to help you stop guessing and start making confident, informed decisions.
From overwhelmed to operator.
- Guessing on equipment and build-out
- No idea what your menu should cost
- Can't pour a consistent latte
- Scrolling forums for conflicting advice
- Hoping it'll all work out
- A clear build-out plan with real numbers
- Menu costed for profit — not hope
- Pulling shots and pouring latte art on bar
- One system instead of ten opinions
- A roadmap from soft launch to thriving
Everything a café owner needs — in three value-packed days.
Barista Skills & Coffee Knowledge
- Espresso Extraction & Dial-In
- Milk Steaming & Latte Art Basics
- Batch Brew Calibration
- Roast, Blend & Sourcing
Business & Financial Foundations
- Start-Up & Operating Budgets
- Menu Costing & Breakeven
- COGS, Waste & Inventory
- Hiring & Onboarding
Systems, Design & Daily Operations
- Bar Workflow For Speed
- Café Layout For Flow
- Open / Close Routines
- Checklists & SOPs
Branding & Customer Experience
- Developing Your Concept
- Brand Voice & Values
- Designing For The 5 Senses
- Customer Experience Design
What to expect during the course.
Each day starts at 9am and finishes at 5pm, with lunch provided. Time on bar is spread across all three days so that you get lots of practice making beverages and sufficient time working on the business.
Three kinds of people get the most out of the masterclass.
Aspiring Café Owners
You've been dreaming of opening your first shop. You want a proven roadmap before you sign a lease, order equipment, or hire a single barista.
Existing Café Owners
You opened the doors, but something feels off — margin, workflow, team, or menu. You want a comprehensive tune-up from someone who operates.
Café Managers & Leads
You run the bar beautifully — now you want to understand the business behind it. Costing, hiring, P&L, brand. The stuff your GM thinks about.
Customizable templates to operate your café — yours to keep.
Every template is delivered as an editable Canva file. Swap in your logo, adjust the colors and photography to match your brand, and adapt the content to fit your café — so you can skip weeks of starting-from-scratch work and get a real head start.
Trusted by Canada's coffee industry. 50+ 5-star reviews from past students.
"I left the program feeling seen—not just as a student, but as a person, a coffee professional, and a contributor to the industry."
"Trent is a great instructor! The course was well organized, communication was all super clear and Trent was quick to respond to any questions."
"I had the pleasure to attend multiple courses hosted by Trent from Timberline Coffee School, and I can confidently say there is no better instructor than him in Canada. Whether you are new to the coffee industry or a more experienced professional, there is so much to learn from Trent."
"I was so scared to take the plunge into owning my own coffee shop, but this course gave me the confidence to move forward. We've been open for 6 months and I can't imagine not having attended this course. It really made the start-up journey so much easier."
Taught by someone with extensive café and roastery operations experience.
I've held many roles in the coffee industry since I entered it 12+ years ago. My career spans living and working in the Philippines, Türkiye, and Canada — where I've opened and operated coffee shops, a roastery, and a coffee school.
My goal is to put that experience — and the lessons I've learned the hard way — to work for you, so you can move through your own coffee journey with more clarity, more confidence, and fewer costly mistakes.
Here's the important course details.
Pick a date. Secure your seat.
Frequently asked questions.
Do I need barista experience to join?
No prior experience is required. We teach everything from espresso setup and milk steaming to workflow and service. If you already have barista skills, we'll sharpen them and apply them in the context of ownership.
Is this only for people opening a coffee shop?
The course is focused on café ownership — but menu costing, hiring, workflow design, and customer experience are highly valuable for managers, trainers, and coffee / hospitality professionals.
How many people will be in the class?
6 students maximum. That's the number — it lets us give real-time feedback, personalized instruction, and plenty of time on equipment for every person.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes. Every student receives a Timberline Coffee School Certificate of Completion on day three.
Will we learn about business planning and startup costs?
Yes. You'll get a clear breakdown of startup costs, sample budgets, menu pricing strategies, planning templates, and tools to forecast your breakeven point.
Is this a franchise or business-in-a-box course?
Not at all. The course helps you create your own café. You'll develop your own concept, brand, and operational systems — no cookie-cutter models.
What should I bring?
Yourself, a notebook, and a willingness to learn. We provide everything else: equipment, tools, tasting supplies, printed resources, snacks and lunch.
Where is the course held?
At Timberline Coffee School in Calgary, Alberta. Directions and parking details are sent when you register.
Can I get a refund if I change my mind?
Yes. Full refund up to 30 days before your class start date. Within 30 days, we'll gladly move your seat to another upcoming date. We want you in the right class, not the wrong one.
What about dietary restrictions?
We email before your class to ask about restrictions, so we can order snacks and lunch that work for you.
Stop guessing. Start building.
Three days in Calgary that replace years of guesswork — and leave you with the systems, skills, and certainty to open or run a café that actually works.
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