NORTHERN COFFEE SCHOOL · COURSE · SENSORY-FSCA CERTIFIED · MANCHESTER · 2026
sensory-f · sca certified · at heart & graft, manchester

coffee tasting course manchester

Sensory Skills - Foundation · MIN 7 HRS · £240

The essentials of sensory assessment, practical and interactive. How we perceive taste and how to apply it when evaluating coffee, with hands-on identification of basic tastes and standard cupping.

01 · foundation
Foundation
02 · intermediate
Intermediate
03 · professional
Professional
01
SCA · SENSORY-F

Sensory Skills
Foundation

MIN 7 HRS · MIN 4 LEARNERS
£240

The essentials of sensory assessment, practical and interactive. How we perceive taste and how to apply it when evaluating coffee, with hands-on identification of basic tastes and standard cupping.

level
Foundation
length
MIN 7 HRS
location
Heart & Graft Coffee Roastery, Manchester
certification
SCA digital certificate
who it’s for
  • Beginners wanting to taste like a professional.
  • Baristas and roasters building a shared language for flavour.
  • Anyone curious how the senses and environment shape perception.
prerequisites
  • None.
note - An Introduction to Coffee course is recommended but not required.

What you’ll learn

Sensory Science & Physiology

  • Understand sensory assessment and how the five senses build flavour.
  • See how professionals use tasting as an everyday business tool.
  • Explore smell, taste buds and mouthfeel as primary organs.
  • Separate odours via the nose from flavours picked up while drinking.

Tastes, Descriptors & Mapping

  • Blindly identify the five basic tastes and which dominate a cup.
  • Learn how mixing tastes changes perceived intensity.
  • Study how processing and growing alter acidity, bitterness and body.
  • Navigate the Flavour Wheel using standard aroma references.

Cupping Protocols & Tools

  • Master the standard cupping session - dosing, grinding and timing.
  • Distinguish descriptive tracking from preference scoring.
  • Understand how lighting, temperature and odours alter scores.
  • Evaluate flights using current industry forms.
what’s included
Instructor & trainer feesLab & cupping equipment accessSelection of practice coffees & solutionsHandoutsOfficial digital certification (on passing)All registration & exam fees
Dates, fees & places
Live availability - updates automatically
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who teaches this

Your trainer

Taught and assessed in-house.

Find your pathway

Tell us where you are - total beginner, working barista, or aiming for Q - and we’ll map the right pathway through the school.

NORTHERN COFFEE SCHOOL · AT HEART & GRAFT COFFEE ROASTERY · MANCHESTER
SCA AUTHORISED TRAINING · CERTIFICATION ON SUCCESSFUL ASSESSMENT

Book a courseLive dates · small groups · SCA certified
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