If you want to learn how to make espresso coffee properly—and gain nationally recognised training while you do it—Complete Hospitality Training offers practical barista training in Sydney, NSW at our Surry Hills campus.
This accredited barista course is designed around the skills used behind a real coffee machine. You’ll work on espresso preparation, grinder adjustment, milk texturing, coffee service, equipment care, and food hygiene while developing the knowledge required for assessment.
It’s also suitable if you’re looking for a barista course for beginners. There are no prerequisite units, so you don’t need to arrive with previous barista training or café experience.
Course Information
Good coffee takes more than knowing which button to press. A working barista needs to understand how the grind, dose, extraction, milk, equipment, and workflow affect what ends up in the cup.
This course develops the practical skills and knowledge required to prepare and serve espresso coffee using commercial espresso machines and grinders. Training includes preparing coffee to order, adjusting equipment, texturing milk, maintaining a clean workspace, and communicating with customers about coffee beverages.
The course is relevant to espresso coffee service across cafés, restaurants, bars, clubs, function venues, and other hospitality businesses.
Course Details
| Entrance Requirements | Learners must be at least 16 years of age at the time the course starts. | |
| Pre-requisites | There are no prerequisite units for this course. | |
| Duration | 2 days | |
| Class size | 1 student per group head (no sharing equipment!) | |
| Location | 410 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010 | |
| Certification | On successful completion of the course, you will be issued with nationally recognised Statement(s) of Attainment:
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| Assessment | Competency-based assessment including written assessment and practical skills demonstrations. |
What Will I Learn in Barista Training?
Your time in the training room is focused on the skills involved in making and serving espresso coffee rather than simply watching someone else do it.
Topics covered include:
- Preparing and tamping coffee in the group handle
- Adjusting the grinder and espresso machine to produce espresso
- Texturing milk for espresso-based drinks
- Developing more advanced milk-texturing techniques
- Creating poured and etched latte art
- Preparing drinks from a coffee menu
- Giving customers useful coffee advice
- Cleaning and maintaining espresso machines and grinders
- Applying safe food-handling and hygiene practices
These practical skills are supported by the knowledge needed to understand what you’re doing, assess the coffee you produce, and make adjustments when the result isn’t right.
Why Choose Accredited Barista Training?
There are plenty of barista courses in Sydney, but they don’t all lead to nationally recognised training outcomes.
An accredited barista course includes formal assessment against units of competency. That means you aren’t simply attending a coffee-making class or receiving a participation certificate for turning up. You need to demonstrate the required knowledge and practical skills to be assessed as competent.
At CHT, the practical side still remains central. Accreditation doesn’t mean spending 2 days sitting through theory. You’ll be applying what you learn to espresso preparation, milk, equipment, service, and the other tasks involved in working with coffee.
Is This Barista Course Suitable for Beginners?
Yes. You don’t need previous café experience or barista training to enrol.
It’s a practical starting point if you’re new to coffee, considering hospitality work, or want structured training before applying for barista positions.
Being a beginner also means you can build the process correctly from the start. Rather than trying to fix habits picked up through trial and error, you’ll work through the fundamentals of espresso preparation, grinder adjustment, milk texturing, workflow, and cleaning as part of your training.
How to Make a Booking
Booking your Sydney course involves a few straightforward steps:
- Choose an available date from the course timetable on this page and select Book Now.
- Enter your personal details and pay by credit or debit card.
- Check your email for confirmation of your booking.
- Complete the required enrolment form before your course begins.
- If required for your nationally recognised training, complete the requested enrolment information and provide your Unique Student Identifier (USI).
* See CHT’s current fee schedule for applicable course fees.
Fees
| Tuition Fees (GST Exempt) | Cost |
| Full Fee | $295 |
| Government Funded* | N/A |
| Concession | N/A |
* See CHT’s current fee schedule for applicable course fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a barista course take?
CHT’s accredited barista training in Sydney, NSW runs for 14 hours over 2 days. This gives you time to work through both the knowledge and practical skills involved in espresso coffee preparation rather than trying to squeeze everything into a short demonstration-style class. Course start and finish times should be checked against the timetable when booking.
How much does barista training cost in Sydney?
CHT’s accredited barista training in Sydney costs $295. When comparing course prices, it’s worth checking what the fee includes. Accredited and non-accredited courses can differ in length, practical training, assessment, and the certification issued on successful completion.
Is this a barista course for beginners?
Yes. There are no prerequisite units for the course, so previous coffee-making or hospitality experience isn’t required. Beginners work through the core processes involved in espresso coffee preparation, including using the grinder and espresso machine, tamping, extraction, milk texturing, cleaning, and preparing drinks from a coffee menu.
What does an accredited barista course mean?
Accredited training requires you to demonstrate specified skills and knowledge through formal assessment against nationally recognised units of competency. On successful completion of CHT’s Sydney course, you will be issued with nationally recognised Statement(s) of Attainment for SITHFAB025 - Prepare and Serve Espresso Coffee and SITXFSA005 - Use Hygienic Practices for Food Safety. This is different from a non-accredited coffee class or participation-based course, where attendance alone doesn’t lead to the same nationally recognised training outcome.
Do I get a barista certificate after the course?
Yes, although the formal certification issued for this accredited short course is a Statement of Attainment rather than a qualification certificate. Successfully completing this course gives you two, nationally recognised Statements of Attainment.
Do I need a USI for accredited barista training?
Yes. A Unique Student Identifier (USI) is required for nationally recognised training in Australia. If you don’t already have one, you’ll need to obtain your USI as part of completing the enrolment requirements for the accredited course.
Will I actually make coffee during the course?
Yes. Practical skills demonstrations form part of the course and its assessment, so the training involves working with the processes and equipment used to prepare espresso coffee. You’ll practise skills such as dosing and tamping, adjusting the grinder and espresso machine, texturing milk, preparing menu coffees, cleaning equipment, and applying appropriate food-hygiene practices.
What is the difference between accredited and non-accredited barista courses?
The main difference is the training outcome. An accredited course includes assessment against nationally recognised units of competency and, when successfully completed, leads to the applicable Statement of Attainment. A non-accredited course can still provide useful practical coffee training, but it doesn’t lead to the same nationally recognised VET outcome.
