Diedrich
Roasting Academy
Hone Your Skills and Learn
How to Craft the Perfect Roast
What You’ll Learn
Hands-On Training That Will Take Your Craft to the Next Level
The science of roasting allows us to understand why small changes create big differences in the final product. Our comprehensive course methodically takes you through the lifecycle of coffee from seedling to processing, to the basics of roasting, and profile roasting.
The courses are designed and created by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) as part of the Coffee Skills Program. The course-work consists of six different modules. All courses are conducted by certified AST instructors.
Complimentary Educational Opportunity
with your Specialty Roaster Purchase
At Diedrich, we are about more than just selling machines. We won’t just sell you a roaster and walk away.
Diedrich is dedicated to supporting you in every way, beginning with the unique opportunity to learn about your equipment and how to operate it efficiently to maximize your investment.
Comprehensive Coffee Education Center
The Diedrich Education Center is designed and equipped to accommodate all your educational and training needs across the Coffee Sector including hands-on training on our Specialty IR Series Roasters. Information and consultation are also provided to educate customers on our growing Commercial segment for plant design and facility concepts.
Together with the Firedancer Team, Diedrich will provide a wide range of classes and training. Our portfolio includes food safety and HACCP plans, employee safety & OSHA concerns, we cover a variety of other topics and solutions for existing and potential customers. The goal of the team is to educate by providing timely information allowing customers to keep up with the changes and challenges in our ever-changing coffee landscape.
Course Offerings
Roasting Foundation Course Description
The Roasting Foundation course gives the learner an understanding of the roasting process, including the physical changes that take place during the process, and how to control sensory aspects of the coffee by roasting light or dark.
Learners will also gain an understanding of the basic structure of the roasting machine, and general maintenance and fire prevention.
This course is taught online before roasting intermediate, with the goal of giving you a head start on your roasting education and to make the in-person class more effective.
Green Foundation Course Description
The Green Coffee Foundation course is designed to introduce basic concepts regarding the consuming side of green coffee.
Participants will learn about the specialty coffee supply chain from seed to cup, including cultivation, harvesting, processing, drying, shipping, storage, and delivery.
The principles of coffee growing, processing, grading, and trade and portfolio management are also explored. This course is designed for individuals with no previous experience with the green coffee part of the supply chain. The goal is to help you develop strong relationships with the green coffee supply chain.
Sensory Foundation Course Description
The Sensory Skills Foundation course explores the essentials of sensory evaluation in a practical and interactive manner. It investigates the way we perceive what we taste and how to apply this knowledge when evaluating coffee’s natural characteristics. It also offers insight into identifying specialty coffee qualities, as well as an overview of how to implement this in business. The goal is to help you make objective decisions when looking for things you like (subjective).
Roasting Intermediate Course Description
The Roasting Intermediate course builds upon the introductory concepts of the Foundation course. It is ideal for someone who has roasting and desires to gain a deeper understanding of the roast profile, how the profile relates to color, the relationship between roast profile and sensory expression, and the impact of development time. Learners will further explore the physical and chemical changes as well as basic thermodynamics and heat transfer that occurs during the roast. Thereafter there will be an introduction to sample roasting and a review of safety and maintenance protocols in the roasting plant. The goal is to allow you to create a profile on a coffee that tastes good, be able to replicate it (so it will taste the same every roast) and to communicate the profile (log the roast so someone else can roast it the same).
Roaster's Bundle Course Description
What skills will you need to become a good roaster? The skills required to go beyond turning coffee from green to brown and hopefully making it taste good. It all starts with understanding how to pick up the phone and talk with an importer. From there, you must learn how to objectively taste coffee and recognize defects. Without any essential knowledge upfront, it is challenging to know what questions to ask to get answers and information to get you started on the right track.
This bundle contains the following classes:
- Roasting Foundation (Online)
- Green Coffee Foundation (Onsite)
- Sensory Skills Foundation (Onsite)
- Roasting Intermediate (Onsite)
Diedrich Specialty Roasting Introduction - Online Course
This 3-hour live online course will take you through a Diedrich IR series roaster.
This course is designed for those interested in learning more about the basics of their existing Diedrich roaster, or those looking to purchase a Diedrich Specialty Roaster.
Course Overview:
- Introduction to the chemical and physical changes that occur during roasting
- Educate and advise the proper protocols for starting up your roaster
- Get your equipment ready for roasting (seasoning)
- Explore and learn a few basic roast profiles
Finish with a deep dive into preventative maintenance and care of your equipment
Course start time: 7am PT / 8am MT / 9am CT / 10am ET
Mike Ebert
Firedancer Coffee Consultants
Mike Ebert is founder of Firedancer Coffee Consultants, dedicated to helping clients create a personalized strategy to ensure long-term success. He works primarily with roasters, producers and retailers, drawing from his extensive experience in all facets of the specialty coffee supply chain to guide clients in reaching their potential.
Ebert is an Authorized SCA Instructor holding the Professional level certificates for Roasting, Sensory Skills, Green Coffee and Brewing. He also serves as Co-Chair for the SCA Education Advisory Council. Additionally, Mike is a certified Lead Instructor for the FSMA/HACCP Preventative Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) program and has created a food safety course specifically for coffee roasters.
Hotels & Travel
Transportation:
A’O’Hare International ORD (recommended) or Midway Airport MDW
Airport transportation options:
Shuttle Service from the Airport to Illinois:
Firedancer Coffee Consultant
165 Commerce Drive | Suite 103
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Country Inn& Suites
1401 N. Roselle Rd.
(847) 839-1010
Close to O’Hare International Airport (ORD), located just 15 miles east on I-90. Call for reservations and mention Firedancer Coffee Consultants to get a corporate rate discount.
AirBnB
Schaumburg / Woodfield area
Airbnb, Inc. is an online marketplace for arranging or offering lodging, primarily homestays, or tourism experiences. The company does not own any of the real estate listings, nor does it host events; it acts as a broker, receiving commissions from each booking.
Class size is limited to 10 in order to maintain social distancing safety requirements and to best serve those attending the course.
Diedrich Roasters reserves the right to cancel seminars two weeks prior to the seminar date. Canceling a seminar rarely happens but if this occurs notice will be given immediately. Any costs incurred by prospective attendees are not recoverable from Diedrich Roasters so we strongly recommend booking “refundable” airline tickets.
Reserve Your Seat
Sorry, no cameras or video recorders in the warehouse or on the shop floor, please.
With hands-on roasting you learn the fundamentals of coffee roasting and the fine points of developing roast profiles. A refined roast profile brings out a coffee’s true expression and fulfills our responsibilities, and to those who grow coffee and to our customers.
SCA certifications are included in the course price.