Program Overview: Benefits and Features

Today’s coffee enthusiasts and professionals seek to understand the great complexities of coffee, from bean growing and processing all the way to the final beverage. Over the last decade, a great selection of specialty coffee has become available, allowing for exciting tasting comparisons and higher level of daily life enjoyment through coffee.

The Certified Coffee Specialist™ (CCS) designation grants a formal recognition that is respected, and backed by some of the world’s foremost coffee experts that serve on our Advisory Board. The CCS program assumes no prior knowledge; it is suitable for beginners (including hobbyists) and intermediate students of coffee.

Masters of Coffee sets a globally consistent standard for competence in coffee appreciation. Certified Coffee Specialists enjoy an impressive range of tasting, career and networking opportunities as well as a deep understanding of the beverage, based on the best body of knowledge available today. 

Candidates from around the globe enter our remote-study program that is based on the most current and clear study materials. Candidates who pass the online exam receive electronic versions of our CCS diploma and lapel pin, and they carry the title “CCS” postnominal. Our competent and responsive office team in Los Angeles supports each candidate through the program and beyond.

The Certified Coffee Specialist designation is also the gateway to the coveted designation Master of Coffee™.

Start on your path to becoming a coffee master, by enrolling for the Certified Coffee Specialist study & certification program today!

The History of Coffee Drinking

• The Origins of Coffee

• From Europe to the New World

The Coffee Tree & Its Cultivation

• Growing Conditions & Key Regions

• Arabica, Robusta & Common Varieties

• The Coffee Tree, Fruit & Seeds (Beans)

• Common Pests & Diseases

Harvesting & Processing Beans

• Picking & Sorting Fruit

• Natural & Washed Processes

• Drying, Hulling & Grading Beans

• Preparing Beans for Shipment

The Modern Coffee Trade

• Coffee’s Distribution on the Global Commodity Market

• Specialty Coffees—Trade Between Growers & Roasters

• Understanding “Organic” and “Fair Trade”

The Coffee Roasting Process

• Roasting Fast or Slow, Light or Dark

• The Stages of Roasting & Quenching

• Sugars, Acids & Aromatic Compounds

• Roasting Methods & Equipment

How to Buy, Store & Brew Coffee

• Traceability

• Strength Ratings

• Freshness and Staling

• Roast Dates and Resting

• Packaging and Storage

• Selection of Grinding Method and Water

• Common Brewing Methods

• Espresso and Espresso-Based Drinks

Tasting and Describing Coffee

• Tasting Methodology

• Tastes, Aromas and Mouthfeel

• Descriptive and Evaluative Terminology

Receiving & Reading the Study Guide

The official study guide used at Masters of Coffee is structured to support the curriculum outlined above. It is clearly written and illustrated, and rated highly by coffee educators and students around the world.

The study guide is the only reading material necessary to pass the exam. You should anticipate studying and preparing for the exam between 60 to 90 hours, depending on your prior knowledge and experience.

Our study guide is a large-format softcover book with 280 pages. 100 of these pages are relevant for the Level I (CCS) exam, the remainder of the material is reserved for Level II (Master of Coffee).

We ship the guide immediately from Los Angeles, and it reaches all parts of the world reliably. Inquire with us about e-book options in case you cannot receive (or cannot use) a physical book copy in your current location or situation.

Please see excerpts from our detailed large-format study guide on the right. Our candidates will work with the most current and most acclaimed text on coffee currently available in the world.

The text has been called a “masterpiece” by senior members of the specialty coffee industry.

You can reach our office by email or phone any time. Find our contact information at the bottom of this website.

Scheduling & Taking the Exam

The exams are offered weekly, on Fridays and Saturdays, with convenient time slots available for all global time zones. Open exam dates and times are visible to candidates daily through an online calendar that shows all open exam slots.

An exam slot can be booked anytime, usually with at least 3 weeks lead time, and up to 6 months in advance. The exam must be taken within 2 years of enrollment, it will otherwise expire.

On the exam day, each candidate receives an email with the exam link, a few hours in advance of the appointment time.

The exam consists of 50 multiple-choice questions and it takes one hour to complete. Candidates must correctly answer at least 75% of the questions to pass.

Learn about coffee, and take the exam to show what you achieved!

Receiving Your Diploma & Lapel Pin

Upon passing the exam, you will receive a electronic versions of your diploma and the lapel pin via email.

    Those who pass the CCS (Level I) exam may enjoy their new designation and knowledge for life, and may also proceed to enroll in the advanced program, to become a Master of Coffee (Level II).

Building an impressive portfolio of theoretical and practical expertise through certification can shape their careers and enhance their personal enjoyment.

Take your first step towards your coffee “sommelier” certification today!