Kenya Coffee School (KCS) Curriculum Framework blends Gastronomic Sciences, Coffee, Food Technology, Processing, and Microbiology into well-structured Certificate (6 months) and Diploma (1 year) courses.
Kenya Coffee School (KCS) Curriculum
Learning Spaces :
1. KENYA COFFEE SCHOOL
2. BARISTA MTAANI
3. BARISTA COFFEE SKILLS & TECHNOLOGY TRAINING INSTITUTE
Program Levels
- Certificate Courses – Duration: 6 months (entry-level, practical, hands-on)
- Diploma Courses – Duration: 1 year (advanced, applied research, management, and innovation focus)
Core Curriculum
1. Introduction to Gastronomic Sciences
- Duration: Certificate – 6 months | Diploma – 1 year
- Focus: Food culture, sensory science, culinary heritage, food and identity.
- Skills: Food appreciation, gastronomy theory, food culture documentation.
2. Specialty Coffee Science & Technology
- Duration: 6 months / 1 year
- Focus: Coffee history, processing, roasting, brewing, cupping, and quality analysis.
- Skills: Barista training, sensory evaluation, specialty coffee grading, farm-to-cup approach.
3. Food Microbiology & Safety
- Duration: 6 months / 1 year
- Focus: Microbial growth in foods, contamination, spoilage, foodborne pathogens.
- Skills: Lab analysis, HACCP, ISO food safety standards.
4. Food Chemistry & Biochemistry
- Duration: 6 months / 1 year
- Focus: Chemical composition of foods, reactions during processing (fermentation, oxidation).
- Skills: Nutritional analysis, chemical testing, shelf-life studies.
5. Food Processing & Preservation Technology
- Duration: 6 months / 1 year
- Focus: Thermal processing, drying, freezing, fermentation, canning.
- Skills: Food preservation design, packaging technology, industrial-scale processing.
6. Dairy Science & Technology
- Duration: 6 months / 1 year
- Focus: Milk composition, processing, cheese/yoghurt production.
- Skills: Pasteurization, fermentation, dairy plant operations.
7. Meat, Poultry & Fish Processing
- Duration: 6 months / 1 year
- Focus: Slaughtering, meat preservation, curing, fish drying/smoking.
- Skills: Quality standards, cold-chain management, meat microbiology.
8. Cereal & Bakery Technology
- Duration: 6 months / 1 year
- Focus: Wheat, maize, rice, and bakery product formulation.
- Skills: Baking science, gluten studies, milling, food product innovation.
9. Fruits & Vegetable Processing
- Duration: 6 months / 1 year
- Focus: Juice, jam, pickles, dehydration, canning.
- Skills: Post-harvest handling, nutrient retention, packaging.
10. Beverage Technology (Non-Coffee)
- Duration: 6 months / 1 year
- Focus: Tea, cocoa, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, kombucha.
- Skills: Brewing science, sensory testing, beverage innovation.
11. Sensory Science & Food Quality Evaluation
- Duration: 6 months / 1 year
- Focus: Taste, aroma, texture analysis, sensory panels.
- Skills: Sensory data collection, flavor profiling, consumer testing.
12. Nutrition & Dietetics in Food Systems
- Duration: 6 months / 1 year
- Focus: Human nutrition, diet planning, food fortification.
- Skills: Nutritional counseling, food product reformulation.
13. Functional Foods & Nutraceuticals
- Duration: 6 months / 1 year
- Focus: Probiotics, prebiotics, health-focused food innovations.
- Skills: Functional food design, herbal supplement integration.
14. Fermentation Technology
- Duration: 6 months / 1 year
- Focus: Alcohol, yoghurt, kefir, kombucha, kimchi, fermented coffee.
- Skills: Fermentation starter cultures, microbial control, flavor development.
15. Food Packaging & Post-Harvest Technology
- Duration: 6 months / 1 year
- Focus: Smart packaging, biodegradable materials, storage.
- Skills: Cold chain, vacuum packaging, food logistics.
16. Food Biotechnology & Innovation
- Duration: 6 months / 1 year
- Focus: GM foods, enzyme applications, molecular gastronomy.
- Skills: Bioprocessing, bio-preservatives, new product development.
17. Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems
- Duration: 6 months / 1 year
- Focus: Regenerative agriculture, agroecology, climate-smart practices.
- Skills: Farm-to-fork system design, food sovereignty, sustainability audits.
18. Food Business & Entrepreneurship
- Duration: 6 months / 1 year
- Focus: Agribusiness models, food startups, marketing, branding.
- Skills: Business planning, financial management, food export systems.
19. Research Methods & Applied Food Science Projects (Diploma only)
- Duration: 1 year only
- Focus: Food science research, applied projects, innovations.
- Skills: Scientific writing, proposal development, prototype creation.
Pathways :
- Certificate: Practical, entry-level knowledge – for baristas, food processors, and agrifood technicians.
- Diploma: Advanced skills + research + entrepreneurship – for managers, innovators, and food entrepreneurs.
Kenya Coffee School (KCS) Curriculum integrates Gastronomic Sciences, Coffee, Food Technology, Processing, and Microbiology, with Certificate (6 months) and Diploma (1 year) options.
Kenya Coffee School (KCS) Curriculum
Certificate Programs (6 Months Each) – Open to All (No minimum Grade Required)
- Introduction to Gastronomic Sciences
Explores the science, culture, and art of food and beverages, introducing students to sensory analysis, food traditions, and culinary innovation.
Duration: 6 months - Specialty Coffee Science & Technology
Covers coffee botany, processing, roasting, sensory analysis, and brewing, preparing students for careers in specialty coffee.
Duration: 6 months - Food Microbiology & Safety
Introduces microorganisms in food, spoilage, fermentation, and HACCP-based safety protocols.
Duration: 6 months - Food Processing & Preservation
Fundamentals of traditional and modern food preservation, drying, fermentation, and packaging methods.
Duration: 6 months - Dairy Science & Technology
Covers milk composition, microbial quality, processing of yogurt, cheese, and other dairy products.
Duration: 6 months - Cereal Science & Technology
Focuses on grains (maize, wheat, rice, millet), milling, fortification, and product development.
Duration: 6 months - Meat & Poultry Processing
Practical training in meat handling, preservation, quality control, and value-added product design.
Duration: 6 months - Fruit & Vegetable Processing
Post-harvest handling, preservation, juice production, canning, and dehydration technologies.
Duration: 6 months - Fermentation Science & Biotechnology
Covers fermentation processes in bread, beer, wine, kombucha, kefir, and probiotic foods.
Duration: 6 months - Chocolate & Confectionery Technology
Explores cocoa cultivation, chocolate processing, sugar chemistry, and artisanal confectionery.
Duration: 6 months - Food Packaging & Innovation
Sustainable packaging materials, shelf-life extension, and smart packaging solutions.
Duration: 6 months - Food Chemistry & Nutrition
Principles of food composition, macronutrients, micronutrients, and dietary requirements.
Duration: 6 months - Beverage Technology (Tea, Coffee, Juices, Spirits)
Covers processing, blending, and sensory evaluation of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages.
Duration: 6 months - Regenerative Agriculture & Food Sustainability
Introduces ecological farming, biodiversity, agroforestry, and climate-smart food systems.
Duration: 6 months - Food Product Development & Entrepreneurship
Practical innovation in food startups, product design, branding, and market entry.
Duration: 6 months - Food Quality Assurance & Standards
Trains students in ISO, Codex Alimentarius, KEBS, and global food compliance systems.
Duration: 6 months - Agri-Food Systems & Value Chain Management
Examines farm-to-fork systems, logistics, export standards, and food trade economics.
Duration: 6 months - PASTRY AND CONFECTIONARIES
Diploma Programs (1 Year Each) – Minimum Grade (C- or one of the above certificates)
Each diploma combines two related certificate programs into a specialized 1-year program:
- Diploma in Gastronomic Sciences & Coffee Technology
Combines Gastronomic Sciences + Barista Skills & Specialty Coffee Science.
Duration: 1 year - Diploma in Food Microbiology & Safety Systems
Combines Food Microbiology + Food Quality Assurance.
Duration: 1 year - Diploma in Food Processing & Preservation Technologies
Combines Food Processing + Food Packaging & Innovation.
Duration: 1 year - Diploma in Dairy & Cereal Technology
Combines Dairy Science + Cereal Science.
Duration: 1 year - Diploma in Meat, Poultry & Fish Processing
Combines Meat & Poultry Processing + Fermentation Biotechnology (sausages, fermented fish, etc.).
Duration: 1 year - Diploma in Fruits, Vegetables / Herbs and Spices & Beverage Technology
Combines Fruit & Vegetable Processing + Beverage Technology.
Duration: 1 year - Diploma in Pastry / Confectionery & Chocolate Technology
Combines Chocolate Technology + Food Chemistry/Nutrition.
Duration: 1 year - Diploma in Regenerative Agriculture & Sustainable Food Systems
Combines Regenerative Agriculture + Agri-Food Systems.
Duration: 1 year - Diploma in Food Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Combines Food Product Development + Packaging & Market Systems.
Duration: 1 year - Food and Tourism – Duration: 1 year