đź“ť What is Kenya Mixology School (KMS)
Kenya Coffee School (KCS), through its affiliate Kenya Mixology School (KMS), offers professional training in mixology and bartending — blending coffee-culture roots with global beverage standards.
KMS aims to train a new generation of bartenders, mixologists, and beverage entrepreneurs, leveraging both traditional cocktail craft and coffee-based beverage innovation.
The school targets individuals from diverse backgrounds — from café baristas transitioning into mixology, to entrepreneurs wanting to start bars or mobile cocktail services, to hospitality workers seeking certification.
đź“š Courses & Certifications Offered
KMS offers a tiered structure of programmes, depending on how deep you want to go:
| Programme | Duration | Qualification | Focus / What you learn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate in Mixology & Bartending (CMA) | 4 weeks | Certified Mixology Associate | Basic bartending — classic cocktails, bar setup & hygiene, cocktails & mixers. |
| Advanced Diploma / Advanced Bartending Professional (ABP) | 8 weeks | Advanced Bartending Professional | More advanced skills: molecular mixology, coffee-cocktails, cost control, menu design. |
| Master Mixologist Programme (MM) | 12 weeks + apprenticeship | Master Mixologist | Signature drink creation, sustainability practices, bar management, entrepreneurship readiness. |
Beyond alcoholic cocktails, KMS emphasises coffee-infused mixology and beverage innovation — including mocktails, cold-brew cocktails, and creative drinks blending coffee and local Kenyan flavors.
Training includes both theory and hands-on practice: real bar setups, tools and equipment, hygiene standards, customer service, and beverage presentation.
🎯 Why It Stands Out (Strengths & Unique Features)
- Coffee + Cocktail Fusion: Because of its roots in Kenya Coffee School, KMS uniquely bridges coffee culture with mixology — so you don’t just learn traditional cocktails, but also coffee-inspired drinks, mocktails, and beverage innovation.
- Global Standards & Recognition: The curricula align with industry standards (notably those of International Bartenders Association — IBA) and are ISO-aligned under KCS’s certification framework. This helps ensure that certifications are globally competitive and relevant.
- Pathways to Entrepreneurship: The training is pitched not just for employment but also for entrepreneurship — mobile bars, beverage startups, signature cocktail bars. Through its affiliate Barista Mtaani, KMS supports youth empowerment and offers models for mobile or street-level beverage services.
- Hands-On & Practical Training: The courses emphasize practical skill-building: actual bar-station work, cocktail and mocktail preparation, hygiene & customer service, and beverage presentation. It’s not just theory.
- Accessibility & Flexibility: For people around Nairobi or the central Kenya region (such as Thika), KMS has campuses (e.g. in Thika Town, opposite Thika Gateway Plaza, and in Ridgeways near Nairobi).
🛣️ Potential Career Paths & Opportunities After Certification
Graduates from KMS (with its IBA-aligned certification) can potentially pursue:
- Bartender / mixologist roles in hotels, bars, lounges, restaurants.
- Beverage-specialty cafés, coffee-cocktail bars or lounges (especially where coffee + cocktails are fused).
- Mobile-bar entrepreneurship or beverage start-ups — leveraging the school’s emphasis on business & entrepreneurship.
- Roles in international hospitality settings — because of global-standard training and certifications.
- Beverage consultancy, menu design, event bartending or cocktail-service roles for events, hotels, or nightlife venues.
âś… Considerations / What to Know Before You Enroll
- Even though KMS offers world-class and internationally benchmarked training, success in hospitality often depends on practical skills and experience — not just certificates. The training appears hands-on, but after graduation you may need work experience (or show you can deliver) to secure high-end jobs or entrepreneurship success.
- If you’re primarily interested in non-alcoholic drinks or coffee-only specialty cafĂ©s (since not all bars/cafĂ©s may serve alcohol), verify that the curriculum (or modules) match your goals — KMS does offer non-alcoholic/cocktail creation including mocktails and coffee-infused drinks.
- Costs vary with programme level — Certificate, Diploma, Master – so be clear about your budget and what level of training you need.
🎯 Why Kenya Mixology School Matters — For You (Especially from Thika / Central Kenya)
Since you’re from Thika (or nearby), KMS is geographically relevant — one of its campuses is in Thika Town (opposite the Thika Gateway Plaza).
If you are interested in coffee, hospitality, beverages — or even starting something like a café, lounge or mobile bar — the school offers a path blending Kenyan coffee heritage with modern mixology and bar service, potentially giving you an edge in growing hospitality scenes.
Finally, because KMS combines coffee and cocktail training, it offers flexible and diverse career/entrepreneurial paths — from barista to bartender to beverage entrepreneur.