Barista course in Vienna: what you learn and who it suits
In a barista course you learn to dial in espresso on a portafilter machine and to steam milk so it turns silky and pourable. Beginner courses usually take two to three hours in small groups. At kaffemik in Zollergasse, Vienna, there are three formats: a latte art workshop, an espresso workshop at the café and a home espresso workshop at your place.
What you learn in a barista course
A good beginner course is about two things: the espresso and the milk. Everything else – grinder, tamper, cleaning – follows from those.
Espresso: grind size, dose, time
Espresso is the base of every drink. You learn how grind size, dose and shot time work together and how to taste what is off. A common starting point for a double espresso is about 18 g of coffee, around 36 g of espresso in the cup and 25 to 30 seconds. If it tastes sour and thin, grind finer. If it tastes bitter and dry, grind coarser.
Steaming milk and latte art
Cappuccino and flat white need milk foam with fine, almost invisible bubbles. You learn how long to stretch the milk, when it is hot enough and how to pour it so a heart appears in the cup.
The craft around it
- Filling, distributing and tamping the portafilter
- Spotting mistakes: channeling, under- and over-extraction
- Setting up and cleaning the grinder
- Cleaning machine and portafilter after brewing
Which course suits you?
| You … | Course | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| have a portafilter machine at home and can't get it dialled in | Home Espresso Workshop at your place | by arrangement | €290 |
| want to learn espresso from scratch, with or without your own machine | Espresso Workshop at the café, max. 4 people | 3 hours | €135 per person |
| can already make espresso and want to steam milk and pour hearts | Latte Art Workshop – Basics (in English) | 150 minutes | €95 per person |
| want to learn to taste coffee consciously first | Sunday Cupping | 90 minutes | €29 per person |
Our workshops in Vienna
Latte Art Workshop – Basics
150 minutes at the café in Zollergasse 5, Sundays at 9 am, in English. First we show you the basics of steaming milk, from temperature to texture. Then you practise as much as possible – the goal is that you can pour a heart by the end. Works with plant-based milk too. €95 per person. Latte art workshop
Espresso Workshop at the café
Three hours, four people at most. You learn about beans, grind size and machine setup, dial in grinder and espresso, fix typical mistakes and learn how to clean the machine. If you like, bring your own portafilter machine and grinder and learn on your own equipment. €135 per person, also available as a workshop voucher.
Home Espresso Workshop
We come to your home and dial in machine and grinder with you – on exactly the equipment you'll use tomorrow morning. You need a portafilter machine and a grinder that goes fine enough for espresso. Up to four friends can join, taste along and ask questions. €290 within Vienna. Home espresso workshop
What to look for in a barista course
- Group size: if more than four or five people share a machine, you'll watch more than you work.
- Hands-on time: ask how much of the course is theory and how much you spend at the machine.
- Your own equipment: if you have a machine at home, you learn most on that one.
- Language: some courses, including our latte art workshop, are held in English.
- The coffee: with freshly roasted specialty coffee you taste the differences while dialling in much more clearly.
What to bring
For courses at the café you only need curiosity; we provide coffee, milk and machines. For the home espresso workshop, machine and grinder should be clean and ready to use. And eat something beforehand: you'll drink more espresso that morning than on a normal day.
A barista course as a gift
All workshops are also available as a voucher that arrives instantly by email. More on our page Gift a coffee workshop and in our post A coffee workshop as an experience gift.
Barista training for cafés and restaurants
Running a café, restaurant or hotel and want to train your team? For hospitality businesses we dial in the coffee together with the team and take a look at the workflow. More on our wholesale page.
FAQ
Do I need any experience?
No. Our workshops are made for beginners. For the latte art workshop it helps if you have made an espresso before, but it isn't required.
How much does a barista course at kaffemik cost?
The latte art workshop costs €95, the espresso workshop at the café €135 per person, the home espresso workshop €290 within Vienna.
Do I learn latte art in the espresso course?
The espresso workshop and the home espresso workshop focus on espresso; steaming milk is only touched on. That's what the latte art workshop is for.
Can I join with a bean-to-cup machine?
Our courses are made for portafilter machines. On a bean-to-cup machine you can only adjust grind and dose a little – which makes the right beans all the more important. You'll find suitable ones in our espresso selection.