Coffee Sensory Fundamentals
Coffee Sensory Fundamentals
Learn to taste coffee with confidence, structure, and purpose.
Course Overview: Coffee Sensory Fundamentals provides an engaging introduction to coffee tasting, sensory vocabulary, and flavor evaluation. This course helps learners understand how to identify and describe coffee characteristics with clarity and consistency — connecting sensory perception to coffee quality and value.
Through guided tastings and interactive exercises, participants learn to use structured evaluation tools and recognize the sensory markers that define great coffee. Whether you’re a barista, roaster, or coffee enthusiast, this course develops the tasting skills essential for every professional in the industry.
What You’ll Learn
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
Recognize and describe aroma, flavor, body, and acidity in coffee
Use sensory tools and calibration exercises to build consistent evaluation skills
Identify key sensory attributes in both high- and low-quality coffees
Understand how origin, processing, and roasting affect sensory outcomes
Apply structured cupping protocols to assess quality with confidence
Who Should Take This Course
Coffee professionals or enthusiasts eager to develop sensory confidence
Baristas, roasters, or café owners seeking to improve tasting communication
Anyone preparing for advanced sensory, roasting, or quality courses
No prior sensory training required.
Course Format
Delivery: In-person, instructor-led workshop
Duration: 1 full day. Class begins at 9:00 am CDT
Includes: Multiple guided tastings, calibration exercises, and cupping sessions
Certificate: Firedancer Certificate of Completion awarded upon successful participation
Bundle Association: Roasting Pathway Level 1
Why Study with Firedancer
At Firedancer, we believe sensory learning should be both professional and personal. Our courses blend scientific principles with a hands-on, approachable format that helps every participant connect deeply to the experience of tasting and evaluating coffee.
Payment & Cancellation, if applicable:
Once registration and tuition have been received for a course, we consider this to be a firm commitment for attendance. Last-minute participant substitutions are difficult to arrange, although we understand emergencies may arise that can affect attendance at programs offered by Firedancer.
We have established the following policy in case of course cancellation:
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If cancellation is made over 15 days before the program start date, 100% of the tuition, less a 10% cancellation fee, will be refunded, or 100% of the tuition is transferable to another program and/or date.
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If cancellation is made within less than 15 days prior to the program date, the entire tuition is non-refundable; however, you may transfer to a future date.
Firedancer reserves the right to cancel or reschedule events as necessary. In such a case, this will occur two weeks before the start of the event. Tuition may be refunded in full or transferred to a future seminar or course. In no event shall Firedancer Coffee Consultants be liable for any cancellation or change penalties assessed by an airline or hotel as a result of course date changes or cancellations.
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Tuition & Certificate Fees:
INCLUDED WITH TUITION: Student handbook, class activity materials, certificate of completion, snacks, and lunch (for classes longer than 6 hours).
NOT INCLUDED WITH TUITION: Airfare, transportation, lodging, or other personal expenses.