Total Barista - Professional Barista Course from Udemy

A Total Barista course for all levels of Baristas and Coffee Lovers. Designed and presented by Winston Thomas, a professional SCA certified Barista trainer and award winning coffee professional. “Total Barista” covers all levels of Barista Training, Espresso and Speciality Coffee Drinks. Whether you are starting out, whether you want to improve your Barista skills or you just love coffee this course is for you.

The beauty of this course is that it teaches all the basics as well as advanced Barista skills in simple, clear and easy to understand lessons.

Winston Thomas is a multi-skilled and Award-Winning Coffee Professional.

He has won two National Barista Championships (2017 & 2018), the African Barista Championships in 2019 and has competed at 3 World Barista Championships.

His experience ranges from working as a Barista, Barista Trainer and Wholesale Relationship Manager at some of the best cafes / roasters in the world. More recently he has been working on a variety of projects such as training material for Hotel Groups, Barista Training, Service Consultation. He also involves himself in community development work, using coffee as a means of skills development.

He has received his Specialty Coffee Association AST license to teach accredited Barista Skills courses which allows him to provide systematic and internationally recognized Barista Training. Using this and his diverse experience he aims to provide value and service solutions for those directly or indirectly involved in the coffee industry around the world.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Making professional quality espresso & speciality coffee drinks
Using the espresso machine and other equipment
Tamping, dosing and distribution
Dose, yield and time
Grinding and using grinders
Dialling in
Espresso extraction, recipes and drinks
Milk frothing, pouring and latte art

Iced coffees
Working in the field, a variety of environments.
Customer service and other duties of a barista
Responsibilities of a barista, including multi-tasking
How to apply for work as a barista.
The roasting process and taste profiles.
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Making professional quality espresso & speciality coffee drinks
Using the espresso machine and other equipment
Tamping, dosing and distribution
Dose, yield and time
Grinding and using grinders
Dialling in
Espresso extraction, recipes and drinks
Milk frothing, pouring and latte art
Iced coffees
Working in the field, a variety of environments.
Customer service and other duties of a barista
Responsibilities of a barista, including multi-tasking
How to apply for work as a barista.
The roasting process and taste profiles.
Show more
Show less

Syllabus

Promos

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Introduction

EQUIPMENT

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Strong fit with the audience consisting of baristas and coffee lovers of all levels who seek to build a strong foundation in this field

Multi-modal in its approach and provides a mix of learning material types, such as video lessons and readings, to accommodate the needs of different types of learners

Builds a strong foundation in basic concepts and skills that are essential for success in barista roles

Provides comprehensive coverage of a wide range of coffee-related topics, from specialized drinks to advanced latte art techniques

Led by Winston Thomas, an award-winning coffee professional with extensive experience as a barista, trainer, and consultant

Provides learners with the guidance they need to apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills in real-world barista settings

Reviews summary

Professional barista skills for all

According to students, this is a highly practical and comprehensive course offering professional barista skills for all levels. Learners consistently praise the expert instruction from Winston Thomas, highlighting his clear explanations and engaging teaching style. The course provides a solid foundation in espresso extraction, milk frothing, and detailed latte art techniques, which many found particularly valuable. While it's ideal for beginners and aspiring professionals, some intermediate learners noted that deeper theoretical dives are occasionally limited. Students recommend having personal equipment for optimal hands-on practice, enabling immediate application of the skills learned.

Optimal learning requires learners to have their own espresso machine and related tools for hands-on practice.

"You do need your own espresso machine to get the most out of it, but that's expected for a practical course like this."

"This course is highly practical, so be prepared to practice with your own equipment for the best results."

"I recommend having a proper setup to follow along with the demonstrations and really solidify the skills taught."

The dedicated sections on latte art techniques are particularly well-received and effective.

"The latte art section finally helped me pour a heart! I'm now making beautiful designs consistently."

"My milk frothing and pouring tips from this course were absolute game-changers for improving my technique."

"The clear, step-by-step instructions for the Heart, Tulip, and Rosetta patterns were incredibly helpful."

Focuses on real-world skills, providing actionable tips and confidence for aspiring baristas.

"As someone looking to get into a barista role, this course gave me the confidence and practical skills I needed."

"I learned how to use practical tools and strategies that I could apply immediately to my home setup and future work."

"The 'In The Field' sections were surprisingly useful, dealing with customer service and multi-tasking scenarios."

Covers a wide range of topics from basic espresso to advanced latte art and industry insights.

"This course truly covers everything, from the fundamentals of espresso to working in the field and customer service."

"It's a solid foundation for anyone interested in coffee, demystifying the entire barista world effectively."

"I appreciated the breadth of topics, from equipment handling to understanding coffee roasting and flavor profiles."

Learners highly value the instructor's extensive knowledge and engaging teaching style.

"Winston is an incredible teacher. His passion for coffee shines through and his explanations are so clear."

"Winston's expertise is evident; his world championship experience adds so much credibility to the lessons."

"He knows his stuff, and his clear explanations make complex topics, like dialing in, easy to grasp."

Generally well-paced for beginners, but some intermediate learners desired more advanced theoretical depth.

"While it's great for beginners, I, an intermediate learner, wished for a bit more advanced theory on extraction science."

"Good overview, but I found some parts a bit fast for a complete beginner, especially around dialing in espresso."

"The basic concepts were very clear, though some advanced topics felt a little rushed for a 'professional' course."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Total Barista - Professional Barista Course with these activities:

Read 'The Coffee Dictionary'

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Learn the basics of coffee history, brewing, and terminology to strengthen your understanding of the essential concepts

View Coffee Dictionary: An A Z of coffee, from... on Amazon

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Read the introduction and Part One.
Read Parts Two and Three.
Read Part Four and the glossary.

Attend a virtual study session with other students

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Engage with fellow students and discuss course concepts, share knowledge, and provide support to enhance your understanding

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Find a study partner or group.
Schedule a regular virtual study session.
Discuss course material, ask questions, and share insights.

Practice grinding, dosing, and tamping

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Develop proficiency in the essential skills of grinding, dosing, and tamping to prepare for hands-on activities and improve your technique

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Practice grinding coffee beans using different settings and observe the resulting grind size.
Practice dosing the correct amount of ground coffee into the portafilter basket.
Practice tamping the ground coffee in the portafilter basket firmly and evenly.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Watch tutorials on milk frothing and pouring

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Enhance your ability to create smooth, velvety milk foam and pour latte art by following guided tutorials

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Find tutorials on YouTube or other online platforms.
Watch the tutorials and practice the techniques shown.
Experiment with different milk textures.
Practice pouring latte art.

Volunteer at a local coffee shop or cafe

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Gain hands-on experience in a real-world coffee environment, observe professional baristas, and enhance your customer service skills

Browse courses on Customer Service

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Contact local coffee shops or cafes and inquire about volunteering opportunities.
Attend volunteer orientation and training.
Shadow experienced baristas and assist with tasks such as brewing, serving coffee, and interacting with customers.

Create a coffee recipe and share it online

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Experiment with different coffee brewing methods, document your process, and share your recipe with the online coffee community to refine your skills and gain feedback

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Experiment with different coffee beans, brewing methods, and parameters.
Document your process, including the type of coffee beans, grind size, water temperature, and brewing time.
Prepare the coffee according to your recipe and taste it.
Share your recipe and tasting notes online on platforms like Reddit or coffee forums.

Contribute to an open-source coffee project

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Deepen your understanding of coffee-related technologies and contribute to the broader coffee community by participating in open-source projects

Browse courses on Open Source

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Find an open-source coffee project on GitHub.
Read the project documentation.
Identify an area where you can contribute.
Create a pull request with your contribution.

Career center

Learners who complete Total Barista - Professional Barista Course will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Barista

A Barista prepares and serves coffee drinks, including espresso, cappuccino, and latte. They may also be responsible for grinding coffee beans, cleaning equipment, and providing customer service. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Barista, including how to make professional quality espresso and specialty coffee drinks, how to use the espresso machine and other equipment, and how to provide excellent customer service.

See salaries and explore the career path for Barista

Coffee Shop Manager

A Coffee Shop Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of a coffee shop, including managing staff, ordering supplies, and ensuring that the shop is clean and well-maintained. They may also be responsible for developing and implementing marketing strategies to attract new customers. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Coffee Shop Manager, including how to manage staff, provide excellent customer service, and create a successful business.

See salaries and explore the career path for Coffee Shop Manager

Coffee Roaster

A Coffee Roaster is responsible for roasting coffee beans to create different flavors and aromas. They may also be responsible for blending different types of beans to create unique coffee blends. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Coffee Roaster, including how to roast coffee beans, how to blend different types of beans, and how to create unique coffee flavors.

See salaries and explore the career path for Coffee Roaster

Coffee Educator

A Coffee Educator teaches others about coffee, including how to brew coffee, how to taste coffee, and how to identify different coffee flavors. They may also be responsible for developing and implementing coffee education programs. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Coffee Educator, including how to brew coffee, how to taste coffee, and how to identify different coffee flavors.

See salaries and explore the career path for Coffee Educator

Coffee Consultant

A Coffee Consultant provides advice and guidance to coffee shops and other businesses on how to improve their coffee offerings. They may also be responsible for developing and implementing coffee training programs. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Coffee Consultant, including how to brew coffee, how to taste coffee, and how to identify different coffee flavors.

See salaries and explore the career path for Coffee Consultant

Cafe Owner

A Cafe Owner owns and operates a cafe, which may include serving coffee, food, and other beverages. They are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the cafe, including managing staff, ordering supplies, and ensuring that the cafe is clean and well-maintained. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Cafe Owner, including how to brew coffee, how to prepare food, and how to provide excellent customer service.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cafe Owner

Coffee Buyer

A Coffee Buyer is responsible for sourcing and purchasing coffee beans for a coffee company. They may also be responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with coffee farmers and suppliers. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Coffee Buyer, including how to taste coffee, how to identify different coffee flavors, and how to develop and maintain relationships with coffee farmers and suppliers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Coffee Buyer

Food and Beverage Manager

A Food and Beverage Manager is responsible for the food and beverage operations of a restaurant, hotel, or other hospitality establishment. They may be responsible for developing and implementing menus, managing staff, and ensuring that the food and beverage operations are profitable. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Food and Beverage Manager, including how to brew coffee, how to prepare food, and how to provide excellent customer service.

See salaries and explore the career path for Food and Beverage Manager

Restaurant Manager

A Restaurant Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of a restaurant, including managing staff, ordering supplies, and ensuring that the restaurant is clean and well-maintained. They may also be responsible for developing and implementing marketing strategies to attract new customers. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Restaurant Manager, including how to brew coffee, how to prepare food, and how to provide excellent customer service.

See salaries and explore the career path for Restaurant Manager

Hotel Manager

A Hotel Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of a hotel, including managing staff, ordering supplies, and ensuring that the hotel is clean and well-maintained. They may also be responsible for developing and implementing marketing strategies to attract new guests. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Hotel Manager, including how to brew coffee, how to prepare food, and how to provide excellent customer service.

See salaries and explore the career path for Hotel Manager

Event Planner

An Event Planner is responsible for planning and coordinating events, such as weddings, conferences, and parties. They may also be responsible for booking venues, hiring vendors, and managing budgets. This course may be useful for Event Planners who want to learn more about coffee and how to incorporate it into their events.

See salaries and explore the career path for Event Planner

Marketing Manager

A Marketing Manager is responsible for developing and implementing marketing strategies to promote products or services. They may also be responsible for managing marketing budgets and conducting market research. This course may be useful for Marketing Managers who want to learn more about coffee and how to incorporate it into their marketing campaigns.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Sales Manager

A Sales Manager is responsible for developing and implementing sales strategies to generate revenue. They may also be responsible for managing sales teams and conducting sales training. This course may be useful for Sales Managers who want to learn more about coffee and how to incorporate it into their sales presentations.

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Public relations manager

A Public Relations Manager is responsible for managing the public image of an organization or individual. They may also be responsible for developing and implementing public relations campaigns. This course may be useful for Public Relations Managers who want to learn more about coffee and how to incorporate it into their public relations campaigns.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public relations manager

Customer Service Manager

A Customer Service Manager is responsible for managing the customer service operations of an organization. They may also be responsible for developing and implementing customer service policies and procedures. This course may be useful for Customer Service Managers who want to learn more about coffee and how to incorporate it into their customer service interactions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Customer Service Manager