Barista Training Classes in Minneapolis
Tiny Footprint Coffee

Tiny Footprint Coffee offers fun, hands-on, and interactive barista training classes for every skill level — from beginners to seasoned veterans at our Twin Cities, MN Roastery. Our classes deepen your knowledge, strengthen your technique, and bring even more joy to the craft of coffee and espresso beverage creation.

The specialty coffee market has become a global phenomenon, and more people than ever are discovering the joy of learning from top-tier cafés. As demand for high-quality coffee continues to rise in Minnesota, skilled baristas are essential to delivering the perfect cup. Whether you're an aspiring home brewer or an experienced coffee café professional, ongoing training is key to standing out in the industry.

Today, a barista isn’t just someone behind the counter — they’re a creator of memorable, craft coffee experiences. That’s why continuous professional development is vital for anyone looking to grow in this field.

Ready to take the next step?

All barista training courses are available on Eventbrite - all the links take you there

Interested in starting or expanding a coffee buisness, click here to sign up for our free wholesale consultation and receive 2 free classes

Location:
Tiny Footprint Coffee
6840 Shingle Creek Parkway Suite 7
Brooklyn Center, MN 55430

Class Descriptions

Barista 1 

Our Barista Training Level 1 course is designed for anyone who wants to get started in the coffee industry or wants to get better on their home espresso machine.  Whether you're a complete beginner or someone looking to brush up on the basics, this hands-on class will guide you through coffee's value chain from tree to cup. By the end of this course, you’ll have a solid foundation for our other classes and the skills to pour a delicious latte!

Topics Covered

• History of Coffee: Understand the origins of coffee, its cultural significance, and what influences flavor.
• Espresso Basics: Learn how to brew a rich, flavorful espresso shot.
• Milk Steaming Techniques: Master the art of creating microfoam for lattes and cappuccinos.
• Equipment Handling: Get comfortable with essential coffee-making tools.

Latte Art

After completing barista training course Level 1 or if you already have some barista experience, Latte Art is the next step. This course will help you perfect your microfoam skills and learn Latte Art step-by-step with effective drills and extensive practice time. With constructive guidence and a little patience you’ll gain the skill to pour hearts, rosettas and more.

Topics Covered

• Milk Texture Perfection: learn how to create silky microfoam by missing on the pro-side. 
• Free-Pouring Techniques: Learn the fundementals of pouring hearts and rosettas step by step.
• Creative Design Execution: Develop your personal flair for latte art.

Brewing Pro

A quantitative (Golden Cup theory) and quantitivate (does it taste great) approach to coffee brewing that scales from a single cup pour-over to a 6-gallon batch brewer. Learn to expertly build coffee brewing recipes and evalute the results with a refratometer, then apply these skills to different devices.  

Topics Covered

• Brewing Methods: Master Chemex, Kalita, Hario, Batch Brewing, French Press.
• Coffee Brewing Control Chart: Learn to control extraction yeilds and beverage strength.
• Fine Tuning: learn to fine tune flavor with ratio control, grind, time, and temperature.

Cupping

Cupping is how coffee professionals taste and select the best coffees. This class teaches you how to taste coffee for quality and analyze its flavor profile. If you want to expand your palate or enhance your ability to select the best coffees for you or your cafe, this course is for you. 

Topics Covered

• Flavor and Aroma Analysis: Learn how to detect subtle notes and aromas in coffee.
• Coffee Descriptions: Understand how to properly describe coffee flavors.
• Blind Tasting: Practice tasting coffee without knowing its identity to eliminate bias.

Coffee Biz: How to Open a Coffee Business

Dreaming of running your own coffee shop? The Coffee Biz Course provides everything you need to know to open and operate a successful coffee business. From ideation to implementation, this course covers business planning, financing, marketing in the age of Artifical Intellegence, and more.

Topics Covered

• Business Concept and Planning
• Operations, Margins and Financing - how to become profitable
• Marketing, Local SEO, AI Discovery
• Build Out and Licensing
• Opening Cadence  

Additional Tips for Aspiring Baristas:

Experiment with Different Brews: Don't stick to just one brewing method—experimenting with different methods like Chemex, AeroPress, or Kalita can help you discover your ideal cup.

Understand Coffee Varieties: Learn how different tree varietes, processing methods, terrior, and roasting create flavor profiles. This knowledge will help you select the best coffees for you and your customers.

Keep Practicing: Barista skills improve with practice. The more you practice your milk steaming, espresso shots, and latte art, the better your results will be.

Which Course is Right For Me?

“I’ve never made espresso before.”
 Start with Barista Training Level 1 to learn espresso, milk steaming, and how to make classic café drinks.

“I want to learn latte art."
 Take Latte Art Level to practice creating microfaom and free-pour designs like hearts and rosettas.

“I want to brew better coffee at home.”
Try Coffee Brewing Pro to learn Chemex, Kalita, and batch brewing techniques.

“I want to taste coffee like a pro.”
Join a Cupping Class to develop your palate and learn how professionals evaluate coffee.

“I’m thinking about opening a coffee shop.”
The Coffee Biz Course covers the fundamentals of starting and running a café.

Still unsure? Start with Barista Training Level 1 - it’s the best foundation for most people.

Have Any Questions?

We are here to help.