SCA Sensory Skills Foundation
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The Sensory Skills Foundation course is an interactive introduction to coffee tasting and sensory evaluation. You’ll explore how our senses perceive flavor, aroma, and texture, and learn to recognize key attributes like acidity, bitterness, sweetness, and body.
Through hands-on activities, you’ll develop sensory awareness and practice using industry-standard tools like the SCA Flavor Wheel and cupping protocols. You’ll also gain insight into how coffee professionals assess quality and flavor in specialty coffee.
This course is perfect for baristas, roasters, green coffee buyers, or coffee enthusiasts who want to build confidence in coffee tasting and develop a structured approach to sensory analysis.
Duration: 8 Hours
What You'll Learn
Introduction to Sensory Analysis
- Learn the purpose of sensory analysis in the coffee industry
- Understand how tasting is used to evaluate and improve coffee quality
How We Perceive Flavour
- Explore how our senses of taste and smell work together to shape flavour perception
- Discover the five basic tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami
- Recognize common coffee aromas and how they influence the tasting experience
Describing Coffee Flavour
- Break down coffee characteristics like body, acidity, and bitterness
- Use sensory vocabulary and the SCA Flavor Wheel to communicate about flavour clearly
Cupping Fundamentals
- Understand the purpose of cupping as a standardized tasting method
- Learn how to properly set up and conduct a cupping session
- Explore essential tools and equipment used in professional tastings
Tasting Practice & Application
- Taste and evaluate real coffee samples using foundational skills
- Practice identifying different flavours and aromas with confidence
- Apply sensory knowledge to describe and assess coffee quality
Who This Course is For
- Coffee enthusiasts curious about how professionals taste and evaluate coffee
- New café staff or baristas with little to no sensory training
- Aspiring coffee professionals looking to build foundational sensory skills
- Roastery or café team members involved in quality control or tasting
- Anyone interested in improving their ability to describe and enjoy coffee more confidently
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 prior coffee experience to join?
No prior experience is required. We’ll teach you everything you need to know from the very start. If you already have been working on developing your sensory skills, this course will help you refine them and apply them to coffee.
How many people will be in the course?
Class sizes are kept small (10 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.
