Do you love coffee, but feel like the flavour in your cup comes down to luck rather than a real choice? Or maybe the opposite: you've brewed hundreds of cups already, but still wonder why the coffee at your local café tastes different from yours? Either way, coffee training might be the answer. The only question is: which one — because "coffee training" is a broad term, and it's easy to get lost in the options.
JAVA Coffee Roasters isn't just a coffee roastery. Inside our roastery walls, there's also a magical place where we demystify coffee - JAVA University, or JU for short. It's Michał's, our trainer's, coffee-scented, energy-filled kingdom.
A visit to JU is a treat for anyone who wants to get to know this dark drink a little better. To guide you on that journey from bean to cup, we run a range of trainings here - in group and individual formats - for baristas and coffee lovers alike. Wondering whether a training like this is a good idea? We've broken the topic down and explained a thing or two about our coffee courses. We guarantee we'll clear up all your doubts.
Who is coffee training really for?
Coffee training? Yes, please! — in short: it's for anyone who wants to drink better coffee and understand why a particular version of it tastes best, whether you brew at home or work behind a bar.
A bean starts building its character the moment fruit forms on the coffee tree, and keeps developing it through ripening, processing and roasting. From that point on, it's all in your hands. The final taste and aroma of your brewed coffee will depend on the bean you choose, how you grind it, the dose you use, and the method and temperature you brew it at. Water quality also matters a great deal, along with how clean and well-maintained your equipment is.
There are genuinely a lot of factors that shape how a cup of coffee tastes, and it's easy to feel lost at first. But nothing here is impossible - brewing coffee isn't black magic. A little patience and a good teacher are enough, and your coffee skills will quickly reach professional-barista level.
See which scenario fits you:
- You want to understand espresso and milk coffee from the ground up — if you're curious how an espresso machine and grinder actually work, and why espresso sometimes turns out sour or bitter, Barista Basic is a good fit — our most popular training.
- You brew coffee at home and want to do it with intention — does your moka pot, French press, AeroPress or Clever Dripper still feel like a bit of a gamble? Start with Home Barista training — the fastest route to coffee that tastes like it came from a good café, made with the equipment you already have at home.
- You're fascinated by pour-over methods — V60, AeroPress, Chemex — if you prefer a lighter, clearer flavour profile, Alternative Brewing Basic covers brewing parameters and how each method shapes the cup.
- You dream of pouring your own heart into a cup of coffee — milk steaming and the basics of latte art are their own skill, taught in Latte Art Basic.
- You work, or want to work, in the coffee industry — if your goal is to work behind a bar or grow within a café, it's worth considering our individual Advanced-level trainings, as well as sensory courses that teach mindful tasting and quality assessment.
- You're looking for an unusual way to spend time together — a group training is also a great excuse to spend a few hours with friends, trying different brews and comparing notes.
All Basic-level trainings at a glance:
| Training | Programme in short | Group (Polish) | Individual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barista Basic | Espresso machine, grinder and milk basics — reading a coffee bag, grinder settings, milk steaming | Book now | Book now |
| Home Barista | Brewing with a moka pot, French press, Clever Dripper and AeroPress; milk steaming without a professional machine | Book now | Book now |
| Alternative Brewing Basic | Pour-over methods: V60, AeroPress, Chemex — grind size, ratio, temperature and water quality | Book now | Book now |
| Latte Art Basic | Free pour, etching, heart and tulip patterns | Book now | Book now |
Group sessions run in Polish — see the note below for what to book if you don't speak Polish.
Wondering what actually determines how your coffee tastes? Check out What affects the taste of coffee — where we break it down factor by factor.Group or individual — which format should you choose?
This is the question we hear most often — and rightly so, since it's the training format, not just the topic, that shapes what your afternoon at JAVA University will actually look like.
Did you know? Group trainings at JAVA University run with a maximum of six people — that's deliberately small. With this few participants, everyone gets to brew their own coffee and ask questions before the trainer moves on to the next step.
Group training — when is it the right choice?
Group training works well if you want the same depth of knowledge and practice as an individual course, but at a lower price — and you don't mind learning alongside a few other people. It's also a great option if you want to come along with a friend or partner: trying and comparing brews together is part of the fun, not just the learning.
Individual training — when is it the right choice?
Individual training is a 1:1 format with the trainer — you work at your own pace the whole time, and the programme can be adjusted to your level and specific questions. It's a good choice if you already have some experience and want to focus on a narrow topic, prefer learning without the pressure of a group, or your schedule is unusual enough that arranging a time directly with the trainer is easier than fitting into a fixed group calendar.
| Feature | Group training | Individual training |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | Up to 6 people | 1 person (1:1 with the trainer) |
| Price | zł 500 / person | zł 880–1980, depending on topic and level |
| Date | Fixed dates on the calendar | Arranged individually with the trainer after purchase |
| Programme | Fixed programme for the whole group | Can be adjusted to your needs |
| Topics available | Home Barista, Barista Basic, Alternative Brewing Basic, Latte Art Basic | All topics, Basic and Advanced level |
Both formats include a certificate of completion and 250 g of specialty coffee to take home — what really differs is the pace, the price, and how much of the trainer's attention is focused on you alone.
One important note if you're reading this in English: group trainings at JAVA University are conducted in Polish. If you don't speak Polish, book an individual (1:1) session instead — the trainer runs those in English — or contact JAVA Coffee directly to check availability.
Home Barista and Barista Basic — two natural entry points into better coffee
Home Barista
Got a moka pot, French press or AeroPress at home, but your coffee still comes out a bit hit-or-miss? Home Barista training is your fastest route to brewing with intention — no new equipment to buy, no prior experience needed, no expensive machine required.
The programme covers coffee's journey from bean to cup, choosing the right grind size, ratio and water temperature, and brewing with a moka pot, French press, Clever Dripper and AeroPress. A separate block is dedicated to milk — steaming it without a professional machine and preparing coffee classics at home.
Barista Basic
Is your espresso too sour, too bitter, or just "not quite right"? If you're more curious about what happens behind the café bar than about home brewing methods, Barista Basic is a solid place to start.
The programme covers espresso machine and grinder basics, reading a specialty coffee bag's label, comparing SCA and INEI espresso standards, and basic sensory analysis. A separate block is dedicated to milk — steaming and your first latte art patterns.
Want more? Advanced level for those who've outgrown Basic
Finished Home Barista or Barista Basic and feel ready for more? Three topics await at a higher level:
- Barista Advanced — a two-day individual training: espresso recipe development, %TDS and %EXT, advanced latte art.
- Alternative Brewing Advanced — working with a refractometer, the effect of water and turbulence on extraction, comparing several drippers side by side.
- Latte Art Advanced — rosetta, multi-patterns, working on precision and symmetry.
Sensory skills — because coffee isn't just about brewing, it's about tasting
And if you want to not just brew well, but taste consciously, go deeper into the world of sensory analysis:
- Sensory Basic — an introduction to sensory analysis using the Coffee Value Assessment sheet, plus cupping.
- Sensory Advanced — sensory calibration, triangle tests, working with reference samples.
For the full list with detailed programmes and dates, see the JAVA University trainings collection.
Meet trainer Michał Żmuda
Michał has been working with coffee for ten years now. Before training others, he poured drip coffee, pressed AeroPresses and ran between café espresso machines, serving coffee and entertaining guests — and now he shows others how it's done. He's been part of JAVA Coffee Roasters for years, and we're still thrilled about it, because a trainer like this is a real find. Michał's coffee knowledge is staggering, and combined with his seemingly endless energy and good humour, it makes for an explosive mix.
Michał likes to break conventions and encourage experimentation, inspiring people and showing different ways of working with coffee. On his trainings, what matters most to him is how effectively knowledge gets passed on — and since we all learn best through fun, every lesson at JAVA University comes with a relaxed atmosphere and plenty of laughter, alongside (definitely too much) great coffee. He also holds SCA certifications in barista skills and sensory analysis, and has competed in events such as the Vergnano Barista Cup and the Polish Brewers Cup Championship — and simply won the Szczecin Latte Art Cup.
Coffee training as a gift
If you're looking for a gift idea for someone who loves coffee, it's hard to beat a training — it's an experience and practical knowledge in one, and it lasts a lot longer than most gadgets.
You can buy any training from our offer directly as a gift: at checkout, you either pick a convenient date from the ones available, or leave that decision for later by choosing "date to be chosen after purchase." The voucher is issued to a named person, so if you're buying a training as a gift, include the recipient's first name, last name and email address in the order comment. We'll send the voucher printed or digital — your choice.
If you'd rather leave the recipient full freedom, check out the JAVA Coffee gift card. The recipient can use it toward a training, freshly roasted coffee, or anything else in our shop. You choose the amount — the person you're gifting it to chooses what they like best.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between group and individual training?
Group training runs in a small group of up to 6 people, has fixed dates, and costs less. Individual training is a 1:1 format with the trainer, with a programme adjusted to your level and a date arranged directly after purchase.
Do I need experience to sign up for a training?
No — our Basic-level trainings (Home Barista, Barista Basic, Alternative Brewing Basic, Latte Art Basic, Sensory Basic) are designed for people with no prior experience.
What's included in the price?
Every training ends with a certificate plus 250 g of specialty coffee to take home. Throughout the course, you work on professional equipment at JAVA University.
How long does a coffee training at JAVA University take?
Most Basic-level trainings last at least 4 hours. Advanced trainings run longer: Barista Advanced is a two-day course, and the other Advanced-level trainings last around 5 hours.
Can I buy a training as a gift?
Yes — every training can be bought as a gift. You choose the date at checkout from the available options, or leave that decision for later by selecting "date to be chosen after purchase." The voucher is issued to a named person, so include the recipient's first name, last name and email address in the order comment — we'll send it printed or digital, your choice.
Where do the trainings take place?
All trainings take place on-site, at the JAVA University training centre at ul. Palisadowa 20/22 in Warsaw — inside the JAVA Coffee Roasters building.
