SCA Sensory Skills Foundation Course

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