SCAA Level 1 Roasting Certification Course in Guangzhou

If you’ve ever wondered how raw coffee beans transform into the complex drinks we love—and whether you could master that process yourself—this course is built for you. Designed for those with basic coffee knowledge, it provides structured training on the full journey from seed to cup, focusing especially on the craft and science of roasting.

The SCAA Level 1 Roasting Certification course takes place February 22–26, 2014, in Guangzhou’s CREMA Coffee Lab, and covers 13 modules including roasting fundamentals, green coffee grading, decaffeination, sample roasting, and basic roasting equipment operation.

What Is the SCAA Level 1 Roasting Certification?

The SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America) Level 1 Roasting Certification is an entry-level professional course aimed at coffee enthusiasts and industry professionals with some coffee background. It teaches the essential skills, techniques, and concepts required to begin a career as a specialty coffee roaster. The curriculum is structured around practical learning and theoretical knowledge, ensuring participants understand not just how to roast, but why each step matters.

Course Modules and Learning Objectives

The course spans five intensive days and includes the following 13 certified modules:

• CB100 Seed to Cup: Understanding the full coffee supply chain.
• CP151 & CP152 Intro to Brewing (Parts 1 & 2): Basics of coffee brewing and extraction.
• GE103 Introduction to Cupping: Standardised sensory evaluation of brewed coffee.
• RP110 Basic Roasting Equipment: Overview of key tools used in coffee roasting.
• RP112 Introductory Concepts of Roasting: Foundational principles behind the roast process.
• RP208 Roaster Plant Safety: Safety protocols in commercial roasting environments.
• GE151 Green Coffee Grading: Standards and methods for evaluating raw coffee quality.
• RP104 Decaffeination: Methods and implications of decaf processing.
• RP120 Profile Roasting Practices: Developing roast profiles for desired flavour outcomes.
• RP223 Sample Roasting: Techniques for preparing small-batch samples.
• CB205 Purchase, Finance, and Green Coffee Contracts: Business aspects of sourcing green coffee.
• RP191 Roast Log - Level 1: Recording and analysing roast data for consistency.

About the Instructor: Mike Ebert

The course is led by Mike Ebert, a 29-year veteran of the specialty coffee industry. His expertise spans purchasing, cupping, roasting, sales, and management. As founder of Firedancer Coffee Consultants, Mike advises businesses with a rare combination of hands-on experience and strategic insight. He helped establish the SCAA’s Roasters Guild, served as its first Executive Committee Chair for two years, and remained on the Board for seven years. Currently, he chairs Coffee Kids and is also a certified SCAA instructor and subject matter expert with the Coffee Business Professional Development Association.

About SCAA

The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) is a global authority dedicated to promoting excellence in coffee from seed to cup. It sets quality standards, certifies coffee professionals, conducts research, and offers educational resources. Its certifications, particularly for baristas and roasters, are among the most respected in the industry.

About CREMA Coffee Lab

CREMA Coffee Lab, the SCAA-certified training venue for this course, is a joint initiative between Guangzhou Coffee Salon Training Center and Hong Kong’s COFFEE Lab Asia. Established in 2013, it delivers internationally recognised programmes—including CQI Q Grader and courses from SCAA, SCAE, and IIAC—to advance structured, scientific coffee education in China.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where and when was the SCAA Level 1 Roasting Certification course held?

The SCAA Level 1 Roasting Certification course took place from February 22 to 26, 2014, at CREMA Coffee Lab in Guangzhou, which is also the Guangzhou Coffee Salon Training Center.

Who is the instructor for the SCAA Level 1 Roasting Certification course?

The course was taught by Mike Ebert, a 29-year industry veteran who founded Firedancer Coffee Consultants and has held leadership roles in the SCAA Roasters Guild, including serving as its first Executive Committee Chair.

What topics are covered in the SCAA Level 1 Roasting Certification course?

The course includes 13 modules such as roasting equipment, roasting concepts, green coffee grading, decaffeination, sample roasting, roast logging, cupping, brewing basics, and roaster plant safety.

What is SCAA and why is its certification important?

The SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America) is a leading global organisation that sets coffee quality standards and certifies professionals. Its credentials are highly respected in the specialty coffee industry worldwide.

Where is CREMA Coffee Lab located and what certifications does it offer?

CREMA Coffee Lab is located in Guangzhou and offers internationally accredited coffee courses, including various SCAA, SCAE, and IIAC certifications, as well as the CQI Q Grader programme.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Roasting Practice

For roasting practice inspired by this SCAA course, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Yirgacheffe for bright floral and citrus notes, their Colombia Huila for balanced caramel and nuttiness, or their Sumatra Mandheling for earthy, spicy complexity. These single origins highlight how roast profiles shape flavour and are ideal for experimenting with the techniques taught in the Level 1 certification. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.