Coffee Academy - FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
• What does the course cost?
• Are you accredited?
• How long is the course?
• Do you have group rates?
• Is it a hands-on course?
• What do I get in addition to the course?
• Do you have gift certificates?
• Where are the courses held?
• If I don't have a credit card, how can I pay?
• Can I get a job by doing these courses?
• Do you have practice sessions?
• Do you offer RSA Courses?
• Are you Environmentally Friendly?
What do the courses cost?
Course costs are as follows:
Barista Basics $120, Master Barista $250. There will always be cheaper courses being offered but in coffee training, you definitely get what you pay for. We offer the best trainer:student ratios in the business, the best qualifications in Australia for coffee-making, the most "hands-on" time on machines and unlimited consumables during the class. Most importantly though, we guarantee you will leave with a skill taught by passionate industry people, not contract trainers, simply "going through the motions."
Are you accredited?
Barista Basics Coffee Academy is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO).We are VETAB registered and our course is VETAB accredited.
We are recognised by the government to deliver SITHFAB012A Prepare and serve espresso coffee and SITXOHS002A Follow workplace hygiene procedures.
We are also aligned with the TAFE system and have been fully audited by them to deliver coffee courses on their behalf. Our senior barista teachers have completed their Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment as a requirement of this accreditation process.
We are the only independent training facility in Australia to be TAFE affiliated. We are the only dedicated coffee training facility that is an RTO.
Watch out for trainers that say they use a nationally recognised training program or say they issue an accredited barista certificate if they are not issuing a certificate with the VETAB and Nationally Recognised Training Program logo on their certificate. If they don’t mention it on their website, they are probably not VETAB accredited and you may end up with a piece of paper that will not be the correct signal to employers. One coffee school even boasts a certificate that is "Accredited by (name of co. withheld) & Nationally Recognised by RTOs". Interestingly, the RTO they say they are associated with has no relationship with them! Apart from this, private companies cannot "Accredit" anybody (only the government can) and the words Recognised by RTOs is both meaningless and nonsensical. Don't be blinded by such false and misleading wording. If a website does not show the certificate you are getting, ask to see one. If they cannot produce their so-called "accredited" certificate, chances are you will not get one!
Barista Basics 3 hours
Master Barista: 5 hours
Yes, if you book four or more people we offer a group discount of 15%.
Yes, all courses are extremely hands-on. We use commercial San Marino machines in our commercial courses but we also have some SAECO, Rancilio and Vibiemme machines in all of our training rooms that students can use if they wish.
What do I get in addition to the course?
Do you have gift certificates?
Yes, we offer gift certificates to all our classes. Gift certificates make a great gift. The certificate that we send out to the purchaser lists the recipient's name and has all our contact details so that the recipient can book a time and day that best suits them. It comes in a gift box and is shipped express post.
Where are the courses held?
Brisbane : Ground Floor Suite 3, Ladhope Chambers, 131 Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill, Qld, 4000 (just behind Central station. Entrance to Ladhope Chambers to the right of Ladhope Pharmacy via pedestrian ramp). Click here for handy map.
Melbourne : Shop 3A, Level 1 (top level), Paramount Retail Centre, 108 Bourke Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000 (Chinatown end of Bourke St. Nearest cross street is Exhibition St) Click here for handy map.
Sydney: Suite 15, Level 10, The Dymocks Building, 428 George Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000 (near Town Hall train station - between The Strand Arcade and Myer). Click here for handy map.
If I don't have a credit card, how can I pay?
1. Making a booking by credit card over our secure website is the best way to automatically book in to one of our courses.
2. You can also book in by calling us on 1300 366 218 during office hours Mon-Fri and one of our operators can do the booking over the phone with your credit card.
3. In Sydney, you can pay at our bookings head office between 9am and 5pm Mon-Fri at: Suite 11b, Level 10, The Dymocks Building, 428 George Street, Sydney 2000 (near Town Hall train station - between The Strand Arcade and Myer). Ph: 1300 366 218 Click here for handy map.4. If you do NOT have a credit card you can send a money order obtained from a post office and sending it to PO Box, 805, Artarmon NSW 1570 attn: Bob. Please make the money order out to Blue Wave Coffee. You will need to include a note with the money order with your name, mobile phone number and preferences for course dates/times. We can only book you in when we have physically received the money order and will confirm your booking by return phone call. Anyone sending a money order should call us on 1300 366 218 to inform us that one has been sent.
5. You can pay by PAYPAL to info@baristabasics.net. If you pay by paypal, you will need to email the receipt to bob@baristabasics.com.au. You will need to include a note with your name, mobile phone number and preferences for course dates/times. We can only book you in when we have physically received the conformation from PAYPAL and will confirm your booking by return email. 6. We do not accept cash on the day. All courses must be paid for and booked in advance due to our small classes.
Can I get a job by doing these courses?
You need a skill and the right certificate to prove to café owners that you have been trained by properly accredited trainers. You get both of these with our courses.
Without a doubt, these days students will find employment a lot easier with an RTO and TAFE certificate.
Do you have practice sessions?
We believe our courses will equip you with the necessary skill to get a job....in fact we don't allow anyone to leave unless they can use the espresso machine! Our biggest advice to students asking us about coming back for life to practice: do a proper course that will give you the skills in the first place so that you can go straight out and get a job. It is only on the job that you will develop speed and confidence, not in a room where you have no guidance and risk "losing" all of the techniques you were originally taught. Students should not be nervous about how to go about getting a job straight away after completing our courses....the ebook and access to our job websites that we offer as part of our course package will help you to get that first barista job! Don't forget we have run many cafes ourselves and can offer invaluable guidance on job placement as well. Cafes in Melbourne,Sydney and Brisbane use us as feeders for their cafes so there are usually job opportunities available.
Be very wary of coffee schools that offer practice sessions. Often these cost money and you might find that the one scheduled session that is available every week mysteriously always seems to be booked out!
Do you offer RSA courses?
We do not offer Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) Courses. We are a dedicated Coffee Academy and coffee is our absolute passion and specialty. Working in a café does not require you to have an RSA certificate as most are not licensed and do not serve alcohol. (If you want to work in a pub on the other hand, you will need an RSA certificate).
If you don’t think you’re ever likely to work in a pub, there’s probably no point wasting time and money on an RSA course. Our advice would be to do a barista course, get the skill to operate and espresso machine then go out and get a job as soon as possible.
When you think about it, the benefits of working in a café over a pub are numerous: better hours (daytime), same (or better) pay, cleaner working environment and generally a much better clientele. Added to this is the fact that there are many more cafes than pubs and clubs hence more work opportunities!
Are you Environmentally Friendly?
We are certainly trying. BaristaBasicsCoffeeAcademy is committed to remaining carbon negative. This involves an ongoing process of tree planting by the principals of the business which more than offsets the estimated 40 tonnes of CO2 that our business creates each year. We planted over 580 trees last year.
Other initiatives to reduce our call on energy involve a continued push towards online training materials rather than handouts of paper and DVDs.
The coffee we use in our training centres is all Double Certified Organic (by Australian Certified Organic (ACO). This means that the green beans that are roasted and the roasting process itself is certified as 100% organic. In addition to this, the coffee is certified Fair Trade coffee.
With all future orders of certificates, we will ensure that 100% recycled paper is used.
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