SCA Sensory Skills Foundation Course

£350.00

Taxes included.

Description

Learn how to taste coffee with confidence.

The SCA Sensory Skills Foundation course is designed for anyone looking to develop a deeper understanding of how we experience coffee flavour. Whether you're a barista, coffee professional, home enthusiast or simply curious about what makes one coffee taste different from another, this course provides the perfect introduction to sensory analysis.

Delivered by North Star Co-Founder and coffee industry veteran Holly Kragiopoulos (Hols), this one-day course combines practical tasting exercises with accessible theory to help you understand how our senses influence the way we perceive coffee.

With over 15 years of experience as a green coffee buyer, Q Grader, former Cup of Excellence judge and authorised Sensory Skills trainer, Hols has spent her career evaluating coffee quality and helping others build confidence in their own sensory abilities. Her approach is grounded, encouraging and designed to show that sensory evaluation isn't a mysterious talent reserved for experts — it's a skill we all possess and can develop.

What You'll Learn

Throughout the day, you'll explore:

The fundamentals of sensory analysis and its role within specialty coffee
How human physiology influences taste, aroma and perception
The core sensory attributes of coffee, including acidity, bitterness, sweetness and body
Coffee aroma identification and fragrance recognition
How to communicate flavour effectively using shared sensory language
An introduction to the SCA Coffee Taster's Flavor Wheel
The purpose and methodology of coffee cupping
How to set up and conduct an SCA-standard cupping session
How sensory evaluation is used to assess coffee quality throughout the supply chain

Price: £350 (including VAT, SCA fees and lunch)

Date: 25th August

Time: 9:30-4:30pm

Where?: North Star Coffee Hub

Date

25th August 9:30am - 4:30pm

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About this course

A Practical, Hands-On Learning Experience
This course is intentionally designed to balance theory with practice. Through guided tasting exercises, aroma identification activities and live cupping sessions, you'll have plenty of opportunity to explore your senses in a supportive environment.

Our goal isn't to tell you what you should taste. It's to help you build awareness, confidence and curiosity around what you do taste.

By the end of the course, you'll understand how we identify key sensory characteristics in coffee, recognise basic flavour and aroma references, and confidently participate in or run (depending on previous experience) a coffee cupping session following SCA protocols.

Who Is This Course For?
This course is ideal for:
Baristas beginning their coffee education journey
Coffee shop owners and hospitality professionals
Roastery and wholesale team members
Coffee enthusiasts looking to deepen their understanding of flavour
Anyone interested in sensory analysis and coffee quality
No previous sensory experience is required.
Certification
The course concludes with the official SCA Sensory Skills Foundation written exam. Successful learners will receive credits towards the SCA Coffee Skills Program.

What's Included?
Full day of expert-led training
All coffee, cupping and sensory materials
Lunch and refreshments throughout the day
Official SCA examination
SCA Sensory Skills Foundation certificate (upon successful completion)

Why Learn With North Star?
At North Star, we believe every cup of coffee tells the story of hundreds of decisions made throughout the supply chain. Learning how to taste coffee more intentionally helps us better understand, value and communicate those decisions.

This course offers more than a qualification. It's an opportunity to slow down, pay attention and develop a skill that will enrich your relationship with coffee for years to come.