This programme is designed to provide a sound introduction to coffee and coffee brewing for those who are interested in deepening their coffee knowledge.

Students will learn about coffee's journey from its origins in Ethiopia to the major commodity it is today. From growing the beans through drying, roasting, brewing and finally drinking, this programme provides an overview of the coffee value chain. In terms of coffee brewing, students will learn about the various methods and devices for brewing coffee and the brewing variables that affect quality. A “coffee cupping” will be included to allow students to taste the various flavours coffee has to offer. The second part of this programme is activity-based and it provides hands-on instruction on grind profiles, brewing methods, measuring coffee strength and charting coffee's extraction to deliver a delicious, well balanced cup. Students will also learn how to manipulate brewing techniques to improve coffee quality.

 

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

On completion of the programme, students should be able to:

• explain the origin, species, process, roasting and freshness of coffee;
• compare and contrast different coffee brewing methods and devices;
• describe the essential elements of brewing;
• illustrate how brewing guidelines and brewing processes affect the balance of the brewed coffee; and
• demonstrate sensory skills and analysis of brew, and the correct use of brewing equipment.

 

Why HKU SPACE?

1. Graduates of our coffee course will be awarded FOUR different certificates and will achieve points towards the award 'The SCA Coffee Skills Diploma' awarded by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA).
2. Students can taste various samples of coffees during the course of their studies, and they are systematically arranged by classroom session.
3. Our coffee course is taught by qualified professionals who are also experienced in coffee education.
4. Our coffee course will be delivered by a single teacher, where possible, throughout the entire course to ensure consistency in content and teaching style.
5. All coffee beans are carefully and impartially selected from different recognized coffee suppliers to suit the genuine needs of the course.
6. Small class-size (max.8) in our coffee course brings about better teaching and learning, and enhances teacher-student interaction.

 

What will you get?

Upon successful completion of this programme, you will receive:

1. HKU SPACE Certificate for Module (Specialty Coffee: Introduction to Coffee and Brewing Skills) 證書(單元 : 精品咖啡之咖啡入門及沖煮技巧), awarded within the HKU system through HKU SPACE.
2. "Introduction to Coffee" certificate (soft copy) by the SCA.
3. "Brewing Foundation" certificate (soft copy) by the SCA.
4. "Brewing Intermediate" certificate (soft copy) by the SCA.
5. Free membership of HKU SPACE Alumni Association.

“Specialty coffee” is about all people involved in the coffee value chain work in harmony and maintain a keen focus on standards and excellence from start to finish, and these people include the coffee farmer, the green coffee buyer, the roaster, the barista, and the consumer.

In view of the popularity of fresh coffee and the emergence of coffee-drinking habits in Hong Kong, consumers and people working in the value chain of Specialty Coffee have growing interests to acquire more general knowledge in coffee, as well as coffee brewing skills, so that they can apply it in their workplace and widen their knowledge.

This programme is suitable to coffee enthusiasts so that they can deepen and broaden their coffee knowledge for social purpose; and those who wish to work with coffee as part of a larger beverage portfolio in the retail, wholesale and hospitality sectors, since students will acquire the job skills and competencies of coffee brewing. Students completing the brewing modules (foundation and intermediate levels) may fit with jobs such as sales & marketing (importer / exporter), head barista, coffee shop manager, retain chain manager/quality manager, sommelier, food & beverage manager, coffee machine sales / engineer, etc.

  

 

Syllabus

The programme consists of 30 face-to-face teaching hours, 3 hours in each session with coffee tasting, and they are structured into 10 sessions with the following key topics.
This syllabus is adapted from the Coffee Skills Diploma programme guidebooks by Specialty Coffee Association (SCA)

Part 1	Introduction to Coffee
I	Coffee Knowledge
II	Roasting
III	Freshness
IV	Sensory Skills
V	Brewing
VI	Water
VII	Cleaning and Maintenance

Part 2	Brewing
I	Brewing Methods and Equipment
II	Brewing Guidelines
III	Brewing Process
IV	Brew Analysis
V	Cleaning and Maintenance

 

Assessment and Awards

This programme will be assessed by three Tests. Setting and marking of the test papers are conducted/verified by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) or its Authorized SCA Trainers.

Students have to obtain ‘Pass’ on all assessment components (Test 1 pass with 60% or above, Test 2 pass with 60% or above, and Test 3 pass with 70% or above) and attain 70% attendance for completion of this Certificate for Module programme. Students can re-attempt assessment components if they fail, subject to a fee.

Assessment Type and Weighting	Assessment Format and Duration	Pass Mark
Test 1 (20%)	Online MC Questions (22 mins)	60% and above
Test 2 (35%)	Online MC Questions (32 mins); and Practical Questions (60 mins)	60% and above
Test 3 (45%)	Online MC Questions (60 mins) and Practical Questions (90 mins)	70% and above

Upon successful completion of the programme, graduates will be awarded the 'Certificate for Module (Specialty Coffee: Introduction to Coffee and brewing Skills)' (證書(單元 : 精品咖啡之咖啡入門及沖煮技巧) within the HKU system through HKU SPACE. In addition, graduates will also be awarded the corresponding SCA award certificates (awarding body: SCA) and will achieve different points towards the award “The SCA Coffee Skills Diploma” (awarding body: SCA) if they fulfill the assessment requirements set by SCA.

 

private group training

Corporate training or private group training can be arranged. Please contact Programme Team (Tel: 28678483 or email: coffeehtm@hkuspace.hku.hk) for details.

 

Application Code	2270-1830AW	Apply Online Now
Start Date	21 Feb 2025 (Fri)
Apply Online Now

Application Code	2270-2174AW	Apply Online Now
Start Date	23 Feb 2025 (Sun)
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Duration

• 30 hours
  3 hours per session; 1-2 sessions per day

Venue

• Kowloon West Campus
• Island East Campus

upcoming classes

Application Code	Date	Time	Venue	Tutor (Medium of Instruction)	Test	Application Deadline
2270-1830AW	21 February 2025 (Friday) 28 February 2025 (Friday) 7 March 2025 (Friday) 14 March 2025 (Friday) 21 March 2025 (Friday)	10:30AM - 5:30PM (1-hour lunch break incl.)	Island East Campus	Isacc Wong (Cantonese supplemented with English materials)	14 March 2025	20 January 2025
2270-2174AW	23 February 2025 (Sunday) 1 March 2025 (Saturday) 2 March 2025 (Sunday) 8 March 2025 (Saturday) 9 March 2025 (Sunday)	10:00AM - 5:00PM (1-hour lunch break incl.)	Kowloon West Campus	Keith Tse (Cantonese supplemented with English materials)	9 March 2025	31 January 2025

• The programme team reserves the right to change the above timetable if necessary.
• All classes are subject to sufficient enrolment.

 

OUR coffee TUTOR

 

 

 

Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) is a non-profit trade association worldwide, with a purpose to foster global coffee communities to support activities to make coffee a more sustainable, equitable and thriving activity for the whole value chain. The SCA acts as a unifying force within the specialty coffee industry and works to make coffee better by raising standards worldwide through a collaborative and progressive approach. 

Brand-New: SCA Skills Diploma

A new set of diplomas that give student in-depth knowledge and practical experience which can immediately apply in an industry setting. Each diploma requires a combination of advanced level learning and foundational coursework.

This programme is designed for students to acquire the required courses towards "SCA Café Diploma", "SCA Roastery Diploma" and "SCA Coffee Trade Diploma" awarded by Specialty Coffee Association (SCA).

Students completing this programme satisfactorily will simultaneously complete the “Introduction to Coffee” module, and 2 out of 3 levels of the specialist module “Brewing” (namely Foundation level of Brewing and Intermediate level of Brewing). Students will also be awarded a SCA certificate (soft copy) of the completed module of the level. If students wish to continue to study other specialist modules, they can choose to study the remaining courses that the Diploma required to obtain the Diploma.

Retiring the SCA Coffee Diploma (100-point Diploma)

During the launch of the SCA Skills Diplomas, the current SCA Coffee Diploma (also known as the 100-point Diploma) will remain available for an extended transition period. Those qualifying for the SCA Coffee Diploma may still apply through SCA by December 31, 2023. Then, the SCA Coffee Diploma will be completely replaced by the SCA Skills Diploma.  

Even though the SCA Coffee Diploma will no longer be issued starting in 2024, it is still recognized and celebrated by the Specialty Coffee Association as a valid representation of a learner’s achievement.

The former SCA Coffee Diploma is exclusive to the Coffee Skills Program (CSP) and is awarded to learners who earned 100 or more points with CSP courses. In this diploma program, each CSP course is assigned a point value. The points awarded at each level are listed below:  

Introduction to Coffee = 10 points  
Foundation = 5 points 
Intermediate = 10 points 
Professional = 25 points  

For more information, please visit: https://education.sca.coffee/sca-skills-diploma

Course Fee

• HK$17,100* per programme inclusive of:
  1.) Learning materials in English
  2.) Coffee tasting for various types of coffee beans
  3.) Test Fee for SCA "Introduction to Coffee" qualification
  4.) Test Fee for SCA "Brewing Foundation" qualification
  5.) Test Fee for SCA "Brewing Intermediate" qualification
  6.) SCA certificate(s) (soft-copy) for each qualification upon successful completion
  
  Note: A Student Service fee of USD 50 for SCA “Introduction to Coffee” Examination, USD 50 for SCA “Brewing Foundation” Examination, and USD 50 for SCA "Brewing Intermediate" Examination will be paid by students directly to SCA, and this is an additional fee on top of the tuition fee (i.e. HK$17,100) to HKU SPACE.

Applicants shall not have any health conditions that made them unfit for coffee tasting.

Note: Applicants who have already obtained SCA "Introduction to Coffee" / "Brewing Foundation" / "Brewing Intermediate" certificate should approach Programme Team before application.

• The CEF Institution Code of HKU SPACE is 100

CEF Courses
Certificate for Module (Specialty Coffee: Introduction to Coffee and Brewing Skills) 證書(單元 : 精品咖啡之咖啡入門及沖煮技巧)
COURSE CODE 43C133921	FEES $17,100	ENQUIRY 2520-4607

	Continuing Education Fund This course has been included in the list of reimbursable courses under the Continuing Education Fund.
	Certificate for Module (Specialty Coffee: Introduction to Coffee and Brewing Skills) This course is recognised under the Qualifications Framework (QF Level [3])

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Enrolment Method

Application Code:
2270-1830AW	Apply Now
2270-2174AW	Apply Now

 

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