Top Rated Barista School
Get A Job Within 2 Weeks Or Upgrade Your Skills
We are Australia's top-rated barista training school—built on integrity, not hype.
90%
job success
10k+
successful students
5-star
reviews on
top rated barista
An exceptionally detailed course with strict quality control—because we CARE!
It’s not uncommon for coffee training schools to promise more than they deliver—handing out a certificate, teaching a few basic skills, and offering vague job assurances, only to leave you wondering what’s next. Many of our students come to us after trying multiple courses, only to realise that First Shot could have been their first and final stop. We are the first coffee school in Australia to connect our students with cafés through a strict quality control process embedded throughout our training. We are also the first to offer both pre- and post-training support through our online learning platform—and the only coffee school that continues to support you even after your training is complete. At our core, we prioritise integrity over hype.
courses we offer
How Can We HELP
We focus not only on training beginners but also competition coaching, green been buying, quality control and business consultation.
Train And Help You Find A Job With Our Job Hunting Course
You will learn the broad industry of coffee, from the best-growing regions and conditions to the refining and roasting process. Whether hot or cold, we introduce you to the science behind brewing and extracting coffee. You will learn the variables that go into brewing.
Intermediate - Advanced Latte Art
You will learn the broad industry of coffee, from the best-growing regions and conditions to the refining and roasting process. Whether hot or cold, we introduce you to the science behind brewing and extracting coffee. You will learn the variables that go into brewing.
Brewing/Sensory: For Hobbyists Or Competitors
You will learn the broad industry of coffee, from the best-growing regions and conditions to the refining and roasting process. Whether hot or cold, we introduce you to the science behind brewing and extracting coffee. You will learn the variables that go into brewing.
Train And Help You Find A Job With Our Job Hunting Course
You will learn the broad industry of coffee, from the best-growing regions and conditions to the refining and roasting process. Whether hot or cold, we introduce you to the science behind brewing and extracting coffee. You will learn the variables that go into brewing.
Intermediate - Advanced Latte Art
You will learn the broad industry of coffee, from the best-growing regions and conditions to the refining and roasting process. Whether hot or cold, we introduce you to the science behind brewing and extracting coffee. You will learn the variables that go into brewing.
Brewing/Sensory: For Hobbyists Or Competitors
You will learn the broad industry of coffee, from the best-growing regions and conditions to the refining and roasting process. Whether hot or cold, we introduce you to the science behind brewing and extracting coffee. You will learn the variables that go into brewing.
Stories of Growth
The Journey That TRANSFORMED Our
Students' Lives
Building Trust
Integrity Over Hype
Our team and network in the industry will ensure the best for you and your business. We have helped 1000’s+ baristas and cafe owners up-skill their brewing, sensory and latte art
Champions in coffee-making
We are not just coffee lovers; we are competitors, coaches, green bean buyers, and business consultants. An avid interest in all things coffee drives our trainers to consistently improve and expand their knowledge of the coffee market in Australia and worldwide so that they can deliver the latest in coffee-making techniques.
State-of-the-art training facilities
Our Sydney barista training centre, set in a bright, modern space, replicates the look and feel of an Australian café. Unlike other centers that only have one type of machine or very outdated equipment, you’ll gain hands-on experience with a variety of widely used espresso machines and grinders, including La Marzocco, Sanremo, Mazzer, Robur, Mythos, Anfim, and Ek43. Mastering these models will enable you to easily transfer your skills to any machine used by current and future employers.
Tailored to your needs
Providing a broad spectrum of knowledge for aspiring and working baristas alike, our sessions will equip you with transferable knowledge at all skill levels. Whether you’re a passionate home coffee connoisseur or looking to improve your skills to progress within the industry, our barista coffee school in Sydney is tailored to help you master your craft. With an understanding that education is key in building a strong career in the coffee industry, our classes are cutting edge, providing industry insights from professionals at the forefront of great coffee in Sydney.
A holistic approach to coffee training
Our barista coffee training in Sydney is designed for employees at all experience levels to confidently prepare specialty coffee. Our holistic approach covers practical skills like brewing science, maintenance, latte art, and workflow as well as hospitality skills to help you succeed in interviews. We have a strict scoring system to ensure quality; we don’t just hand out certificates.
Small classes for focused training
We keep our Sydney barista coffee course small, training groups of between one and six people at a time to ensure that you are engaged and empowered to produce exceptional coffee wherever you go. Training in smaller groups allows us to tailor our approach and set each student up at their own machine. You can also book for larger groups if you’d like to complete a training day for your employees or as a social activity with friends. Our trainers keep each class light-hearted and fun, ensuring that your passion for coffee is nurtured. Using a hands-on approach, you’ll start making coffee in your first lesson, tasting your delicious creations as you go.
Champions in coffee-making
We are not just coffee lovers; we are competitors, coaches, green bean buyers, and business consultants. An avid interest in all things coffee drives our trainers to consistently improve and expand their knowledge of the coffee market in Australia and worldwide so that they can deliver the latest in coffee-making techniques.
A holistic approach to coffee training
Our barista coffee training in Sydney is designed for employees at all experience levels to confidently prepare specialty coffee. Our holistic approach covers practical skills like brewing science, maintenance, latte art, and workflow as well as hospitality skills to help you succeed in interviews. We have a strict scoring system to ensure quality; we don’t just hand out certificates.
State-of-the-art training facilities
Our Sydney barista training centre, set in a bright, modern space, replicates the look and feel of an Australian café. Unlike other centers that only have one type of machine or very outdated equipment, you’ll gain hands-on experience with a variety of widely used espresso machines and grinders, including La Marzocco, Sanremo, Mazzer, Robur, Mythos, Anfim, and Ek43. Mastering these models will enable you to easily transfer your skills to any machine used by current and future employers.
Small classes for focused training
We keep our Sydney barista coffee course small, training groups of between one and six people at a time to ensure that you are engaged and empowered to produce exceptional coffee wherever you go. Training in smaller groups allows us to tailor our approach and set each student up at their own machine. You can also book for larger groups if you’d like to complete a training day for your employees or as a social activity with friends. Our trainers keep each class light-hearted and fun, ensuring that your passion for coffee is nurtured. Using a hands-on approach, you’ll start making coffee in your first lesson, tasting your delicious creations as you go.
Tailored to your needs
Providing a broad spectrum of knowledge for aspiring and working baristas alike, our sessions will equip you with transferable knowledge at all skill levels. Whether you’re a passionate home coffee connoisseur or looking to improve your skills to progress within the industry, our barista coffee school in Sydney is tailored to help you master your craft. With an understanding that education is key in building a strong career in the coffee industry, our classes are cutting edge, providing industry insights from professionals at the forefront of great coffee in Sydney.
student Success
Our Students CRUSHING their goals
THE #1 JOB HUNTING COURSE EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT
We work tirelessly to get the best prices, so you don’t have to.
services
first shot
most RTO
centers
most private 1
on 2
random 1 on 1
training
Price
$529-$589
$199+
$799+
POA
Class-size
2-6
5-10
2
1
Hours
14-16
5
$16+
3-15
Practice after learning
3 months (only $589)
Modern set up 2 students/
machine
uncertain
uncertain
Exclusive Job Hunting Platform The. first one in AU
Specialty experience of trainer (years)
10 yrs in working, training, comp. coaching & consulting
uncertain
uncertain
Personalised support before & after training
uncertain
uncertain
Jobs after training (weeks)
0-1 : 17 %
1-2 : 70%
>2 : 13%
almost never
weeks or never
weeks or never
Program
Consistent coffee making
intermediate
basic
basic intermediate
uncertain
Consistent latte art (At least heart, tulip & wing tulip)
intermediate
POA
Dial in recipe (adjust grinders
intermediate
none - basic
none - basic
uncertain
Workflow, Communication &
Machine Maintenance
Advanced
none - basic
none - basic
uncertain
Unlimited fresh milk & coffee
during training
uncertain
Different types of modern machines for practice
THE #1 JOB HUNTING COURSE EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT
We work tirelessly to get the best prices, so you don’t have to.
We Train, Compete, Coach & Repeat
Founder of The Happiest Barista https://www.youtube.com/@TheHappiestBarista/videos
🏆VN Barista Smackdown Sydney 2018 Host
🥈Sth Coast NSW Smackdown
🥈Beat The Barista
🎗4th ONA Latte Art Madness
NGUYEN LE
Senior Trainer/co-founder
Coffee education ☕️ @zest_coffee
@thecqi Q Arabica Assistant Instructor 2021
🏆 🇦🇺 Aeropress Champion
@sttokeofficial ambassador 🌍
linktr.ee/simongautherin
SIMON GAUTHERIN
Former Founder
Café-Inspired Ambience
Train in Modern & Cafe-like Setup
We proudly provide you with state-of-the-art machines & equipment used by most cafes in Sydney to ensure you are 100% confident while acing your trial.
Machine
Grinder
The Training Room
Grow Together
Not only a training center but also
a COMMUNITY
Training with First Shot is very unique. We believe the fun comes from being able to find the job that you love and having the confidence to join the workforce, not taking photos or hyping like other centers.
FAQ’S
Frequently Asked
Questions
Is it easy to get a job? Is one course enough?
It depends on how quickly you can pick things up. According to feedback from café owners, our barista trainees often have better skills than experienced ones.
We will support you until you find a job.
People who’ve taken cheap $150-$300 courses in big groups for 3-5 hours often tell us they regret it and are thankful for what we offer, which is a hundred times better than what they learned before.
We hear the same from those who spent $800-$1000 on private 1-on-1 or 1-on-2 classes elsewhere.
Will you help me find a job? Do you guarantee a job?
No, we don’t guarantee a job. If any school promises you a job, be cautious.
Most of our students find jobs within 1-2 weeks after training. Some who aren’t naturally talented may take 2-3 weeks, but we offer extra self-practice, which no other school in Australia does, especially for Premium students.
In rare cases, 1-2 students might struggle because they don’t try hard enough or for personal reasons.
When you invest in a better service provider like us, you improve your chances of finding a job, but it does not guarantee a job. It’s similar to paying $40k for university, where they don’t guarantee a job.
Hence, we created this platform (the first and only in Australia) to help our students find jobs: https://firstshotbaristatraining.com.au/find-a-barista/. This is just a fraction of what we do to help our students find jobs.
Again, if anyone guarantees you a job, be cautious.
Where is the training studio located?
Our training room is at 647 George St, Haymarket, NSW 2000. We are steps away from Central Station.
Please message us before visiting, as we are always busy.
Do I need to have some experience?
Nope, you don’t need any experience beforehand.
Please don’t have any because then we can teach you everything from scratch without having to unlearn stuff from other places.
Will I get a RTO certificate?
You won’t get an RTO certificate because it doesn’t mean much. We only provide a certificate of completion for those who score 75/100 on the final test.
When it comes to hiring baristas, it’s simple. You’ll either make a few cups of coffee or help the head barista for a while. The owner decides based on how well you do and what you know, not if you have a certificate or lots of experience.
Certificates can make employers think you don’t have real experience. You can buy one for about $200 in a short class with many people and old machines, but bosses don’t like that.
Our training is way better. We spend over 14 hours with small groups of 2 to 6 people, using new equipment and as much coffee and milk as you need. We give you three more months to practice independently (Premium only). We teach everything from making coffee to art and how to treat customers well.
Our students often get better at it than people with lots of experience.
I only want to learn latte art to find a job. Is it okay?
No, that’s a misconception about baristas.
Latte art is indeed important to some extent. However, cafe owners never ask for squirrels or horses, which are arguably not good for coffee.
They need baristas who consistently deliver good coffee with latte art during busy hours.
In fact, our basic latte art (Heart, Tulip & Wing Tulip) is equivalent to advanced latte art at other places. Just look at our baristas on https://firstshotbaristatraining.com.au/find-a-barista/.
Although our students excel in latte art compared to others, we focus more on real skills such as extraction and workflow, which are more crucial.
Moreover, it all comes down to training methodology. Our students can achieve outstanding latte art after 1-2 hours of training, while we often see students from other places struggling after 10-16 hours due to poor teaching methodology.
Again, latte art is easy to teach, but we value other skills more.