SCA BARISTA INTERMEDIATE COURSE
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026
FULL QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◍ Arabica Varieties.
Answer: Typica and Bourbon
◍ What is the practical definition of speciality coffee?.
Answer: Speciality coffee can be defined as a coffee bean that has passed
specific grading tests (Q graders)
◍ Africa.
Answer: Citric, Floral, Fruity
◍ What are the two main species of coffee and what is their percentage
makeup of the global market?.
Answer: Arabica (70%), Robusta (30%)
◍ What are the parent varieties of robusta?.
Answer: Typica and Bourbon
◍ South America.
Answer: Nutty, Chocolatey
◍ What are the differences between Arabica and Robusta?.
Answer: Robusta has double the caffeineRobusta are round, whereas
Arabica are ovalRobusta is grown in lower altitudesRobusta are more 'hardy'
and grow in harsher conditionsRobusta tend to be smaller Flavour
Profile:Arabica tends to have a lighter body, higher acidity and
sweetnessRobusta tends to have a heavier body, lower acidity and an earthy
taste
, ◍ Asia.
Answer: Spicy, Earthy
◍ What is the natural processing method?.
Answer: Pick -> sun dry -> remove skin and flesh
◍ What is the semi-washed/pulped natural method?.
Answer: Pick -> remove outer skin -> period of time where mucilage
remains exposed before it is taken off -> sun dry
◍ What is the honey method?.
Answer: Pick -> remove outer skin -> period of time where mucilage
remains exposed before it is fermented and removed -> sun drySimilar to
the pulped natural method, but with less water and more flesh
remainingColour of honey depends on duration of fermentation process
◍ What is the washed method?.
Answer: Pick -> removal of skin -> fermentation which removes the
mucilage -> washing to ensure all mucilage is off -> dry the beans in their
parchment
◍ Washed.
Answer: higher acidity, lighter body- wash off cherry/mucilage and then dry
bean
◍ Natural.
Answer: low acidity, high/heavier body- keep all the fruit and then dry the
bean
◍ Semi Washed/Pulped Natural.
Answer: in between- depending on how much they leave mucilage on the
bean
◍ Dark roasted coffee.
Answer: Higher solubility, therefore higher extraction. Produces larger
beans and less density (like bleached hair)
◍ What is the semi-washed method?.
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026
FULL QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◍ Arabica Varieties.
Answer: Typica and Bourbon
◍ What is the practical definition of speciality coffee?.
Answer: Speciality coffee can be defined as a coffee bean that has passed
specific grading tests (Q graders)
◍ Africa.
Answer: Citric, Floral, Fruity
◍ What are the two main species of coffee and what is their percentage
makeup of the global market?.
Answer: Arabica (70%), Robusta (30%)
◍ What are the parent varieties of robusta?.
Answer: Typica and Bourbon
◍ South America.
Answer: Nutty, Chocolatey
◍ What are the differences between Arabica and Robusta?.
Answer: Robusta has double the caffeineRobusta are round, whereas
Arabica are ovalRobusta is grown in lower altitudesRobusta are more 'hardy'
and grow in harsher conditionsRobusta tend to be smaller Flavour
Profile:Arabica tends to have a lighter body, higher acidity and
sweetnessRobusta tends to have a heavier body, lower acidity and an earthy
taste
, ◍ Asia.
Answer: Spicy, Earthy
◍ What is the natural processing method?.
Answer: Pick -> sun dry -> remove skin and flesh
◍ What is the semi-washed/pulped natural method?.
Answer: Pick -> remove outer skin -> period of time where mucilage
remains exposed before it is taken off -> sun dry
◍ What is the honey method?.
Answer: Pick -> remove outer skin -> period of time where mucilage
remains exposed before it is fermented and removed -> sun drySimilar to
the pulped natural method, but with less water and more flesh
remainingColour of honey depends on duration of fermentation process
◍ What is the washed method?.
Answer: Pick -> removal of skin -> fermentation which removes the
mucilage -> washing to ensure all mucilage is off -> dry the beans in their
parchment
◍ Washed.
Answer: higher acidity, lighter body- wash off cherry/mucilage and then dry
bean
◍ Natural.
Answer: low acidity, high/heavier body- keep all the fruit and then dry the
bean
◍ Semi Washed/Pulped Natural.
Answer: in between- depending on how much they leave mucilage on the
bean
◍ Dark roasted coffee.
Answer: Higher solubility, therefore higher extraction. Produces larger
beans and less density (like bleached hair)
◍ What is the semi-washed method?.
