Barista Essentials

This course will give you the technical skills required to operate a commercial espresso machine and produce espresso and espresso-based beverages.

You’ll learn from passionate, experienced tutors in a real-life learning environment where you’ll gain coffee knowledge and became familiar with the espresso extraction process, steaming milk and milk pouring.

The course is delivered through a combination of hands-on practical and online learning. We recommend undertaking the online (theory) components first, so you’re well prepared for the practical sessions but you can do the online learning at any time during the course. For the online component, you’ll need access to a computer and the internet.

The practical component is made up of six, three-hour sessions on campus. To pass the course, you need to achieve 80% in each of the seven online assessments, and gain competency in each of the two practical assessments.

Please note:

You can start the online component up to three weeks before the start of the course and you’ll also have access 85 days after the course finish date.

Participants on this course will gain Ara tertiary credits (please note these are Ara credits, not NZQA credits). If you are a secondary school student looking for NCEA credits, please email [email protected] to find out about your options.

• Name key coffee producing countries.
• Describe ways in which coffee beans are grown, processed and stored.
• Use and maintain a coffee grinder.
• Use and maintain an espresso machine.

Ara Institute of Canterbury is recognised as one of New Zealand’s leading tertiary institutes. Specialising in applied, vocational and professional training, it offers more than 150 courses from foundation to postgraduate level. 

Ara caters to a diverse range of learners; from school leavers and career changers to professionals wanting to upskill and individuals seeking to re-enter the workforce.

All Ara students benefit from the Ara Advantage: relevant courses, taught by inspirational mentors in real-life learning environments. Almost every Ara programme includes work-integrated learning. Work placements, apprenticeships, industry-based projects and internships ensure students are work-ready when they graduate.

Across its six campuses, Ara’s dedicated tutors and non-academic staff support students throughout their study journey. A comprehensive range of student services - such as financial assistance, learning support, health and wellbeing services, accommodation, childcare and student events – contributes to the success of every student.

It also has six additional small community hubs which deliver free digital upskilling and personal development courses.