SCA Training Calendar
Summary:
- Live SCA training calendar: Barista, Sensory Skills and Roasting modules + the SCA Q Grader certification program
- Price range: 49,000 - 110,000 ₺ (VAT included, 3 interest-free installments)
- Trainer: Ömer Aydın (SCA AST, Q Instructor)
- Location: CoffeeNutz training lab, İzmir
- Languages: Turkish by default; the classes marked "English" are taught in English
All upcoming SCA classes | Live Training Calendar
CoffeeNutz İzmir was the first training center to offer Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) accredited coffee classes and the SCA Q Grader certification program in Turkish. Trainer Ömer Aydın has been an Authorised SCA Trainer (AST) since 2015 and a Q Instructor since 2025; he personally runs every program. All open and upcoming classes are listed in the live calendar below; a new class appears there the moment it opens.
Classes take place at the CoffeeNutz training lab in İzmir. Groups are kept between 4 and 6 students depending on the module; every class includes one-on-one practice time and cupping. All certificates are issued as official SCA Digital Certificates or as the internationally valid SCA Q Grader license.
Live Training Calendar
Every class in the calendar links to its own registration page. If none of the dates fit, propose your own date right in the calendar; we will consider it and get back to you.
SCA Barista
The barista branch of the SCA Coffee Skills Program, built on espresso extraction, milk techniques, machine calibration and service flow. Foundation + Intermediate (F+I) is taught in 3 days; Professional is a separate 3-day block open to students who have completed Foundation + Intermediate.
Registration pages: SCA Barista Foundation + Intermediate · SCA Barista Professional. For dates, see the live calendar.
SCA Sensory Skills
Calibrating taste and smell, coffee evaluation standards, SCA cupping form practice and sensory testing methodology. Foundation + Intermediate is a 3-day block; Professional is another 3-day block that starts right after F+I in the same week (ideal for completing the full seven-day Sensory block in a single trip).
Registration pages: SCA Sensory Skills Foundation + Intermediate · SCA Sensory Skills Professional. For dates, see the live calendar.
SCA Coffee Roasting
Full roaster competence, from green coffee evaluation to roast profile design, from diagnosing roast defects to sensory verification. Foundation + Intermediate (F+I) is a 4-day block (Tuesday to Friday); Professional is a 3-day add-on (Saturday to Monday) that starts right after F+I in the same week, so the full seven-day Roasting block can be completed in one trip.
Registration pages: SCA Roasting Foundation + Intermediate · SCA Roasting Professional. For dates, see the live calendar. English cohorts have their own page: SCA Roasting Certification in English.
The seven-day full Roasting block, F+I followed directly by Professional, is the most popular configuration for international roasters who want to complete the program in a single trip; English blocks appear in the calendar with an "English" tag.
Q Grader (SCA Certification Program)
Q Grader is the internationally recognized coffee quality grader license issued by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA); the program moved from CQI to the SCA in October 2025. The full program runs 6 days and consists of 8 practical exams and 1 written exam; successful candidates earn a Q Grader license valid for 3 years.
CoffeeNutz İzmir ran the world's first Q Grader class in Turkish in March 2026. English Q Grader classes for international candidates open regularly (a Türkiye-based option with a native Q Instructor for candidates across the EMEA region).
Registration pages: Q Grader (Turkish) · Q Grader (English). For dates, see the live calendar.
The Q Grader class costs 110,000 ₺, payable in 3 interest-free installments. Meals, the certificate and VAT are included; accommodation and travel are not. Classes follow the SCA "Evolved Q" format in force since October 2025.
Trainer: Ömer Aydın
Ömer Aydın is the founder (2013) and training director of CoffeeNutz. Türkiye's first SCA Roasting certified roaster (March 2013); Authorised SCA Trainer (AST) since 2015; the Q Instructor who taught the first Turkish-language Q Grader class in March 2026. He has run SCA Coffee Skills programs for 11 years and the SCA Q Grader program in its new format since 2026, blending the traditional SCA curriculum with scientific coffee data. Past students include individual professionals such as a Starbucks Reserve Milan roaster, and corporate clients ranging from Tchibo to Nescafe and Fo Products.
Location and Format
All classes take place at the CoffeeNutz training lab in İzmir. The lab is equipped with an SCA-standard cupping station, professional espresso equipment (La Marzocco ModBar), a range of roasting machines and 3 green coffee evaluation stations. Groups are kept between 4 and 6 students depending on the module. Unless stated otherwise, classes are taught in Turkish; specific cohorts are announced in English for international participants.
Modules and Prices
| Module | Level | Duration | Price (₺, VAT included) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCA Barista | Foundation + Intermediate | 3 days | 49,000 |
| SCA Barista | Professional | 3 days | 55,000 |
| SCA Sensory Skills | Foundation + Intermediate | 3 days | 49,000 |
| SCA Sensory Skills | Professional | 3 days | 55,000 |
| SCA Roasting | Foundation + Intermediate | 4 days | 75,000 |
| SCA Roasting | Professional | 3 days | 80,000 |
| SCA Q Grader | Certification | 6 days | 110,000 |
All prices include VAT. 3 interest-free installments are available. Meals, certificates and lab use are included; accommodation and travel are not.
Certificates are delivered electronically as SCA Digital Certificates; the Q Grader license is registered directly by the SCA.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an SCA certificate?
You attend a class at the Foundation, Intermediate or Professional level of one of the SCA Coffee Skills Program modules (Barista, Brewing, Sensory Skills, Green Coffee, Roasting), then pass the module's written and practical assessment. At CoffeeNutz İzmir classes are taught by Authorised SCA Trainer (AST) Ömer Aydın; your certificate is issued electronically by the SCA.
How much do SCA certificates cost?
SCA Foundation + Intermediate modules (Barista, Sensory, Roasting) range from 49,000 to 75,000 ₺. Professional-level modules range from 55,000 to 80,000 ₺. The Q Grader certification program is 110,000 ₺. All prices include VAT and can be paid in 3 interest-free installments.
Where is the SCA Barista class taught in İzmir?
CoffeeNutz İzmir is one of the accredited centers in Türkiye teaching the Barista module of the SCA Coffee Skills Program. Trainer Ömer Aydın has been an SCA AST since 2015. Foundation + Intermediate classes open several times a year; the next open dates appear in the live calendar on this page.
How do I get the Q Grader certificate?
The Q Grader certificate is awarded on attending the 6-day program run by an SCA-approved Q Instructor and passing 8 practical exams and 1 written exam. CoffeeNutz İzmir ran the world's first Turkish-language Q Grader class in March 2026; current class dates appear in the live calendar on this page.
How long is the Q Grader exam and what does it cover?
The Q Grader exam runs 6 days and, under the SCA Evolved Q format, consists of 8 practical modules: Olfactory, Cupping Skills, Triangulation, Roast Defect Identification, Green Grading, Basic Tastes, Affective (Hedonic) Assessment and Descriptive Assessment. A 55-question written exam is taken online in addition. Successful candidates earn a Q Arabica Grader license valid for 3 years.
Is any preparation needed before the class?
Foundation-level modules have no prerequisites. For the Q Grader program we recommend having completed at least one SCA Sensory Skills or Coffee Skills module; familiarity with the cupping routine keeps the pass rate high. Candidates who want advice before registering can book a free 30-minute online preparation call with Ömer Aydın.
Is an SCA certificate valid internationally?
Yes. The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) is a US-based international body; the Coffee Skills Program and the SCA Q Grader certification run to the same standard in many countries. Your certificate is delivered electronically as an SCA Digital Certificate and can be verified by employers and training institutions anywhere in the world. A certificate earned in Turkish carries exactly the same international validity as one earned in any other language.
Is the Q Grader exam hard, and what is the pass rate?
Q Grader is considered one of the toughest certification exams in the coffee industry; the global first-attempt pass rate is around 30-40%. All 8 practical exams and the written exam must be passed within the 6-day intensive program. The modules candidates report as hardest are Olfactory (aroma identification), calibration and triangulation. In CoffeeNutz's first Turkish-language Q Grader class in March 2026, 5 of 6 candidates earned the certificate (83%), more than double the global average. Pre-class warm-up sessions and online follow-up play a critical role in that result: candidates are acclimatized to the real exam format before the intensive week starts. The program also includes calibration practice and a pre-exam simulation. Modules that are not passed can be retaken under the SCA's current retake policy.
Is this training useful for someone who wants to start their own coffee brand?
Absolutely, and for businesses it is often essential. Without technical knowledge of coffee, decisions from costing to customer segmentation cannot be made soundly, so training matters even at entry level.
Student Experiences
"In the long SCA Barista classes we took at CoffeeNutz with my team, and in the 3-day one-on-one Professional class at the Tchibo head office, Ömer's command of the subject and his systematic teaching method made even complex technical details easy to grasp. Thanks to the patience, one-on-one guidance and professional approach he showed throughout, I was fully prepared for every learning outcome. My exam went in a planned and stress-free way. The learning environment, the quality of the equipment and the variety of samples also increased what I got out of the class. For anyone who wants to bring their barista skills up to professional standards, I recommend Ömer's training without hesitation."
— Fethi Kağan Giritli, Master Barista, Tchibo Türkiye, SCA Barista Professional class; July 2017 (translated from Turkish).
"Completing my SCA Roasting Professional certification with Ömer was an incredible experience. He is extremely knowledgeable, highly professional, and has a great teaching style that makes complex roasting concepts easy to understand. Thanks to his patience, guidance, and deep expertise, I felt completely prepared and passed the exam with ease. If you want to take your roasting skills to the highest level, I cannot recommend his training enough!"
— Samuel Murgatroyd, Roaster, Starbucks Reserve Milan, SCA Roasting Professional cohort; May 2024.
"During the Q Grader program, the way CoffeeNutz, that is, Ömer, passed on his knowledge was truly valuable. Running a course this technical and this demanding of attention in a way that is both disciplined and clear takes real competence. Ömer's command of the subject, the calm confidence in his approach and the care he gives to detail made the whole process far more productive. I thank CoffeeNutz, that is, Ömer, for this strong learning experience."
— Serap Akçay, Founder, Sagezza A.Ş., Q Grader class; March 2026 (translated from Turkish).
Registration and Contact
Each class's registration page is reached from the "Register / Info" button in the live calendar or from the links in the module sections above. Sales close automatically when a class is full, so check the date options on the product page for the latest availability. For group registrations and corporate training requests use the contact page; to propose a date of your own, use the offer form in the calendar.
For the English-language program overview and the English Q Grader class details, visit the Q Grader (English) page.