SCA Brewing Foundation
2026-09-09 08:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Opo Coffee Training Lab, 314 E. Howard Street, Decatur, GA, 30030, United States
This course introduces the learner to the different methods of brewing coffee. The learner will receive theoretical and practical hands-on instruction for a range of devices including various pourover cones, French press, siphon, Aeropress, Clever brewer, and more. Practical learning objectives and activities prepare the learner to prepare a tasty brew based on an understanding of the essential brewing elements and an analysis of their brew results.
There is an online written exam administered upon completion of the course. Learn more about the SCA Coffee Skills Program here.
Validated parking and lunch are included in the course fee.
Students will receive a 15% discount on coffee and merchandise the day of class!
Maximum Class Size: 6 students
Class Duration: 7 hours
Instructor: Jonathan Pascual, Authorized SCA Trainer
SCA certificate courses have very limited seating and require significant planning and preparation to schedule, staff, and deliver. Because of this, SCA Courses follow a separate policy from our non-certification classes.
Refunds and Rescheduling:

30+ days before the course start:
You may reschedule or request a full refund at no charge.
15–29 days before the course start:
You may reschedule or request a refund, less a 20% processing fee.
Within 14 days of the course start:
Cancellations and rescheduling are no longer possible and are not eligible for a refund.

SCA Brewing Intermediate
2026-09-21 08:00 - 2026-09-22 15:30
The Brewing Intermediate course builds on the concepts and skills introduced in the Foundation course. It is ideal for someone who has brewing experience and wants to further explore how to improve coffee quality. This course covers a wide range of topics, including an exploration of the brewing process in terms of device usage; extraction order and wetting; the essential elements of brewing and their individual influence on the final cup; the scientific measurement of extracted coffee strength and charting a coffee’s extraction; analysis of brewed coffee and espresso and adjustments to consider in order to deliver a correctly extracted, well-balanced cup; and the importance of cleaning and maintenance. A written exam tests intermediate course knowledge while a practical exam assesses the learner’s ability to Identify strength and extraction differences in brewed coffee; prepare brews from different devices and diagnose how to correct the recipe for a poorly brewed coffee from an automatic filter brewer. There is an online written exam administered upon completion of the course.
Learn more about the SCA Coffee Skills Program here.
Validated parking and lunch are included in the course fee.
Students will receive a 15% discount on coffee and merchandise the day of class!
Maximum Class Size: 3 students
Class Duration: 2 sessions, 7.5 hours/session
Instructor: Jonathan Pascual, Authorized SCA Trainer
SCA certificate courses have very limited seating and require significant planning and preparation to schedule, staff, and deliver. Because of this, SCA Courses follow a separate policy from our non-certification classes.
Refunds and Rescheduling:

30+ days before the course start:
You may reschedule or request a full refund at no charge.
15–29 days before the course start:
You may reschedule or request a refund, less a 20% processing fee.
Within 14 days of the course start:
Cancellations and rescheduling are no longer possible and are not eligible for a refund.

SCA Roasting Foundation
2026-09-25 08:00 - 15:30, 2026-10-30 08:00 - 15:30
The Roasting Foundation course gives the learner an understanding of the roasting process, including the physical changes that take place during the process, and how to control sensory aspects of the coffee by roasting light or dark. Learners will also gain an understanding of the basic structure of the roasting machine, and general maintenance and fire prevention. Practical learning objectives and activities prepare the learner to follow instructions, given by the trainer, for three different roasts and record relevant data and observations per roast using a suitable roast log.
There is an online written exam administered upon completion of the course. Learn more about the SCA Coffee Skills Program here.
Validated parking and lunch are included in the course fee.
Students will receive a 15% discount on coffee and merchandise the day of class!
Maximum Class Size: 4 students
Class Duration: 7.5 hours
Instructor: Chris Avirett, Authorized SCA Trainer
SCA certificate courses have very limited seating and require significant planning and preparation to schedule, staff, and deliver. Because of this, SCA Courses follow a separate policy from our non-certification classes.
Refunds and Rescheduling

30+ days before the course start:You may reschedule or request a full refund at no charge.
15–29 days before the course start:You may reschedule or request a refund, less a 20% processing fee.
Within 14 days of the course start:Cancellations and rescheduling are no longer possible and are not eligible for a refund.

SCA Barista Skills Foundation
2026-09-28 08:00 - 15:30, 2026-10-06 08:00 - 15:30, 2026-10-31 08:00 - 15:30
This course allows learners to gain an introductory understanding of the coffee itself as well as foundational skills required to set a grinder, make espressos, foam and texture milk and latte art techniques as per SCA quality standards, while implementing health and safety practices and customer service. Practical learning objectives and activities prepare the learner to conduct key foundational tasks of a barista.
There is an online written exam administered upon completion of the course. Learn more about the SCA Coffee Skills Program here.
Validated parking and lunch are included in the course fee.
Students will receive a 15% discount on coffee and merchandise the day of class!
Maximum Class Size: 5 students
Class Duration: 7.5 hours
Instructor: Joel Ballard, Authorized SCA Trainer
SCA certificate courses have very limited seating and require significant planning and preparation to schedule, staff, and deliver. Because of this, SCA Courses follow a separate policy from our non-certification classes.
Refunds and Rescheduling:

30+ days before the course start:
You may reschedule or request a full refund at no charge.
15–29 days before the course start:
You may reschedule or request a refund, less a 20% processing fee.
Within 14 days of the course start:
Cancellations and rescheduling are no longer possible and are not eligible for a refund.

SCA Introduction to Coffee
2026-10-05 08:00 - 14:30
Part of the SCA Coffee Skills Program, Introduction to Coffee is open to coffee enthusiasts and specialty coffee professionals alike. Intro to Coffee is a comprehensive crash course in the specialty coffee industry. 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. Learners will also discuss the importance of water quality, equipment cleanliness, and maintenance.
In the Opo Coffee training lab, this interactive course also includes a live coffee roasting demo and coffee cupping. There is an online written exam administered upon completion of the course. Learn more about the SCA Coffee Skills Program here.
Lunch and validated parking included in the course fee.
Students will receive a 15% discount on coffee and merchandise the day of class!
Maximum Class Size: 7 students
Class Duration: 6.5 hours
Instructor: Joel Ballard, Authorized SCA Trainer
SCA certificate courses have very limited seating and require significant planning and preparation to schedule, staff, and deliver. Because of this, SCA Courses follow a separate policy from our non-certification classes.
Refunds and Rescheduling:

30+ days before the course start:
You may reschedule or request a full refund at no charge.
15–29 days before the course start:
You may reschedule or request a refund, less a 20% processing fee.
Within 14 days of the course start:
Cancellations and rescheduling are no longer possible and are not eligible for a refund.

SCA Barista Skills Intermediate
2026-10-26 08:00 - 2026-10-27 15:30
The Barista Skills Intermediate course builds on the concepts and skills introduced in the Foundation course. It is ideal for someone who has barista skills experience and wants to explore how to improve coffee quality and prepare for more complex job functions found in the barista profession. Through this interactive course, learners will gain a deeper understanding of the coffee itself, specifically the impact of a coffee’s variety, origins and processing methods on flavor; the parameters of coffee quantity, grind texture, water quality, and shot time and their interaction when dialing in a brew recipe; drink construction and taste differences; workflow management and efficiency, sensory aspects of the espresso extraction; milk handling and techniques as well as latte art. In addition to coffee preparation, this course also covers key concepts regarding health and safety, customer service, and basic business practices. A written exam tests Intermediate course knowledge while a practical exam assesses the learner’s ability in terms of grinder calibration, espresso extraction analysis, latte art skills and drinks construction.
