Do you wish you knew just a little more about cupping or brewing like your neighborhood barista? Well you are not alone in this desire and as a result, there are many classes open to the general public in just about every area your curiosity can take you.

Long ago, coffee was just coffee. You purchased in your local supermarket, coffee shop or diner. These days, specialty coffees have created a demand for more knowledge about coffee or maybe our desire for more knowledge brought forth the specialty coffee. It’s a classic "Which came first?" situation.

Specialty Coffee Defined

“Specialty coffee is the term commonly used to refer to "gourmet" or "premium" coffee. According to the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), coffee which scores 80 points or above on a 100-point scale is graded "specialty". Specialty coffees are grown in special and ideal climates, and are distinctive because of their full cup taste and little to none defects. The unique flavors and tastes are a result of the special characteristics and composition of the soils in which they are produced.”

A Demand for More

Specialty Coffee shops these days are not only serving up coffee, they are also getting into the coffee education game. Coffee drinkers want to know more, even if it’s just for their own personal pleasure.

Classes Available

The International Culinary Center has now brought its training program, a 15-hour, 2-day course intensive course that includes a “unique training program designed to cultivate a new class of coffee “sommeliers,” from Italy to the US. It also includes breakfast and lunch.

Monday & Tuesday, July 19 & 20, 2010, from 9:00am - 4:30pm.

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Dallis Bros. Coffee, with 100 years in the industry, is as fresh as ever. Their roasting facility is located in Queens, New York and they invite you to “Cup Like a Pro,” during their coffee tour.

Call for schedule.

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Joe The Art of Coffee

I took a self-designed coffee tour of NYC some time ago and my first stop on the tour was Joe The Art of Coffee at 141 Waverly Place. Joe had been featured in a video clip about latte art.

Joe has several locations in NYC and offers ongoing classes coming up soon. The July classes are already closed.

August 4th: Home Brewing Techniques
6:30 PM @ The Training Lab

August 11th: Hands-On Espresso Fundamentals
6:30 PM @ The Training Lab

August 18th: Chemex and Pour Over
6:30 PM @ The Training Lab

August 24th: Milk Steaming Techniques
6:30 PM @ The Training Lab
(Espresso Fundamentals is a pre-requisite for this class.)

August 25th: Coffee 101
6:30 PM @ The Training Lab

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So don’t be shy. Go ahead and try a class. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it’s going to take your coffee experience to new heights.