SCA Brewing Foundation
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The Brewing Foundation course is a hands-on introduction to making better coffee. You’ll learn how different brewing methods work, how grind size, water quality, and brew time affect flavor, and how to adjust these elements for a balanced cup.
Through guided practice, you’ll brew with various devices and start understanding what makes a great-tasting coffee. Perfect for beginners or anyone looking to improve their home or café brewing skills!
Duration: 8 Hours
What You'll Learn
Brewing Methods & Equipment
- Understand the differences between immersion, pour-over, and automatic brewing methods
- Identify key parts of brewing equipment and their roles in extraction
Core Brewing Variables
- Learn how coffee-to-water ratio affects flavour and strength
- Explore the impact of grind size on flow rate, clarity, and extraction
- Understand the role of brew time and contact time in achieving balance
- Recognize how water temperature and agitation influence extraction
Brewing Technique & Practice
- Practice using scales, timers, and brew tools for consistency
- Prepare coffee using immersion, pour-over, and automatic brewers
Sensory Evaluation & Troubleshooting
- Identify signs of under- and over-extraction through taste
- Learn how to adjust variables to improve clarity, sweetness, and balance
- Gain confidence in evaluating and dialing in brewed coffee
Cleaning & Maintenance
- Follow best practices for cleaning and maintaining brewing equipment
- Understand how proper maintenance ensures flavour consistency and hygiene
Who This Course is For
- Aspiring baristas looking to build core skills from the ground up
- New café staff with little to no prior coffee experience
- Coffee lovers who want to understand how to make espresso-based drinks
- Café owners training entry-level employees
- Anyone considering a career in specialty coffee
Course Prerequisites
No prior experience is required—this course is designed for beginners.
What's Included
- Facilitator Fee
- Facility & Equipment Usage
- Coffee Beans
- Printed Handouts & Resources
- Lunch and Snacks
- Course Certificate (upon successful completion)
- All SCA Fees
Get Globally Recognized Certification
Get your skills certified by the most globally-known coffee skills certification from the Specialty Coffee Association.
Make New Coffee Friends
Meet other amazing coffee professionals and enthusiasts.
Learn in Small Classes with World-Class Educators
Get personalized feedback from some of the best in the industry.
Meet Your Trainer
Trent Rollings is the founder of Timberline Coffee School, a certified SCA trainer, and a World Coffee Championships Representative and Judge. With over a decade of international experience in coffee education and competition, Trent brings deep industry insight and a passion for helping others grow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need barista experience to join?
No prior barista experience is required. We’ll teach you everything from espresso setup and milk steaming to workflow and service. If you already have barista skills, this course will help you refine them and apply them in the context of ownership and operations.
How many people will be in the course?
Class sizes are kept small (6 students max.) to ensure a hands-on, high-touch learning experience. This allows for real-time feedback, personalized instruction, and plenty of time on equipment.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes. All students receive an official certificate from the Specialty Coffee Association, the most widely recognized coffee skills certificate.
What do I need to bring?
Just yourself, a notebook, and a willingness to learn. We’ll provide everything else, including equipment, tools, tasting supplies, and printed resources.
Where is the course held?
The course takes place at Timberline Coffee School in Calgary, Alberta. Directions and preparation details will be sent upon registration.
What if I have dietary restrictions?
We will send you a pre-course email before your course where we ask for any dietary restrictions you may have so that we can work to accommodate for them when ordering snacks and lunch.
