SCA Brewing Intermediate
4 in stock
Pickup currently unavailable
The SCA Brewing Intermediate course helps you take your brewing skills to the next level by making better, more consistent coffee. You’ll dive deeper into how grind size, brew time, water temperature, and other key variables affect extraction and flavor.
Through hands-on practice with different brewing methods, you’ll learn how to measure coffee strength and extraction, troubleshoot common brewing issues, and adjust recipes for better balance and taste. The course also introduces professional brewing tools, including TDS meters and the Coffee Brewing Control Chart, to help you refine your technique.
Duration: 2 Days (16 Hours)
What You'll Learn
Advanced Brewing Methods & Equipment
- Explore a range of brewing devices and how they impact flavour
- Compare immersion, percolation, and hybrid brewing techniques
- Understand how equipment calibration affects consistency and results
Brew Variables & Extraction Control
- Adjust coffee-to-water ratios to influence taste, body, and strength
- Study how grind size affects flow rate, extraction, and clarity
- Learn how water temperature and brewing time affect solubility and extraction speed
- Experiment with turbulence and agitation techniques like stirring and pouring
Hands-On Brewing & Method Comparison
- Brew coffee using a variety of devices and evaluate results side by side
- Develop confidence in choosing and executing recipes for different methods
Extraction Science & Measurement
- Learn to measure coffee strength using Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
- Use the Brewing Control Chart to interpret extraction levels
- Understand how to use a refractometer for brew analysis
Sensory Evaluation & Troubleshooting
- Taste brews at varying extraction levels to identify under- and over-extraction
- Adjust variables to correct extraction and enhance flavour clarity and balance
- Refine your sensory skills to support consistent brewing outcomes
Cleaning, Maintenance & Practical Exams
- Learn best practices for cleaning grinders, filters, and brewers
- Demonstrate your ability to troubleshoot brews and adjust recipes for balance
- Execute brews using calibrated devices and analyze results during practical exams
Who This Course is For
- Baristas with foundational training or 6+ months of café experience
- Staff ready to take on more responsibility behind the bar
- Café owners or leads looking to improve drink quality and consistency
- Coffee professionals preparing for supervisory or training roles
- Anyone aiming to deepen their technical knowledge of brewing filter coffee
Course Prerequisites
Completion of SCA Brewing Foundation or equivalent experience (6 months of hands-on practice brewing filter coffee).
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
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.
