For more than 13 years, Siew Cheng Chew has built a successful career in real estate, helping investors from Singapore purchase and manage rental condominiums in Thailand.

Although coffee was never her profession, it was always part of her daily life. Like many coffee enthusiasts, she bought coffee beans, experimented with brewing methods, and learned through trial and error. Yet one question remained unanswered:

"Is this coffee actually good?"

Or more importantly,

"How do I know what I'm tasting?"

That is why she chose to begin with SCA Sensory Skills.

As her trainer, I can confidently say it was the right decision.

I often tell my students:

 [ If you don't know how to taste coffee, you won't know how to make coffee.]

Before learning brewing techniques, roasting profiles, or espresso recipes, you first need to understand what defines a quality coffee according to internationally recognized standards.

The word "good" is not based on personal opinion. It can be evaluated through sensory analysis using a common language and established criteria.

The word "delicious," however, belongs to Affective Assessment. It reflects personal preference, and there is no right or wrong answer.

Sensory training is more than learning how to taste coffee. It provides the foundation for understanding coffee, communicating its characteristics, and making informed decisions throughout the entire coffee value chain.

Congratulations, Siew Cheng Chew, on this important milestone.

Every great coffee professional begins with the same first step:

Learn to taste before learning to make. ☕

Ploy Tassanatarn, a cabin crew member at Thai AirAsia, is someone who continues to invest in herself beyond her main profession.

After many years of working as cabin crew, Ploy is still actively flying. But whenever she has free time, she continues to seek new knowledge and develop new skills for her future.

Before joining Thailand Barista School, Ploy had already studied and passed wine assessment training, and she has now achieved Level 2.

For her, learning SCA Sensory Skills is another important step. It helps strengthen her sensory ability in both wine and coffee, two different fields that share the same foundation: the ability to observe, describe, compare, and understand what we taste.

Sensory learning is not only useful. It is also enjoyable.

Knowledge plus enjoyment can sometimes open a new door in life. One day, this journey may turn a cabin crew member into a true sensory specialist.

Who knows? ☕🍷

Behind every successful coffee business is someone who never stops learning.

Pui Wipha Sangnanok is the driving force behind SantanaKoff and one of the pioneers of Sanatana Coffee. What began as a single café in Muang Thong Thani has now grown to two branches, with an ambitious goal of expanding to 10 branches by the end of 2026.

Pui has been learning with me for a long time. Her journey at Thailand Barista School has included Brewing, Sensory Skills Foundation, Green Coffee, CVA, and several other specialty coffee courses.

This week, she returned once again to strengthen her sensory foundation before taking the Q Grader course next week.

When I asked why she keeps coming back, she smiled and said:

"Every time I come back, I enjoy it. I gain so much knowledge, and the food is always amazing!"

Then she added something that meant even more to me:

"What I learn here goes far beyond the textbooks. Teacher Bay teaches the reality of coffee. Coffee changes every year. Sensory evaluation is essential. Understanding where a coffee stands in terms of quality, and knowing how to improve it through roasting, is far more valuable to my business than simply memorizing theory."

That is exactly why sensory education matters.

Coffee is not a fixed recipe. Origins change. Harvests change. Processing methods evolve. Markets change. If we cannot accurately evaluate coffee, we cannot consistently improve it.

To anyone serious about coffee, my advice is simple:

Come and learn.

YouTube is a fantastic place to get started, but it cannot teach everything. Many of the most valuable lessons come from years of experience, real-world problem solving, and thousands of cups tasted over time.

As an instructor, my commitment is simple:

I teach everything I know, because your success is the true measure of mine. ☕

Welcome to Thailand Barista School, where coffee isn't just brewed – it’s mastered. We believe that every cup of coffee tells a story, and at the heart of that story is the barista. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to shape baristas who don’t just follow the rules but create the future of coffee.

Certified Excellence We are SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) certified, meaning we deliver world-class education. Our expert trainers are AST (Authorized SCA Trainers), with deep-rooted experience and a passion for the craft. Whether you’re perfecting your espresso shot or roasting beans to their perfect profile, we’re here to guide you through every step.