SCA Green Coffee & Sensory Skills Intermediate Bundle

Course Overview
Bring the green side of coffee and the cupping table together in one focused learning track. This bundle pairs SCA Green Coffee Intermediate with SCA Sensory Skills Intermediate, giving you a clear view of how green coffee choices show up in the cup.
Across several intensive days, you’ll move from sampling and grading green lots to running structured sensory tests and communicating results with confidence. You’ll also be prepared to sit the official SCA written and practical assessments for both modules, helping you build a strong, globally recognized credential as a coffee professional.
 
What you’ll learn
Connect origin, variety, processing, and defects to flavor and quality outcomes in the cup.  
Grade and classify green coffee using SCA protocols while relating physical quality to sensory results.  
Design and participate in cupping sessions and sensory tests (such as triangle and in/out tests).  
Use tools like the Coffee Taster’s Flavor Wheel and WCR Sensory Lexicon to build a precise flavor vocabulary.  
Interpret sensory data to guide buying, blending, and roasting decisions with greater confidence.  
Understand key contract terms, logistics, and risk considerations when sourcing green coffee.  
Prepare for the SCA Green Coffee Intermediate and SCA Sensory Skills Intermediate exams as part of your Coffee Skills Program pathway.
 
Who should take this course?
Roasters and green coffee buyers responsible for selecting, approving, or negotiating coffees.  
Quality control and lab teams who cup regularly and need to report clear, actionable sensory findings.  
Café owners, trainers, and managers who want a deeper understanding of the coffees they select and serve.  
Coffee professionals involved in product development, blend design, or menu creation.  
Students preparing for advanced SCA study, Coffee Value Assessment, or future Q Grader pathways.
 
Recommended: Prior completion of SCA Green Coffee Foundation and Sensory Skills Foundation, or equivalent experience with cupping and basic green coffee concepts.
 
Course Format
Delivery: In-person, instructor-led training at the Firedancer Coffee Educators campus in the Chicago area.  
Structure: Sequential delivery of SCA Green Coffee Intermediate followed by SCA Sensory Skills Intermediate, combining classroom sessions, cupping labs, green grading exercises, and structured sensory drills.  
Duration: Multi-day intensive bundle. Specific dates, daily schedules, and exam timings are listed on the Firedancer calendar and Course Registration pages.  
Learning style: Highly interactive, with a mix of lecture, guided tastings, cupping tables, hands-on green analysis, and group discussion.  
Assessment: Includes preparation and the opportunity to sit the SCA written and practical exams for both modules (subject to SCA requirements).  
Materials: All cupping, grading, and sensory materials are provided. 
 
Why study at Firedancer
Firedancer Coffee Educators is a world-class training center dedicated to real-world coffee careers, not just theory.
Expert SCA Trainers – Learn from Authorized SCA Trainers and industry veterans with professional-level credentials in green coffee, roasting, brewing, and sensory.  
Hands-on, small-group learning – Classes emphasize cupping, practice, feedback, and real scenarios so you leave confident, not just informed.  
Integrated perspective – Study green coffee and its sensory aspects side by side to see the full picture, from contract and sample tray to the final cup.  
Career-focused outcomes – Whether you work in a roastery, lab, importing office, or café group, you’ll gain tools you can apply immediately in your role.  
 
Supportive community – Join a welcoming network of coffee professionals who return to Firedancer as they advance through the SCA Coffee Skills Program.