6652
Academy Course
Green Coffee Foundation
From seed to sack: how origin, species, and processing shape every cup before it's ever roasted.
Format
In person · Online
Duration
1 Day
Level
Foundation
Next Cohort
2 September 2026
What You'll Learn
Eight core competencies to master in this course.
1
Identify the two dominant species: Arabica and Robusta, and why the difference matters.
2
Trace origin: how altitude, climate, and terroir shape a green coffee's potential.
3
Understand processing methods: washed, natural, and honey — and how each changes flavour.
4
Read a green coffee sample: colour, density, moisture, and visible defects.
5
Grasp the value chain: farmer, mill, exporter, importer, roaster — who does what.
6
Recognise quality markers before a bean is ever roasted.
7
Build vocabulary to discuss green coffee with sourcing professionals.
8
Leave with a framework for evaluating any green coffee you're shown.
Who It's For
- Baristas and roasters who want to understand coffee before it reaches their hands.
- Café owners making sourcing decisions for the first time.
- Coffee enthusiasts curious about what happens before roasting.
- Anyone considering Green Coffee Intermediate or Professional.
Prerequisites
- No prior green coffee experience required.
- The Atelier Introduction to Coffee course recommended but not required.
- Curiosity about where coffee comes from.
The Instructor
Maryam Tabatabaei
Authorized SCA Premier Trainer · Q-Arabica GraderTaught by Maryam.
Maryam is an Authorized SCA Premier Trainer and a Q-Arabica Grader certified under the SCA Q Coffee System (formerly the Coffee Quality Institute) — one of the few practitioners in the United Arab Emirates who holds both credentials at once.
She placed fourth at the HB Best Batch Roasting Championship (Feb 2026), judged the UAE National Roasting Championship (Jan 2026), and presented at Gulfood 2026’s Specialty Coffee Stage. Cohorts in her studio are kept to six learners — closer to a master class than a campus.
“I will not teach you what to think about coffee. I will teach you how to taste it for yourself.”
SCA Authorized TrainerQ-Arabica Grader · SCAUAE Roasting Championship Judge4th · HB Best Batch RoastingGulfood 2026 · Specialty Stage
Frequently Asked
Do I need roasting experience for this course?
No. Green Coffee Foundation stands on its own and assumes no roasting background.
Is this the same as a Q Grading course?
No. Q Grading is a formal certification track. This course builds the foundational vocabulary and judgment that supports it.
Next Step