SCA Coffee Skills Program
Sources: Academia Barista Pro (website, crawled 2026-05-16)
The SCA Coffee Skills Program is the Specialty Coffee Association’s structured certification pathway. It is the most widely recognized international training system in the specialty coffee industry, designed for baristas, roasters, green coffee professionals, sensory specialists, and café operators. (source: Academia Barista Pro (website, crawled 2026-05-16))
Structure
The program consists of six specialist modules. Each module runs from Foundation (entry) through Intermediate to Professional. A points system tracks progress toward the SCA Skills Diploma, which requires completing multiple modules across levels.
| Module | Levels | Foundation exam | Key skills |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Coffee | Intro only | Online | Supply chain overview, varieties, processing, tasting basics |
| Green Coffee (Café Verde) | Foundation, Intermediate | Online (Foundation) | Plant, defects, physical grading, pricing, commercialization |
| Sensory Skills | Foundation, Intermediate, Professional | Online (F) / practical (I+) | Flavor identification, calibration, SCA protocols |
| Brewing Skills | Foundation, Intermediate, Professional | Online (F) / practical (I+) | Filter methods, extraction science, TDS measurement |
| Barista Skills | Foundation, Intermediate, Professional | Online (F) / practical (I+) | Espresso, milk texturing, latte art, workflow |
| Roasting (Tostaduría) | Foundation, Intermediate, Professional | Online (F) / practical (I+) | Roast chemistry, profile logging, color references |
SCA Skills Diploma
Completing modules across all six specializations at the required level accumulates points toward the SCA Skills Diploma — the most comprehensive credential the SCA offers. Academia Barista Pro in El Salvador is authorized to register students in the SCA system and issue diplomas. (source: Academia Barista Pro (website, crawled 2026-05-16))
Additional SCA Programs
Beyond the Coffee Skills Program, ABP also offers:
- Coffee Value Assessment (CVA) — the new SCA evaluation protocol, successor to the traditional cupping scoresheet
- Sustainability Program — four modules: Foundation, Climate & Coffee, Economy & Coffee, Governance/Compliance & Reporting
- Coffee Technicians Program — maintenance, repair, and calibration of espresso machines, grinders, and water systems
- Q Grader — not SCA; offered by the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) but complementary
Module Details
Introduction to Coffee
- Duration: 1 day (9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.)
- Price at ABP: 226
- Exam: included; online
- Prerequisite: none
- Content: coffee origins, supply chain, varieties, processing, roasting overview, cupping basics; many tastings. Suitable for beginners.
Green Coffee (Café Verde) — Foundation
- Duration: 1 day
- Price at ABP: $310
- Exam: online, 21-day window
- Prerequisite: none (Introduction to Coffee recommended)
- Content: plant biology, processing defects and their effect on score and price, physical grading, commercialization
Sensory Skills — Foundation
- Duration: 1 day
- Price at ABP: $310
- Exam: online
- Prerequisite: none
- Content: flavor identification, aromatic calibration, SCA cupping protocols
Brewing Skills — Foundation
- Duration: 1 day (9 a.m.–5 p.m.)
- Price at ABP: $310
- Exam: online (22 questions, 22 min, ≥60%)
- Prerequisite: none (Introduction to Coffee recommended)
- Content: gravity brewers (automatic and manual), recipe science, extraction analysis
Brewing Skills — Intermediate
- Duration: 2 days (9 a.m.–6 p.m.)
- Exam: practical (with AST) + online, both ≥70%
- Prerequisite: Brewing Foundation
- Content: extraction order and wetting, TDS measurement, recipe correction, workflow
Barista Skills — Foundation
- Duration: 1 day (9 a.m.–5 p.m.)
- Price at ABP: $310
- Exam: online (22 min, ≥60%, within 21 days)
- Prerequisite: none
- Content: grinder setup, espresso extraction, milk texturing, basic latte art, health and safety
Barista Skills — Intermediate
- Duration: 2 days (9 a.m.–6 p.m.)
- Price at ABP: $681 (non-SCA-member rate)
- Exam: practical (with AST) + online (33 questions, 37 min, ≥70%)
- Prerequisite: Barista Foundation
- Content: espresso calibration, recipe science, latte art, workflow management, business basics
Roasting (Tostaduría) — Foundation
- Duration: 1 day (9 a.m.–5 p.m.)
- Price at ABP: $310
- Exam: online (20 questions, 32 min, ≥60%, within 21 days)
- Prerequisite: none
- Content: physical and chemical changes during roasting, sensory impact of roast level, basic machine structure, safety and fire prevention; three practice roasts with roast log
Roasting — Intermediate
- Duration: 2 days
- Exam: practical (with AST, ≤2 hr, ≥70% = 37/53 pts) + online (35 questions, ≥70%)
- Prerequisite: Roasting Foundation
- Content: roast profile and color relationship, development time, sensory expression, sample roasting, safety protocols
Pricing and Logistics at ABP (San Salvador)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Introduction to Coffee | 226 |
| Any Foundation module | $310 |
| Barista Intermediate (non-member) | $681 |
| Cupping introduction workshop (non-cert.) | $90.40 |
| Exam fee | Paid separately in cash/check |
Includes: lunch and classroom materials. Students bring their own notebooks. Financing: zero-interest installments (3 or 6 months) via BAC credit cards. Cancellation policy: full refund if cancelled ≥14 days before; 25% rescheduling fee within 14 days.
Relevance to Kaiserblick
The SCA Coffee Skills Program provides internationally recognized credentials for Kaiserblick team members across the full value chain:
| Team role | Relevant module |
|---|---|
| Head Roaster (Roxanne Fredericksen) | Roasting Intermediate → Professional |
| Green coffee / export | Green Coffee Intermediate; Q Grader (CQI) |
| Sensory / QC | Sensory Skills Intermediate → Professional |
| Barista / local sales staff | Barista Foundation + Intermediate |
| Management | Introduction to Coffee + Sustainability |
Academia Barista Pro in San Salvador is the accessible local provider for all these certifications, with both founders serving as SCA Authorized Trainers.