Two Seats left in July Classes! Enroll now.

Business + Barista Training [6 Days]

This intensive business and barista training seminar covers two full days of business training that includes: Determining Your Concept, Business Planning, Acquiring Financing, Negotiating a Lease, Designing Your Coffee Bar, Kiosk or Drive-thru Construction, Build-Out and Selecting Subcontractors, Menu Planning, Recipes and Pricing, Interviewing and Hiring Employees, Employee Training, Operational Systems and Controls, Financial Projections and Budgets, Risk Management, Your Opening Day/Week/Month, Marketing Your Business, and Dealing with Employees.

The class also consists of three days in our espresso lab using the best equipment and the latest products the industry has to offer, a coffee cupping class, hands-on practice and caffe latte art demo. Touring successful Portland cafés and roasteries is also included.

The class concludes with a full day espresso lab training that focuses on more advanced barista skills such as: Overview of the Perfect Crema and Espresso Shot, Polishing and Texturing Milk for Latte Art, Combining Espresso and Milk, Latte Art Pours [Rosetta, Heart, Triple Rosetta, Apple and other variations], Advanced Barista Techniques on Tamping, Dosing and Grinding, Barista Ergonomics and How To Think Like A Pro.

Download Class Schedule   Download Registration Form
Cost:
$2,995 for the first student
$2,495 for each additional student

The cost of ABC’s six-day class includes a copy of Achieving Success in Specialty Coffee, a 23-chapter guide to success in retail coffee, Espresso 101, the industry standard DVD for training baristas, and Advanced Barista Training: Extreme Pours (a $240 value). In addition, all business and barista training students will receive one hour of free consulting (a $150 value), to be used at any time after the completion of their ABC’s course. Students also receive over $100 in free samples and give aways.

All ABC's students receive special discounts on Bellissimo educational books and videos as well as discounts on lodging at Portland's finest hotels.

In addition, students also receive a 10% discount on Bellissimo Coffee InfoGroup Consulting Services.

Class Overview

Day 1
  • Welcome/Introductions
  • A History of the Specialty Coffee Industry         
  • Determining Your Concept
  • Business Planning
  • Acquiring Financing
  • Finding a Great Location
  • Negotiating a Lease
  • Design Your Coffee Bar
  • Selecting Equipment
  • Dealing with Bureaucracies
  • Construction/Selecting Subcontractors
  • Menu/Products/Recipes/Prices
    Day 2
    • Interviewing and Hiring
    • The Importance of Training
    • Operational Systems and Controls
    • Financial Projections and Budgets
    • Risk Management
    • Your Opening Day/Week/Month
    • Marketing Your Business
    • Dealing With Employees
    • You Determine Your Success/Parting Words of Wisdom
    Day 3
    • Overview of Barista Training Schedule
    • View Espresso 101
    • Introduction to Espresso Machines and Grinders
    • The Perfect Shot of Espresso: Demo/Hands on Practice
    • Tasting Espresso Extractions, Sensory Evaluation
    • Steaming and Foaming Perfect Milk: Demo/Hands on Practice
    • Pouring a Latte, Combing Espresso & Milk: Demo/Hands on Practice
    • Q+A
    • Equipment Cleaning/Maintenance
      Day 4
      • Review Extraction and Milk Steaming
      • Drink Building: Espresso Based Beverages, Menu Demonstration
      • Introduction to Brewed Coffee, Coffee Brewing Methods, Clover
      • Introduction to Granita
      • Introduction to Blender Drinks
      • Practice in Stations, Milk, Espresso, Brewing, Iced Drinks, Etc.
      • Teas/Other Unique Non-Coffee Drinks
      • Practice on Equipment
      • Optional Coffee House & Roaster Tour, or:
      • Intensive Hands on Practice in Small Groups
        Day 5
        • View The Passionate Harvest
        • Principles of Latte Art
        • Panini Sandwich Workshop/Lunch
        • Coffee Cupping & Education, How to Cup in Your Coffee Bar
        • Hands-on Practice / Samples & Give Aways, etc.
          Day 6
          • Introduction To Latte Art as a Marketing/Training Tool
          • View Advanced Barista Training: Extreme Pours
          • Advanced Espresso Techniques
          • Advanced Grinding Methods
          • Advanced Dosing Methods
          • Advanced Tamping Methods
          • Advanced Steaming Techniques
          • Steaming for Different Pour Types
          • Steaming and Pouring for Cappuccino
          • Instructors Demonstrate Basic Pours
          • Basic Rosetta
          • Basic and Difficult Heart
          • Double and Triple Rosetta
          • Class Practice on Latte Art
          • Practice on Rosetta
          • Practice on Heart
          • Practice and Experimenting Other Pours
          • Basic Etching Principles
          • Mock Latte Art Competition [only for fun]
          • Closing Ceremonies + Diplomas

            Upcoming ABC's Classes

            July 09
            July 19-24
            register online

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