Barista Course Melbourne
Hands-on training that gets you hired — make every café coffee on commercial machines, then earn the nationally recognised certificate cafés look for. Your own steam wand and a 1:8 trainer ratio, in Melbourne.
From first pour to confident barista
No prior experience required — you'll walk out knowing how to use a commercial espresso machine from scratch and make every coffee you'd order in a café.
What makes our Melbourne barista courses different
Your own steam wand
A dedicated steam wand and group handle each — genuine hands-on practice, not standing around watching.
1:8 trainer ratio
One trainer for every eight students. Our trainers are working baristas and café owners, not just teachers.
Commercial machines
Train on the same professional-grade espresso machines you'd find in a café — not domestic gear.
No theory, all practise
No pre-course modules for the 3-hour class — just focused hours on the machines, learning by doing.
Classes every day
Morning, afternoon and weekend slots — pick whatever fits your week.
Nationally recognised upgrade path
Start with the 3-hour class and top up to the Nationally Recognised 5-hour course any time.
3-hour vs 5-hour barista course
Both teach you to use a commercial espresso machine from scratch. Here's how they differ.
| 3-hour$149 · non-accredited | 5-hour$249 · nationally recognised | |
|---|---|---|
| Core barista skills (espresso, milk, all café drinks) | ||
| Your own steam wand & group handle | ||
| Latte art training (2 hours) | — | |
| Free ebook — Get a Fun Job as a Barista | — | |
| Certificate | Certificate of completion | Nationally recognised Statement of Attainment (SITHFAB025 + SITXFSA005) |
| Pre-course online module | Not required | 1–2 hours |
| Price | $149 | $249 |
Book your Melbourne barista course
Live class dates at our Melbourne centre — book online.
5-hour Nationally Recognised Master Barista course — $249
SITHFAB025 + SITXFSA005 · nationally recognised
Core barista skills plus 2 hours of latte art and a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment that cafés accept Australia-wide.
Issued the same day, straight to your student portal: your nationally recognised Statement of Attainment, Statement of Results, Barista Basics Coffee Art certificate, coffee art handout and Coffee Menu handout — plus a free copy of our ebook, Get a Fun Job as a Barista.
| Date | Time | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 21 Oct 2026 | 8:00am – 2:00pm | $249 | Filling fastEnrol now → |
| Thu 22 Oct 2026 | 8:00am – 2:00pm | $249 | |
| Sun 25 Oct 2026 | 9:00am – 3:00pm | $249 | |
| Mon 26 Oct 2026 | 8:00am – 2:00pm | $249 | |
| Tue 27 Oct 2026 | 8:00am – 2:00pm | $249 | |
| Wed 28 Oct 2026 | 8:00am – 2:00pm | $249 | |
| Thu 29 Oct 2026 | 8:00am – 2:00pm | $249 | |
| Fri 30 Oct 2026 | 9:00am – 3:00pm | $249 | |
| Sat 31 Oct 2026 | 9:00am – 3:00pm | $249 | |
| Sun 1 Nov 2026 | 9:00am – 3:00pm | $249 |
Need a later date?
Pick a date further ahead to enrol.
3-hour Barista — $149
Non-accredited
A relaxed, hands-on introduction to the espresso machine — perfect for home baristas and coffee lovers. Australian Barista School certificate of completion.
Issued the same day, straight to your student portal: your Australian Barista School certificate of completion and a Coffee Menu handout.
| Date | Time | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 21 Oct 2026 | 8:00am – 11:00am | $149 | Filling fastEnrol now → |
| Thu 22 Oct 2026 | 8:00am – 11:00am | $149 | |
| Sun 25 Oct 2026 | 9:00am – 12:00pm | $149 | |
| Mon 26 Oct 2026 | 8:00am – 11:00am | $149 | |
| Tue 27 Oct 2026 | 8:00am – 11:00am | $149 | |
| Wed 28 Oct 2026 | 8:00am – 11:00am | $149 | |
| Thu 29 Oct 2026 | 8:00am – 11:00am | $149 | |
| Fri 30 Oct 2026 | 9:00am – 12:00pm | $149 | |
| Sat 31 Oct 2026 | 9:00am – 12:00pm | $149 | |
| Sun 1 Nov 2026 | 9:00am – 12:00pm | $149 |
Need a later date?
Pick a date further ahead to enrol.
Our 5-hour Master Barista course vs a typical barista class
Here's what 25 years of doing this actually buys you.
| Barista Basics — 5-hour course | A typical barista class | |
|---|---|---|
| Qualification | Nationally recognised SITHFAB025 + SITXFSA005 Statement of Attainment | Usually a non-accredited certificate, if any |
| Recognition | Barista Basics is recognised Australia-wide | Often a local or unknown operator |
| Experience | Teaching baristas since 2000 — 25+ years, 100,000+ trained | Often newer, unproven |
| Who trains you | Professional hospitality trainers with real-world experience | A rotating contracted trainer |
| Trainer ratio | 1:8 — plenty of hands-on time with your trainer | Often larger classes with less individual attention |
| Equipment | Your own steam wand and group handle, on commercial machines | Shared equipment, sometimes domestic-grade |
| Coffee art | 2 hours included — home of what we believe was one of the first coffee art courses anywhere | Rarely covered, if offered at all |
| Real café background | Founders ran a coffee roasting facility and four espresso bars | Training-only — no café or roasting experience |
| Reference material | Written by our founders, Bean There, Drunk That… — yours to buy | No published resource |
Compared against a typical short, non-accredited barista class — individual providers vary.
The barista school that wrote the book
Barista Basics Coffee Academy started in a small Sydney training room in 2000. What began as one room with a handful of machines became the course that has trained 100,000+ baristas across the country.
Along the way our founders, David and Matthew Gee, ran a coffee roasting facility and four espresso bars, and built what we believe was the world's first dedicated coffee art course — then wrote the book on it, Bean There, Drunk That…, still in print and yours to buy today.
More than 25 years later, you're taught by professional hospitality trainers with real-world experience. Barista Basics is now CBD College's barista training school (RTO 91399).
- 2000
Barista Basics Coffee Academy opens in a training room in Sydney, and runs what we believe was the world's first dedicated coffee art course
- 2001
Melbourne and Brisbane open
- 2004
First edition of Bean There, Drunk That… published (128 pages, still in print)
- 2005
Newcastle opens
- 2008
CBD College registered as an RTO (91399, 29 May 2008); the 5-hour barista course becomes nationally recognised
- Today
100,000+ baristas trained across four cities
What our Melbourne barista students say
“awesome instructors and very informative class. would 10/10 recommend”
“We had such a great experience with Maaike! She’s an amazing barista teacher, super friendly, fun and approachable. She explained everything really well and made the whole class enjoyable and easy to follow. We got lots of hands-on practice, which was great, and she was always there to help, give feedback and show us how to improve. We learned so much and had a really fun time. Highly recommend her! ☕️🤍”
“Really enjoyed the Barista course with Maaike”
“Maaike was incredibly and super skilled and helpful. I learned so much from her and appreciate her expertise and knowledge:)”
“Maaike was a fantastic teacher of all things barista basics. She conducted her class with a great mix of skill and fun, and made the learning environment enriching and encouraging. I would highly recommend both her and this course to any aspiring baristas!”
“I had a wonderful experience with CBD during their 5-hour Barista Course! The entire course was very well organized, and the barista trainers were incredibly friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. They explained everything clearly and made the whole experience enjoyable. After completing the course, I feel much more confident and well-prepared to start working as a barista. I would definitely recommend CBD to anyone looking to learn barista skills in a supportive and welcoming environment!”
“Such a fun and complete course. You get to learn in the best way as possible. Easy theory and lots of practice with the best teachers. Mat and Maaike were the absolute best. They are really fun, kind and talented teachers. I really recommend doing this course if you would like to start in the coffee world.”
“Matt and Skye were awesome!”
“It was a great course on coffee !”
Our trainers wrote the book — literally
bean there, drunk that…
The definitive guide to coffee and the world of the barista — 128 pages by the founders of Barista Basics Coffee Academy. History, espresso, milk texturing, latte art and getting a job as a barista. Get the book →
Barista guides
All guides →How to become a barista in Australia
You don't need a formal qualification to become a barista in Australia, but training and practice make you far more employable. Here's the path.
Read guideDo you need a qualification to be a barista?
No — there's no legal requirement to be a qualified barista in Australia. But a barista course makes you far more employable. Here's why.
Read guideNationally recognised vs non-accredited barista course: which should you do?
A non-accredited barista course teaches the core skills fast; the 5-hour course adds latte art and a nationally recognised qualification. Here's which suits you.
Read guide
Our Melbourne centre
Training in another city? See all barista course locations →
Frequently asked questions
Which barista course should I choose?▾
If you want to work in a café, choose the 5-hour Nationally Recognised Barista course — it adds latte art and awards a Nationally Recognised SITHFAB025 + SITXFSA005 Statement of Attainment that cafés accept nationwide. The 3-hour course is a non-accredited class for home baristas, hobbyists and working-holiday makers who want the core skills without the formal qualification.
Is the 3-hour course nationally recognised?▾
No. The 3-hour course is non-accredited — you'll receive an Australian Barista School certificate of completion. For a nationally recognised qualification, choose the 5-hour course.
Do I need any prior barista experience?▾
No. We teach you to use a commercial espresso machine from scratch. By the end you'll froth milk, pull espresso shots, make every café coffee and clean and maintain the machine.
How much do the courses cost?▾
The 3-hour barista course is $149. The 5-hour course with latte art and a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment is $249.
What's the trainer-to-student ratio?▾
1:8. Every student gets their own dedicated steam wand and group handle for the day — no waiting around, just real practice time.
What should I bring on the day?▾
Just yourself and closed-toe shoes (a food-safety requirement). Bring photo ID too if you're doing the 5-hour nationally recognised course. We provide all the coffee, milk, equipment and aprons.
Do I need a USI?▾
Yes, for the 5-hour nationally recognised course — you'll need a Unique Student Identifier (USI) before class day. It's free and takes a couple of minutes at usi.gov.au. The 3-hour course doesn't require one.
What's the pre-course online module?▾
For the 5-hour nationally recognised course only — a short online module (1–2 hours) to complete before your class date. The 3-hour course doesn't have one.
Is there a minimum age?▾
No minimum age for either course. Anyone under 14 needs to be accompanied by a parent or guardian; 14 and over can attend unaccompanied. Bringing a school or youth group instead?
See schools & groups →When do I get my certificate?▾
Same day — issued to your student portal after class. The 3-hour course gets you a certificate of completion. The 5-hour course gets you your Statement of Attainment, Statement of Results, a Barista Basics Coffee Art certificate, and a free copy of our ebook, Get a Fun Job as a Barista.
What's the cancellation policy?▾
Due to small class sizes, we can't refund no-shows or change-of-mind cancellations. You can switch to another class yourself through the Student Portal's Switch function — a switching fee always applies, and it's higher within 48 hours of your class. If you missed your class entirely or arrived too late to be let in, you can reactivate your booking afterwards via the same Switch function — 50% of the course fee within 7 days of your class, 100% after that.
How switching works →Can I upgrade to the nationally recognised course later?▾
Yes. If you complete the 3-hour course and later want the nationally recognised qualification, get in touch and we'll arrange a top-up to the full 5-hour course.
Teaching baristas since 2000 →
Founded in Sydney, home of what we believe was the world's first dedicated coffee art course — taught today by professional hospitality trainers with real-world experience.
Schools & group bookings →
High schools, universities, community groups and workplace teams — discounted group pricing in four cities.