Brewing coffee is the last, and in many ways, the most crucial link in a chain can be traced all the way back to origin. Just to get our coffee into a bag involves countless hours of dedicated work by many people cross several continents. In the bag it has the potential to be consumed and enjoyed in a way that does justice to this journey, but only if prepared with care and understanding.
Brush up on your coffee knowledge and espresso skills, click to download these useful guides.
You can see then why training is at the heart of everything that we do here at Dark Woods. Paul was one of the first barista trainers in the UK to deliver training programmes that engaged with some of the scientific principles that are now enshrined within the Speciality Coffee Association, and was a leading figure in developing the course content for its Barista Skills programme which is now taught worldwide. We offer full and free access to the programme to wholesale customers and to paying private individuals.
Courses are taught at the Mill by SCA accredited trainer Tom who is also on hand to deliver regular on-site training, audits and friendly encouragement to our all of our accounts.
Alongside the SCA courses we also offer our very own unique modular training system that divides key coffee skills into six easily digestible 90-minute sessions.
Each module has exercises, training resources and opportunities to measure and record staff attainment as well as downloadable training aids and tools designed to encourage best practise in the workplace.
December 2023 |
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Date |
Event |
Information |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 |
SCA Foundation Barista (9:30-4:30) |
The beginning of your Barista skills journey with the SCA. Learn all core skills for brewing espresso, texturing milk and understanding and managing your equipment. A practical exam on the day and an online written exam afterwards give you the opportunity to gain a valuable real-world qualification in coffee skills. |
More info |
| 13 |
Advanced Espresso - Module 2 (9:30-12:30) |
Learn to confidently manipulate brew recipes and understand extraction |
More info |
| 18 |
Core Barista Skills - Module 1 (9:30-12:30) |
The essentials on setting up your grinder and foaming perfect milk |
More info |
January 2024 |
|||
| 03 |
Core Barista Skills - Module 1 (9:30-12:30) |
The essentials on setting up your grinder and foaming perfect milk |
More info |
| 05 |
Home Barista Course |
A practical and engaging look at home espresso brewing. Learn how to confidently dial in brew recipes for your favourite blends and them into beautiful milk-based drinks by mastering gorgeous silky microfoam. You’ll get lots of hands-on coffee-making time in this two-and-a-half-hour course and get to work with a range of different espresso blends so that you can refine your understanding of what kind of coffee style best suits your tastes. |
More info |
| 09 |
SCA Foundation Barista (9:30-4:30) |
The beginning of your Barista skills journey with the SCA. Learn all core skills for brewing espresso, texturing milk and understanding and managing your equipment. A practical exam on the day and an online written exam afterwards give you the opportunity to gain a valuable real-world qualification in coffee skills. |
More info |
| 12 |
The Coffee Enthusiasts Guide to Choosing and Brewing |
A brand new course intended for those curious about the complex and varied sensory world of coffee. During the session you will learn not only about the history of coffee and its consumption but also some of the fundamental scientific principles that underpin good coffee making across a range of non-espresso methods. During a guided tasting we will unpick the key drivers of coffee flavour so that you can experience the breadth of coffee styles on offer whilst honing your own understanding of your personal preferences as a consumer or as a retailer of coffee. |
More info |
| 17 |
Advanced Milk - Module 3 (9:30-12:30) |
Develop workflow skills for multiple drinks-making and learn the fundamentals of latte art |
More info |
| 19 |
Home Barista Course |
A practical and engaging look at home espresso brewing. Learn how to confidently dial in brew recipes for your favourite blends and them into beautiful milk-based drinks by mastering gorgeous silky microfoam. You’ll get lots of hands-on coffee-making time in this two-and-a-half-hour course and get to work with a range of different espresso blends so that you can refine your understanding of what kind of coffee style best suits your tastes. |
More info |
| 22 |
Core Barista Skills - Module 1 (9:30-12:30) |
The essentials on setting up your grinder and foaming perfect milk |
More info |
| 26 |
The Coffee Enthusiasts Guide to Choosing and Brewing |
A brand new course intended for those curious about the complex and varied sensory world of coffee. During the session you will learn not only about the history of coffee and its consumption but also some of the fundamental scientific principles that underpin good coffee making across a range of non-espresso methods. During a guided tasting we will unpick the key drivers of coffee flavour so that you can experience the breadth of coffee styles on offer whilst honing your own understanding of your personal preferences as a consumer or as a retailer of coffee. |
More info |
February 2024 |
|||
| 02 |
Home Barista Course |
A practical and engaging look at home espresso brewing. Learn how to confidently dial in brew recipes for your favourite blends and them into beautiful milk-based drinks by mastering gorgeous silky microfoam. You’ll get lots of hands-on coffee-making time in this two-and-a-half-hour course and get to work with a range of different espresso blends so that you can refine your understanding of what kind of coffee style best suits your tastes. |
More info |
| 05 |
Core Barista Skills - Module 1 (9:30-12:30) |
The essentials on setting up your grinder and foaming perfect milk |
More info |
| 09 |
The Coffee Enthusiasts Guide to Choosing and Brewing |
A brand new course intended for those curious about the complex and varied sensory world of coffee. During the session you will learn not only about the history of coffee and its consumption but also some of the fundamental scientific principles that underpin good coffee making across a range of non-espresso methods. During a guided tasting we will unpick the key drivers of coffee flavour so that you can experience the breadth of coffee styles on offer whilst honing your own understanding of your personal preferences as a consumer or as a retailer of coffee. |
More info |
| 12 |
SCA Foundation Barista (9:30-4:30) |
The beginning of your Barista skills journey with the SCA. Learn all core skills for brewing espresso, texturing milk and understanding and managing your equipment. A practical exam on the day and an online written exam afterwards give you the opportunity to gain a valuable real-world qualification in coffee skills. |
More info |
| 16 |
Home Barista Course |
A practical and engaging look at home espresso brewing. Learn how to confidently dial in brew recipes for your favourite blends and them into beautiful milk-based drinks by mastering gorgeous silky microfoam. You’ll get lots of hands-on coffee-making time in this two-and-a-half-hour course and get to work with a range of different espresso blends so that you can refine your understanding of what kind of coffee style best suits your tastes. |
More info |
| 21 |
Advanced Espresso - Module 2 (9:30-12:30) |
Learn to confidently manipulate brew recipes and understand extraction |
More info |
| 23 |
The Coffee Enthusiasts Guide to Choosing and Brewing |
A brand new course intended for those curious about the complex and varied sensory world of coffee. During the session you will learn not only about the history of coffee and its consumption but also some of the fundamental scientific principles that underpin good coffee making across a range of non-espresso methods. During a guided tasting we will unpick the key drivers of coffee flavour so that you can experience the breadth of coffee styles on offer whilst honing your own understanding of your personal preferences as a consumer or as a retailer of coffee. |
More info |
| 26 |
Core Barista Skills - Module 1 (9:30-12:30) |
The essentials on setting up your grinder and foaming perfect milk |
More info |
| 28 |
SCA Professional Barista Skills (3 Day Course) |
28th Feb-1st March 2024 |
More info |
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