Hands-On Coffee Shop and Barista Training

Why Training Matters – Before You Open

If you’ve never run a coffee shop before, the proper training can make all the difference.

Watching videos or attending a class for a few days isn’t enough. You need to train in your actual space, using your own equipment with your team — before you open your doors.

What Makes Our Coffee Shop Training Different?

At Crimson Cup, we believe hands-on training is so important that it’s a centerpiece of our coffee shop startup program. The right start helps you avoid costly mistakes, build confidence and create a smooth, successful launch. If you’re still building your budget, our guide breaks down the full cost to open a coffee shop, including what to set aside for training.

We’ve helped over 300 independent coffee shops across 37 states open strong and grow. Our proven 7 Steps to Success program includes personal, hands-on training designed to prepare you and your team for real-life behind-the-bar situations.

Buy the Kit – $69.99

What You’ll Get as a 7 Steps to Success Customer

We provide training exclusively for coffee entrepreneurs who enroll in our comprehensive consulting package. This training package contains everything necessary to open and successfully operate a coffee shop. Plus, our seasoned consultants will use decades of experience as coffee shop owners and managers to help you solve problems and grow your business.

Pre-Opening Coffee Shop Management Training

Our 7 Steps Customer Growth Consultant will provide virtual sessions on managing and growing your coffee business. In the months leading up to your soft open, you will learn how to:

• Create your mission, vision, values, and goals statements.
• Develop a brand that reflects your vision and appeals to target customers.
• Format your menu layout and build a profitable pricing strategy.
• Hire and train your baristas and develop a leadership structure.
• Use strategic labor management to schedule shifts.
• Use grassroots marketing strategies to get people in the door and keep them coming back.
• Manage your facilities, including building security and health code compliance.
• Manage general business operations like payroll, accounting and human resources.
• Develop meaningful metrics for measuring success and making informed decisions.

5 Days of On-Site Operations Training — At Your Coffee Shop

Our 7 Steps trainer, with decades of coffee industry experience, travels to your coffee shop for a full week of training before you open. You and your team will learn how to:

• Master barista techniques, implement our workflow efficiency model, and use our recipe formula system for making quality coffee drinks consistently and profitably.
• Program your point-of-sale, order display screens, and drive-thru technology.
• Make delicious coffee, tea, and espresso-based drinks using our proprietary recipe book of drinks loved by coffee drinkers across the U.S.
• Open and close your shop efficiently.
• Learn principles of providing an exceptional customer experience.
• Understand how to organize, manage, and order your inventory.
• Establish preventative maintenance procedures and schedules to maximize your investment.

Advanced Barista & Manager Training

The first week is just the beginning. We offer more training options* as your business grows:

• Barista Foundations: This two-day course is designed to equip baristas, managers, and owners with the core skills needed behind the bar in a coffee shop. Ideal for new hires, those seeking a refresher, or anyone beginning their coffee education, the course covers espresso preparation and calibration, milk steaming, machine maintenance, and the fundamentals of both traditional and super-automatic machines.

Participants will also explore coffee from seed to cup, learn basic café operations and drink terminology, prepare a variety of hot, iced, and frozen beverages, and gain an introduction to cold brew and tea offerings. Class size is limited to 8 for a hands-on experience.

• Barista Intermediate Training: This course explores the essential elements of coffee and how each one influences flavor. It covers various brewing methods — including hand-poured techniques — to build a strong understanding of key factors and develop confidence in crafting consistently high-quality brews. Students will also study milk composition and processing, paired with hands-on latte art training in our Application Lab.
• Custom Training Plans: Tailored to your team’s needs, like new staff, slow seasons, or new menu items.
• Team Refreshers: Great for training new baristas or improving speed and service.

We can train in your shop or at our SCA Certified Innovation Lab — whatever works best for your team.

*Additional fees may apply.

Ongoing Support for Long-Term Success

You’re not alone once your shop opens. Our ongoing training and consulting services include:

• Competitive pricing strategy and cost-of-goods-sold (COGS) control to ensure profitability.
• Continuing staff development.
• Marketing strategies and social media planning.
• Tools to help you understand your numbers so you can make informed business decisions.
• FREE professionally-printed monthly promotional materials, highlighting new products and drink recipe innovations.

You’ll have access to our Innovation Lab in Columbus, Ohio — a certified SCA Premier Training Campus — for more learning and inspiration any time you need it. We will also help you develop custom refresher training plans for your team.