The Ultimate Guide to Starting a Coffee Business and Mastering Barista Skills
We help you succeed in specialty coffee through online courses, 1:1 consulting, and digital operational resources. We give you the knowledge and tools to go from simply dreaming to actually owning your own coffee business, or how to take your existing business to the next level. For over 30 years, we at Bellissimo Coffee Advisors have made it our mission to help everyday people follow their dreams and open coffee businesses. Through our consulting, workshops, and online resources, we have helped hundreds of aspiring coffee shop owners learn the skills they need to survive and thrive in the coffee industry.
Strategic Business Development and Resources
The most complete resource we can provide covering everything you need to open a coffee shop from the business side is the Online Coffee Business Course. We start from absolute zero with finding your concept and progress through to planning for growth and expansion. If you’ve never owned a business before or want to know more specifics about running a coffee business, this is for you. This program offers:
- The A-to-Z resource for learning what it takes to open a coffee shop
- No prior business experience required
- Actionable tips to get your business open and profitable faster
To further support your journey, we offer the Success in Coffee Business E-Book. This 50-page operational manual and digital resource is the definitive guide for those opening a retail coffee business and a great manual for existing coffee businesses. Furthermore, we provide completely customizable templates of the most essential documents to any coffee business to save you time and give you peace of mind.
Professional Barista Training Programs
A skilled Barista is essential for a successful coffee shop and our courses equip the Barista with the requisite skills for success in a coffee shop environment. Whether you’re working behind the counter, planning to open your own café, or simply love coffee, these courses are the perfect starting point.
Below is a detailed overview of the core coffee training courses available:
| Course Title | Duration | Investment |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations Coffee Course | 15 hours (1 week) | KES 20,000/- |
| Intermediate Coffee Course | 45 hours (3 weeks) | KES 30,000/- |
| Advanced Coffee Course | 60 hours (4 weeks) | KES 40,000/- |
SCA Coffee Skills Program
Master specialty coffee skills through our most comprehensive training pathway. The Coffee Skills Program is our modular training system designed to build practical expertise across all aspects of specialty coffee. From foundational barista techniques to advanced sensory analysis, you'll gain hands-on skills you can immediately apply in the industry. Key learning modules include:
- Introduction to Coffee: A comprehensive overview of specialty coffee fundamentals from seed to cup.
- Barista Skills: Focused on developing practical skills behind the espresso bar, from foundational techniques to advanced management.
- Brewing: Comprehensive exploration of coffee brewing methods, from basic principles to advanced extraction theory.
- Green Coffee: Explores the evaluation and trading of green coffee, from basic grading to advanced purchasing strategies.
How to Land Your First Barista Job With No Experience
So you’ve always dreamed of working behind the counter at your favourite cafe, pulling shots and making customers smile. But you don’t have any professional barista experience on your resume. With the right attitude and willingness to learn, you can break into the exciting world of specialty coffee, even as a total beginner.
Key Strategies for Success:
- Get Familiar with Cafe Lingo: Spend time studying the menu at your target cafes and memorize popular drink recipes and ingredients.
- Highlight Your People Skills: Cafes want warm, passionate people on their team who build relationships with regulars and create welcoming spaces.
- Show Your Dedication: Assure the manager you’re willing and eager to master new skills and that you welcome feedback.
- Have an Open and Flexible Schedule: Since cafes are often busiest in the mornings, having an open schedule is key.
While passion is essential, nothing beats real-world experience. Consider volunteering at a café or other organisation that has a coffee machine to get your foot in the door and start honing your skills.
