Green Coffee Specialist

Course Overview:
Step out from behind the roaster and into the world where coffee decisions are really made.
 
Green Coffee Specialist is an immersive 2-day workshop designed to turn “green coffee curiosity” into confident, real-world skills. Through cuppings, hands-on labs, and practical discussions, you’ll learn how green coffee is sourced, evaluated, priced, and managed—so you can make smarter choices for your business and your career.
 
You’ll complete short knowledge checks throughout the course to lock in learning and finish with a Firedancer certificate of completion to showcase your new expertise.
 
What you'll learn:
Walk away with skills you can use immediately:
How green coffee moves from farm to roastery—and where you can add value in the chain
How variety, altitude, terroir, and processing influence flavor, quality, and risk
How to spot and understand the most common green coffee defects (and what they mean for your cup and your bottom line)
How to apply practical green grading techniques to assess physical quality
How to read and interpret sample and pre-shipment reports to support buying decisions
How pricing, contracts, and risk management work in day-to-day green coffee purchasing
How to protect your investment with best practices for shipping, warehousing, and storage
How to speak the language of producers, importers, and roasters with confidence
 
This course is all about turning theory into action—every concept is tied back to real buying and quality scenarios.
 
Who should take this course?
This workshop is a strong fit if you:
Work in a roastery and want to be more involved in sourcing and quality decisions
Handle green coffee purchasing or are moving into a buying or trading role
Run or support a quality lab, and want to tighten up your evaluation skills
Lead a café or training program and want deeper credibility when you talk about coffee
Are you ready to move beyond basic coffee knowledge into more advanced, career-building skills
If you know the basics of coffee and have at least a little cupping experience (even informal), you’ll feel right at home. Motivated beginners with a strong interest are also welcome.
 
Course Format:
Length: 2 full days, in-person
Experience: High-energy mix of short lectures, guided cuppings, demos, and lab work
Interactive elements: Group activities, real-world scenarios, and ongoing knowledge checks
Class size: Limited seats to ensure direct feedback and plenty of Q&A
Outcome: Firedancer Green Coffee Specialist certificate of completion
You won’t just sit and listen—you’ll practice, discuss, taste, and apply concepts throughout both days.
 
Why study at Firedancer
Coffee education is our specialty. Firedancer focuses exclusively on training and consulting, so every course is built with clarity, structure, and impact in mind.
Trainers who live this work. Learn from educators who actively collaborate with roasters, importers, and coffee businesses of all sizes.
Hands-on, practical approach. We connect every exercise to real decisions you face in the lab, roastery, or buying office.
Neutral, real-world guidance. Get honest, brand-agnostic insights you can apply no matter where you work or what coffees you buy.
 
Lasting value. You’ll leave with new skills, a stronger professional network, and the confidence to participate more fully in green coffee conversations and decisions.