Barista Pathway Series Part 2 - Espresso Essentials and Workflow
Hands-on barista training focused on real cafe workflow, espresso consistency, and dialing in with confidence.
Contact us for details on how to claim your spot in the Barista Pathway series.
Espresso Essentials & Workflow — Practical Skills Workshop, Chicago
Part 2 of the Sip Society Barista Pathway Series
This workshop is designed for aspiring baristas and working baristas who want to move beyond theory and develop repeatable, professional espresso habits.
Participants will work directly on commercial-grade espresso equipment while instructors assess skills using industry-relevant performance metrics drawn from actual café expectations.
No prior cafe experience required
What You’ll Learn
☕ Bar Setup & Workflow Fundamentals
Learn how to operate behind the bar without creating chaos. You’ll practice:
- Proper espresso bar setup (tools, towels, workflow zones)
- Clean vs. dirty rag usage
⚙️ Espresso Machine & Grinder Operation
Get comfortable “driving” the equipment safely and intentionally:
- Correct portafilter use and group head flushing
- Consistent grinding, dosing, and tamping
📋 Executing a Given Espresso Recipe
Before improvising, you’ll learn how to execute:
- Pulling espresso to a provided recipe (dose, yield, time)
🔧 Dialing In Espresso with Intention
Learn how to adjust espresso variables efficiently—without guessing:
- Identifying which variable to adjust first (grind size, dose, yield)
👃 Taste-Based Evaluation & Espresso Language
Train your palate to guide your decisions:
- Identifying under-extracted vs. over-extracted espresso by taste
- Using flavor, texture, and body descriptors
- Connecting taste directly to extraction issues
And more!
Check out our pathway here: https://sipsociety.square.site/chicago-barista-pathway
Good to know
Highlights
- all ages
- In person
- Free parking
Refund Policy
Location
Sip Society Coffee Education Center
1806 West Cuyler Avenue
Suite 116 Chicago, IL 60613
How do you want to get there?
Agenda
Foundations of Espresso Workflow
Set up the bar for success before the first shot is pulled. Participants begin with a guided walkthrough of espresso bar setup, tools, and workflow fundamentals. We’ll cover efficient station organization, wet vs. dry zones, and professional movement behind the bar. The goal is to build habits that support consistency, speed, and cleanliness in a real café environment.
Brewing, Recipe Execution & Dialing In
Learn to pull consistent shots—then adjust with intention. Working in small groups, participants will pull espresso using a provided recipe while practicing proper machine and grinder operation. We’ll focus on hitting target dose, yield, and time before learning how to dial in by adjusting variables logically. Taste-based evaluation is introduced to connect flavor, texture, and extraction.
Tasting, Troubleshooting & Professional Habits
Taste together, solve problems, and build café-ready standards. The workshop concludes with group tasting, common espresso troubleshooting, and cleaning best practices. Participants learn to identify under- and over-extraction, diagnose common issues like channeling or fast shots, and maintain equipment throughout service-style practice—reinforcing habits expected in professional coffee environments.