Monday & Tuesday, March 21 & 22, 2011, 9:00am - 5:00pm
Price: $595
Includes breakfast and lunch.

Coffee may be one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, but as any connoisseur knows, a well-made cup is not easy to come by. In 1999, illycaffè established the Università del Caffè, a unique training program designed to cultivate a new class of coffee “sommeliers,” at their headquarters in Trieste, Italy. The International Culinary Center now brings the same in-depth education to an American audience, with expert instruction from a team of our own faculty and professors from illy's campus.

In this two-day intensive, created for devoted coffee lovers and industry professionals, students will dissect every detail that goes into crafting a superior brew. Class begins with a fascinating botanical and historical overview of the bean, touching on coffee's cultural significance through the ages, before embarking on an thorough study of coffee in two of its elemental forms, espresso and cappuccino. Interactive tastings and discussion will help you build your palate, allowing you to develop a true “nose” for coffee and to fully appreciate the complex flavor notes of a perfectly made cup. Hands-on training using state-of-the-art machines, including a practical on latte art, rounds out the experience, underscoring the critical importance of proper equipment and barista technique. You'll emerge from this two-day class ready to put your newfound knowledge into immediate practice, whether your ambition is to make fine coffee in your café or at home.

  Recreational classes make great gifts! Purchase a gift certificate now.