Trader Cafe - Specialty Coffee in Birmingham

We are an independent Coffee Shop, Coffee Roasters in Birmingham. We roast the coffee on premise. We like coffee. And we sell coffee. We want to share with you what we believe to be good, quality and price. If you like our coffee, we are exciting and encouraged. If you don't hate it, at least find us different (we should be), we are already very happy. ; )
Showing posts with label Blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blog. Show all posts

Learning Together: From Barista Foundation to Confident Skills

We’ve just finished another round of SCA Barista Skills training, across different levels — and what stood out most wasn’t just the coffee, but the people behind it.

Many of the students who joined our recent Barista Skills courses have been learning with us since Barista Skills Foundation. Watching that journey unfold — step by step — is one of the most rewarding parts of being an Authorised SCA Trainer.

Some students have been working in coffee shops for years. A few are even café managers now. Yet one common story we hear again and again is:

“I make coffee every day, but I’ve never really been confident with latte art.”

One student, for example, has worked in a coffee shop for over three years and was promoted to manager. Despite the experience and responsibility, latte art always felt like a barrier — something that never quite clicked. She started with us at Barista Skills Foundation, and over time, with structured practice and understanding the basics properly, her milk texture, control, and confidence improved noticeably.

The photos we’re sharing show that progress — from early attempts to much more consistent results, both from this recent class and from previous ones.

Our classes often bring together people from very different backgrounds:

  • Baristas
  • Roasters
  • Café managers
  • Coffee shop owners
  • Professionals working in food and beverage businesses

Some café owners have never worked professionally as baristas before. Others know coffee well but have never had formal training. Learning together in the same room creates a strong dynamic — students learn not only from the trainer, but also from each other’s experiences.

Barista Skills Foundation isn’t about perfection or fancy patterns. It’s about understanding espresso, milk, workflow, and the fundamentals that allow skills like latte art to actually develop — instead of feeling like guesswork.

If you see yourself in any of these stories — whether you’re new to coffee, already working behind the bar, managing a team, or running a café — you’re very welcome here.

Next Barista Skills Foundation course: 09 MAY 2026

SCA Coffee Skills Program | Delivered by AST

We’re glad to be part of your coffee journey — and we look forward to meeting the next group of students soon.

Contact us for more information. 

#BaristaTraining #BaristaCourse #CoffeeTraining #BaristaSkills #SCAcertified #CoffeeEducation #LatteArt #EspressoTraining #SpecialtyCoffee

From Learning to Brewing: Our SCA Brewing Foundation in Action


Many of the students who joined our recent Barista Skills courses have been learning with us since Barista Skills Foundation. Watching that journey unfold — step by step — is one of the most rewarding parts of being an Authorised SCA Trainer.

Some students have been working in coffee shops for years. A few are even café managers now. Yet one common story we hear again and again is:

“I make coffee every day, but I’ve never really been confident with latte art.”

One student, for example, has worked in a coffee shop for over three years and was promoted to manager. Despite the experience and responsibility, latte art always felt like a barrier — something that never quite clicked. She started with us at Barista Skills Foundation, and over time, with structured practice and understanding the basics properly, her milk texture, control, and confidence improved noticeably.

The photos we’re sharing show that progress — from early attempts to much more consistent results, both from this recent class and from previous ones.

Our classes often bring together people from very different backgrounds: Baristas, Roasters, Café managers, Coffee shop owners, and Professionals working in food and beverage businesses

Some café owners have never worked professionally as baristas before. Others know coffee well but have never had formal training. Learning together in the same room creates a strong dynamic — students learn not only from the trainer, but also from each other’s experiences.

Barista Skills Foundation isn’t about perfection or fancy patterns. It’s about understanding espresso, milk, workflow, and the fundamentals that allow skills like latte art to actually develop — instead of feeling like guesswork.

If you see yourself in any of these stories — whether you’re new to coffee, already working behind the bar, managing a team, or running a café — you’re very welcome here.

Next Barista Skills Foundation course: 09 MAY 2025

SCA Coffee Skills Program | Delivered by AST

We’re glad to be part of your coffee journey — and we look forward to meeting the next group of students soon.

Contact us for more information. 

#BaristaTraining #BaristaCourse #CoffeeTraining #BaristaSkills #SCAcertified #CoffeeEducation #LatteArt #EspressoTraining #SpecialtyCoffee

SCA's Coffee Skills Program

SCA's Coffee Skills Program

If you’re working in coffee — or aiming to build a long-term career in the coffee industry — having a solid, recognised foundation matters.

The SCA Coffee Skills Program (CSP) is one of the most established and globally recognised education frameworks in specialty coffee. It’s widely respected across cafés, roasteries, and coffee businesses as a way to build structured knowledge and practical skills — without shortcuts or inflated promises.

As an Authorised SCA Trainer (AST), we deliver official SCA training and certification in the areas we specialise in:

Introduction to Coffee

This is the most important starting point.
It covers the fundamentals of coffee — from seed to cup — and helps you understand what coffee iswhy it tastes the way it does, and how the industry works.
Whether you’re new to coffee or already working behind the bar, this course builds the essential knowledge every coffee professional should have.

Barista Skills

Designed for those working in cafés or preparing coffee professionally.
We offer:

  • Foundation
  • Intermediate
  • Professional

These levels focus on workflow, espresso preparation, milk techniques, consistency, quality control, and professional standards — skills that matter in real café environments.

Brewing

For professionals who want a deeper understanding of extraction, recipes, and manual brewing methods.
Available at:

  • Foundation
  • Intermediate
  • Professional

This stream strengthens your technical understanding of coffee and helps you brew with intention, clarity, and repeatability.

About SCA Diplomas

SCA Diplomas (such as the Café Skills Diploma) are built by combining multiple certificates across different programs. They represent broad, long-term professional development.

While we do not deliver all certificate streams required for every diploma, the courses we offer — especially Introduction to Coffee, Barista Skills, and Brewing — form key building blocks within the SCA education pathway.

SCA certification doesn’t guarantee a job.
What it does offer is:

  • A shared professional language
  • Structured learning recognised worldwide
  • A strong signal of commitment to the craft and industry

If you’re serious about developing yourself in coffee — whether to improve your skills, grow professionally, or increase employability — SCA training is a solid, credible place to start.

Contact us for more information. 


#SCACoffee #CoffeeSkillsProgram #CoffeeCertification #BaristaTraining #CoffeeEducation #CoffeeCareers #SpecialtyCoffee #CoffeeIndustry #ASTTrainer

Sage The Dose Control Pro Grinder Electric - £149.99 (LIMITED TIME OFFER)

Sage The Dose Control Pro Grinder Electric

£229.00  NOW ONLY £149.99
(in-store only)

SAGE the Smart Grinder Pro Coffee Grinder - Silver (BRAND NEW) LIMITED TIME OFFER

Excellent quality grinder for home espresso machine, which don't break your bank. BEST PRICE IN MARKET. You can't find lower price any where else. Only in-store !

WHOLESALE COFFEE

Wholesale Coffee

WHOLESALE COFFEE


Make your coffee outstanding !

No matter your size. No matter the preference. We will have something good for you.

Register to see prices.


Sorry we can't reply in our FB again !



Sorry our friends, we cannot log in our FB webpage again. So we cannot reply any inquires there. Please never never use our FB to ask question. Send us here or Google please.

We can still use our phone app to send posts but not reply ?!?! The webpage FB logged us out and can't log back in. I keep it as is, since last time it created so much troubles to our friends a FB spam-like message to confirm me is me (think about if you receive a message asking you to click into a link to confirm someone else is someone. we were lucky to have friends who directly asked us to avoid if that is spam but we really need help. We do not try our luck second time).

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2023 !!!

Merry Christmas and Happy new Year 2023 ! 

Dear friends and customers, 

Holidays approaching, in case I would not meet you personally before then, may I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy new Year 2023. Cheers @@ 

PS: we close on bank holidays. coffee subscription will run as normal and sending out right after holiday. We use Evri so hopefully it will not be affected by the postal strike. 

Best wishes, Trader Cafe

Our Fxxebook is back !

Our FB is back ...finally 😅😅😅(10 mins ago). Anyway FB will not be our focus. If you want to contact us, use other channels if possible, eg, Gxxgle, or tradercafe.co.uk. Who knows?! the blocking may happen again...



BARISTA Aprons

Our New BARISTA Aprons
THANK YOU @Karen, who gifted these wonderful barista aprons to us. So Trader Cafe has new aprons to use now... Sweet ^^

Get Coffee Training Now 2023

All SCA courses in 2023 are listed

For coffee professional and new comers who want to join the coffee industry. Contact us if you are interested and would like to explore new area, hobby or career to develop.

SCA auhtorised coffee trainer, our courses are accredited for specialty coffee association qualification which is recognised by the coffee industry and professional. We provides course for beginners and professional alike. See our website and listing for more information.

Ceramic Coffee Drippers

Introducing coffee brewing methods and devices - Ceramic Coffee Dripper

Main purpose, good but not expensive. This issue we have - Ceramic Drippers


GOOD: Maintain good flavored hand-brewed coffee while keep temperature. Simple, minimal design.


BAD: More costly than plastic. Ceramic can be broken.

We sell in good price so above mentioned disadvantages do not exist ;)


#ceramicdripper #coffeedripper #specialtycoffee

Nitori Teapot Glass 700ml

Product description => 綺麗 

(Product is fragile, available only in shop) 


Nitori Teapot Glass 700ml


●This is a glass teapot that allows you to see the flavor of the tea. ●This teapot is designed to be easy to use. ●Capacity (approx.): 700ml ●Thermostable temperature difference: 120°C ●Open flame and oven not allowed ●Microwave and dishwasher OK *Remove the tea strainer when using in a microwave oven. 

■おいしさが見える、ガラス製の急須です。 ■「使いやすい」にとことんこだわったティーポットです。 ■容量(約):700ml ■耐熱温度差:120℃ ・直火、オーブン不可 ・電子レンジ、食洗機OK ※電子レンジでご使用の場合は必ず茶こしを外してください。

How to brew V60 Coffee ?

How to brew V60 Coffee ?

 We teach how to brew coffee, particularly specialty coffee.

*see courses we offer in our website

SCA authorised trainer in Midlands

Thank you for visiting our site !

Thank you for visiting our site. We have 17000 views last month ! Many people are visiting us even though they are not located in the area. Thank you. For this reason we will add more information about coffee topics. So that even if you are not local and since we can still share one thing in common, that is, coffee. We can talk more about coffee ;)


Again, thank you very much !

NEW ARRIVALS !


NEW ARRIVALS !


Continue to believe, good product comes in good price. Many items are available only online. 


De'Longhi Active Line Filter Coffee Maker

High quality filter coffee maker in black (or white) and silver, a modern breakfast essential.

De'Longhi Active Line Filter Coffee Maker

  • Aroma function
  • Keep warm stays hot
  • Material: Stainless Steel, Plastic, Glass
  • Easy to use, just 2 buttons
  • Easy to clean. Permanent filter. Washable carafe

 

Taste of Asia

Coffee of Asia

After work today, I roasted 5 batches of new coffee. Many know that I like African coffee a lot. You know what ?! I have Asian coffee this time~~ Exciting><


Last week, I came across some acquaintance in the African church of my good friend. They were so curious why I was there. Is there any problem sir?

WE ARE ONE !

Seasonal Blend

Another all-rounded coffee. Seasonal blend is more complex, fruity, floral, lemony, mild acidic and reasonably good aftertaste. This is medium strong, yet I find good in both black coffee or with milk. If you want to go with espresso or filtered, it goes fine and not disappointing you.

Mystery Solved : bigger coffee cup give better value for money ?!

[FACT CHECK]: Milk costs 4 pints £1, aka, cheap. Coffee bean is 10x more expensive. Coffee machines take similar amount for a cup. Simple maths, if one thinks bigger cup (or bowl) gives better value for money. This is WRONG ! 

Nowsaday serious coffee shops gives smaller cup, but better coffee beans. Consider that good coffee beans is much more expensive, easily 3-5 times more than commercial beans (which most cafe used). We are talking about quality, not quantity. 

MYSTERY SOLVED ! 

We use standard cup size (being a coffee trainer, we always use standard). All machines take ~same amount of coffee. A bigger cup cannot give you "more" coffee, just more milk, or more water. If one really needs more milk, just ask. We give more milk up to what he/she would like.