I love coffee. Every day, I make sure I have a cuppa before starting work and sometimes I find myself drinking up to 3 cups just for the fun of it. (Thank you whoever invented decaf) While I love the taste of it, I am completely clueless when it comes to the technical aspect of coffee. So, when I got the chance to attend a lesson at Common Man Coffee Roasters Barista Academy, I immediately said yes.
After all the coverage on the cafes in Singapore and cafes in Korea, it’s nice to see what goes behind a cup of coffee.
Coffee Academy in Singapore
Tucked away on the 3rd floor of a neighbourhood near Chin Swee Road, the CMCR Barista Academy manages to blend in with the neighbouring old-school shops and after-school academies. However, the inside is decorated with cups and coffee machines that are quite contrasting to the area.
I was welcomed by You Quan and Keith, who were my trainers for the day.
On my table were the resources we needed for the class, and an apron to make one feel like an actual barista.
Classes at CMCR Barista Academy
CMCR Barista Academy has a total of 9 classes suited for any kind of coffee lover. Each class is combined with a bit of theory and a bit of hands-on practice, carefully structured to ensure suitability for every learner.
Our class began with an introduction to coffee and learning about the unique characteristics of coffee.
You’ll be able to learn more through the Essential Coffee Knowledge course ($50/1.5h)!
This was followed by a hands-on on Pour over Brewing. It was interesting to know how small factors can affect the taste of coffee. I, for the love of God, can’t seem to tell the difference between tasting notes, but Keith provided some tips that were really useful for people like me.
Next time, I’ll be able to say, “This coffee has more chocolate and nutty notes.”
I would say that the Fundamentals of Pour-over Brewing ($150/2h) or Fundamentals of Immersion Brewing ($150/2h) is perfect for home-brewers because you don’t need an espresso machine.
However, if you have an Espresso Machine or are intending to purchase one, the Fundamental Barista Skills ($170/2.5h) is a great course to help you learn how to pull great shots of espresso and master proper milk frothing techniques. Once you’re done with that, take it a step further and opt for the Fundamentals of Latte Art ($170/2.5h) where you can learn how to create basic latte art designs.
I mean… for a first-timer, this is pretty good, right? You Quan gave lots of advice which helped build up my confidence!
Coffee Course in Singapore
Will this be my last time doing this? Probably not. As a coffee-lover, this experience was an eye-opener for me, and I learned a lot from Keith & You Quan.
If you’re worried about finding time to attend classes, no worry! To cater to busy schedules, the academy offers up to 20 sessions every week, which can be conveniently booked online.
Common Man Coffee Roasters Barista Academy
Blk 52 Chin Swee Road, #03-71, Singapore 160052
Website: https://commonmancoffeeroasters.com/pages/academy
*Special thanks to CMCR Barista Academy for helping one of our editors achieve his dream of becoming a barista (even if it was just for a few hours)
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