The American Barista & Coffee School Classes
ABC's workshops are designed to give you or your staff the information and training needed to succeed in today's highly competitive retail specialty coffee market. Workshop sessions include lectures and demonstrations followed by hands-on practice. Our small workshop sizes insure a personalized experience led by coffee business professionals who have owned and operated successful retail coffee operations.
The ABC's state-of-the-art espresso lab features the latest equipment and products from the specialty coffee industry's leading companies, and an actual coffee bar setting for "real-life" hands-on pratice. Here you will gain the skills needed to develop the menu for your business and prepare not just espresso-based drinks, but also blender drinks, smoothies, granita and light food items such as panini.
Business & Barista Workshop [5-Day]
$2695
This intensive workshop includes lectures on start-up, operations and management and hands-on training in the espresso lab learning proper beverage and food preparation.
Business subjects include: A Brief History of the Specialty Coffee Industry, Concept Development, Business Planning, Business Plans, Acquiring Financing, Finding a Location, Negotiating a Lease, Coffee Bar Design, Cafe Ambiance, Selecting Equipment, Menu/Products/Recipes/Prices, Interviewing and Hiring Employees, Employee Training, Operational Systems and Controls, Financial Projections, Marketing Your Business, and Dealing with Employees.
Espresso Lab practicum subjects include: Grinding, Tamping and Extracting Espresso, Pulling the Perfect Shot of Espresso, Grinder and Machine Basics, Steaming and Foaming Milk for Lattes and Cappuccinos, Hot and Cold Drink Recipe Basics, Smoothie and GranitaOverview, Panini Preparation, Machine Maintenance, Coffee History, Customer Service, Principles of Latte Art, The Latte Art pours, The Simple Heart, The Rosetta, The Apple, The Autumn Leaf and The Little Flower, Grinding, Tamping and Extracting Espresso and Milk Texturing.
Business & Barista Workshop [5-Day]
Cost of Workshop includes Continental breakfast + lunch courtesy of ABC’s.
This business and barista training workshop covers one full day of business training and four days in the espresso lab.
Cost:
Additional discounts may apply for groups of 4 or more. Call for more information: 800.655.3955
Cost of Workshop includes Continental breakfast + lunch courtesy of ABC’s.
The cost of ABC’s five-day workshop includes a copy of Effective and Essential Marketing for the Specialty Coffee Retailer, Espresso 101, the industry standard DVD for training baristas, and the 2-DVD set World Barista Championship 2007 (a $230 value). In addition, all business and barista training students will receive one hour of free consulting (a $150 value), to be used at any time after the completion of their ABC’s course. Students also receive approx $100 in free samples and give aways.
All ABC’s attendees receive special discounts on Bellissimo educational books and DVDs and discounts on lodging at Portland’s finest hotels.
In addition, attendees receive a 10% discount on Bellissimo Coffee Advisors Consulting Services.
Day 1
- Coffee + Pastries Courtesy of ABC’s
- Welcome/Introductions
- Current Trends in the Specialty Coffee Industry
- Business Planning
- Finding a Great Location
- Negotiating a Lease
- Designing Your Coffee Bar
- Selecting Equipment
- Operational Systems + Controls
- Your Menu (overview)
- Creating a Unique Ambiance
- Marketing Your Business for Success
- Lunch Courtesy of ABC’s
- Your Business Plan
- Hiring, Training + Retaining Employees
- The Importance of Training
- Customer Service
- Dealing with Employees
- Q + A with the Experts
Day 2
- Coffee + Pastries Courtesy of ABC’s
- Overview of Barista Training Schedule
- View Espresso 101
- Introduction to Espresso Machines and Grinders
- The Perfect Shot of Espresso: Demo/Hands-on Practice
- Tasting Espresso Extractions, Sensory Evaluation
- Lunch Courtesy of ABC’s
- Steaming and Foaming Perfect Milk: Demo/Hands-on Practice
- Pouring a Latte, Combining Espresso + Milk: Demo/Hands-on Practice
- Q+A
- Equipment Cleaning/Maintenance
Day 3
- Coffee + Pastries Courtesy of ABC’s
- Review Extraction and Milk Steaming
- Drink Building: Espresso Based Beverages, Menu Demonstration
- Introduction to Brewed Coffee, Coffee Brewing Methods
- Introduction to Granita
- Introduction to Blender Drinks
- Lunch Courtesy of ABC’s
- Practice in Stations, Milk, Espresso, Brewing, Iced Drinks, Etc.
- Optional Coffee House + Roaster Tour, or:
- Intensive Hands-on Practice in Small Groups
Day 4
- Coffee + Pastries Courtesy of ABC’s
- View The Passionate Harvest
- Tea, Chai, Hot Chocolate + Non-Coffee Drinks
- Panini Sandwich Workshop/Lunch
- Coffee Cupping + Education, How to Cup in Your Coffee Bar
- Hands-on Practice / Samples + Give Aways, etc.
- Completion Ceremony for First Four Days, Diplomas
Day 5
- Coffee + Pastries Courtesy of ABC’s
- Introduction To Latte Art as a Marketing/Training Tool
- View Advanced Barista Training: Extreme Pours
- Advanced Espresso Techniques
- Advanced Grinding Methods
- Advanced Dosing Methods
- Advanced Tamping Methods
- One-On-One Review + Critique, All Methods
- Advanced Steaming Techniques
- Steaming for Different Pour Types
- Instructors Demonstrate Basic Pours
- Latte Art
- Basic Etching Principles
- Real-Life Workshop + Time Beverage Prep Exercise
Barista Workshop [3-Day]
$1495
This workshop is focused on on menu building and quality control. New and existing retailers, managers and key employees learn to increase the quality of the products they serve and new techniques or brew methods to incorporate into their retail businesses, ensuring their continuing success.
As a pared down version of our 5-Day Business + Barista Consulting Workshop, the 3-day workshop is focused more narrowly on menu building and quality control. Existing retailers, managers and key employees learn to increase the quality of the products they serve and new techniques or brew methods to incorporate into their retail businesses, ensuring their continuing success. This workshop is limited to espresso beverages menu and brewed coffee preparation techniques.
Barista Workshop [3-Day]
The 3-day workshop is equally appropriate for a business owner who is looking to add a specialty coffee component to their existing business (restaurant, bakery, bookstore, nursery, etc.). In addition to menu building, clients learn how to select equipment and which vendors are appropriate for their business model.
Day 1
7:45am coffee & pastries
8:00 welcome and introductions
8: introduction to espresso equipment with espresso 101
8:45 further equipment discussionwith examples and demonstration
9:30 break
9:45 Espresso extractiondemonstrations and hands on
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Introduction to Milk Steaminghands on and practice
2:00 The Dance of the Barista –introduction to drink assembly
2:30 Drink building hands on time
4:30 Cleaning and preventativemaintenance
5 end
Day2
8:45 coffee and pastries
9:00 Menu demonstration anddiscussion
10:00 Brewed coffee introductionand demonstration
Break
10:15 Dialing in as a group.Review of day 1 espresso lessons
Shottasting and discussion
Advanceddiscussion of dosing including doserless grinder
10:45 Dialing in at work stations
12:30 Lunch
1:00 Milk steaming review
1:30 Hands on practice
2:30 Into to Latte art and handson practice
4:30 Q&A
5 end
Day 3
8:45 Coffee and Pastries
9:00 View Passionate Harvest
10:00 Coffee Cupping
11:30 Lunch
1:00 Discussion of café flow (workflow, drink prep, customer side flow, bar layout example, etc.
2:00 Hands on Practice - Real Life Exercise
4:00 Diploma Ceremony
4:30 End Session
Coffee Roasting + Cupping Workshop [1-Day]
$595
This workshop is the perfect introduction to the world of coffee roasting and will provide you with a great overview and theory of what is involved in micro-roasting coffees from around the world. A great entry-level workshop for coffee retailers and home roasters.
Do you want to learn more about what it takes to roast excellent coffee? Our one-day roasting class is a one of a kind offering that will teach you what you need to know in order to start your journey to become a first class coffee roaster. If your goal is to master home roasting, take your coffee knowledge to the next level, or to start a micro-roasting operation, our hands-on roasting course will up your game to a professional level.
Our roasting workshops are held at Water Avenue Coffee, a new roastery/cafe opened by ABC's founder Bruce Milletto, Matt Milletto (ABC's Director) and Head Roaster/Roasting Instructor Brandon Smyth in June of 2010. The roastery is adjacent to ABC's, and effectively doubles the size of the facility's instructional space to 4,000 square feet. Combining the roastery with ABC's makes the ABC's experience one unparalleled in coffee education anywhere.
Coffee Roasting + Cupping Workshop [1-Day]
Attendees receive a copy of The Coffee Cuppers' Handbook by Ted Lingle andHome Coffee Roasting by Kenneth Davids
Class runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Catered lunch included included in workshop cost.
Class Description:
• Introduction to Roaster Types (air, drum) and sizes for your cafe or business.
• How Roasters work, how they toast the coffee seed, history of roasting.
• How to select green coffee and how to get it delivered, either through importers or direct.
• Hands-on Probatino workshop, roasting three different roast-levels.
• Le Nez Du Cafe - aroma sensory demo & discussion.
• Cupping of previous roasts, discussion of difference in profiles.
• Blending concepts
• Cupping of regional varietals & process, Discussion of roast profiles per region & process, how they differ & how they are similar,
• Open forum, Q&A
Students will receive a Roasting & Cupping Diploma from the American Barista & Coffee School to acknowledge their continued education and understanding of the basics in roasting and cupping.
Brandon Smyth first worked at a small roastery 12 years ago and has been in the specialty coffee industry ever since, traversing the West Coast while working at the most prestigious cafes, coffee importers and small batch craft roasters, including Stumptown Coffee Roasters in Portland, Oregon. He is accomplished roaster who has roasted several of the most expensive and unique coffee varietals in the world. Brandon has continued his pursuit of roasting knowledge through the rebuilding and installation of several vintage coffee roasters.
Barista Competition/Latte Art Workshop [1-5 Days]
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The idea of entering a barista competition can be quite overwhelming. There are many aspects to consider: from where your coffee is sourced to what your menu will look like. The American Barista & Coffee School has teamed up with a world-class group of former competitors, judges, and other Portland professionals to develop a five-day intensive competition-training program.
In addition to rigorous competition practice everyday, we will tap the resources of local artists, chefs, dairies, farms, and coffees roasters in our own backyard to help you develop your competition program. Our week of training will be a lot of hard-work, a lot of fun, and, most importantly, will prepare you to walk out on the competition floor without skipping a beat.
This workshop is tailored to meet each attendee's needs, and is led by United States Barista Championship and Latte Art Competition competitors and judges.
Learn MoreBarista Competition/Latte Art Workshop [1-5 Days]
The influence of the World Barista Championship (WBC) on the specialty coffee industry has been profound since the first competition in Monte Carlo in 2000. In eight short years, the WBC has helped fuel the industry’s third wave, resulting in hundreds of national and regional competitions around the world, giving anyone, anywhere, the opportunity to be the next world champion. At the 2008 WBC in Copenhagen, competitors from more than 50 countries competed for the title of world’s best barista. These passionate baristas, and the enthusiasm they bring to competitions, have helped bring consumers closer to the source of their daily cup.
CALL 800.655.3955 FOR PRICING AND A SCHEDULE OF CLASSES
Day One: Competition Overview / Presentation Brainstorming
The first day of competition training will focus on learning the ins and outs of a barista competition and tapping the resources that will make you a better competitor. Once we understand your current knowledge base, we will cater the rest of the week to fit your needs.
- Breakdown the competition score sheet with WBC and United States Barista Championship (USBC) judges
- View the presentations of World Barista Champions on DVD
- Take educational field trips to roasting facilities, dairies, farms, etc.
- Discuss presentation ideas with local Portland artists
Day Two: Espresso
Day two will focus on espresso. What blend will you be using when you compete? Where do the coffees come from? What general profiles are in the blend and what are the judges looking for? By the end of the day, you should have the knowledge to thoroughly and effectively present your espresso to the judges during the espresso segment of the competition.
- Palette and cupping education
- Coffee processing/origin education
- Breaking down blend
- Talking points
- Attention to detail
- Repetitive timing practice – espresso segment
Day Three: Cappuccino
The third day will focus on the cappuccino: how to source the best milk for your blend, steam it to perfection, and finish with four beautiful, consistent drinks.
- Milk tasting/education
- Methods to produce consistent foam density and minimal waste
- Latte art
- Talking points
- Attention to detail
- Repetitive timing practice — cappuccino segment
Day Four: Signature Drink
Using the information we gathered on day one, we will cater this day to you and your signature drink. On this day we will tap the resources of local chefs and bakers to come up with something unique and spectacular. The goal at the end of the day is to come up with a drink that tastes great and can be repeated over and over again with precise results.
- Meet with local chefs and bakers
- Finalize drink and consistency
- Repetitive timing practice – signature drink segment
Day Five: Final Practice Day
After four days of designing your presentation, it is time to finalize your introduction and put all the pieces together: introduction, espresso, cappuccino, signature drink. This will be your “dress rehearsal” — the day we work out any kinks in your performance.
- Assemble everything (possible) you will use in your performance
- Repetitive timing practice combining introduction, espresso, cappuccino, signature drink
- Fine-tuning/tweaking presentation with WBC certified judges
Follow-up Training Services: Additional Fees
- On location at trainees facility
- On location at competition site prior to competition
Corporate Workshops [1-5 Days]
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Many companies in the specialty coffee industry need specific information in order to grow. Some businesses want to enter into specialty coffee, but first need information and guidance.
ABC's provides a "think tank" environment for your company representatives in an environment free from the daily demands of your normal company business. Here they can learn about specialty coffee and design your strategy. For those companies not currently in the specialty coffee industry but wanting to make coffee a part of their program, ABC’s can help develop and fine-tune a specific business strategy that meets the mission and goals of your business.
Our knowledge of the specialty coffee industry and our expertise in marketing and public relations make us the logical choice for companies looking to expand or develop their own programs. With the help of ABC's corporate consulting and training services, your company can improve its visibility and bottom line.
We invite you to send your executives, sales representatives and employees to a customized two or three-day corporate barista training and business seminar at the American Barista & Coffee School. We will design a seminar to fit your company's specific needs.
Call us for more information at 800-655-3955
On-Site Barista Training & Consultation
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If you are unable to make the trip out to Portland, OR for our classes, don't worry, we can come to you! We are able to visit your site to either set up training and work with you and your staff one on one.
Learn more about our consulting services or call us at 800-655-3955