Roaster
Knows the subject
Can make and explain a roasting decision.
Cottle Coffee Academy · Supervised Roasting Trainer Development
Know roasting. Learn to lead the room.
Three days of trainer development followed by supervised lead delivery of a real Two-Day Coffee Roasting Fundamentals course—with Tristan present, observing the learner experience and giving you structured feedback.
MYR8,990
Five physical days · One trainer candidate · Real supervised course delivery · Petaling Jaya
For Ten-Week graduates or experienced roasters with more than 100 verified roasts. New SCA Roasting ASTs may also apply through the appropriate experience route.
Developed and supervised by Tristan Creswick27 years of Australian coffee-industry experience.
3
3 preparation days
Plan, explain, demonstrate, observe and adapt.
2
2 live-course days
Lead a real Fundamentals course.
1
1 trainer candidate
Meaningful responsibility and observation.
Present
Tristan present throughout
Supervision, intervention and feedback.
Subject expertise is not yet teaching expertise
A good roaster watches the coffee. A good trainer must also watch the learner.
Knowing what to do is different from explaining why it matters. Demonstrating a task is different from seeing what a learner misunderstood. Correcting a roast is different from coaching someone to recognise and correct it. Completing trainer onboarding is different from leading a full real class. A trainer must protect safety, learning flow, confidence and standards simultaneously.
Trainer development
Plans, explains, observes
Practises teaching moves before public students arrive.
Live practicum
Leads real students
Tristan supervises the learner experience.
Reflection
Evidence and next step
Structured feedback and a private readiness report.
Who should apply
For experienced roasters ready to develop the educator beside the technician.
Route 1
Ten-Week graduate
Completed the Professional Roaster Mentorship and now wants to plan, lead and review practical roasting education.
Route 2
Experienced roaster
Has completed more than 100 roasts, can provide supporting records and is willing to undergo Tristan’s individual suitability assessment.
Post-AST
Current or newly authorised SCA Roasting AST
Has subject credentials or authorisation but wants supervised experience leading a complete real roasting course before teaching alone.
AST status does not replace this practicum’s experience and suitability assessment. The practicum does not grant or renew AST status. It is not an AST credential.
Under 100 roasts and not a Ten-Week graduate? Begin with the practical roasting pathway.
Want to develop roasting judgement rather than teaching? Choose Four-Week or Ten-Week.
Want SCA authorisation? Use the official SCA trainer pathway; this independent practicum cannot grant it.
Train. Prepare. Lead. Reflect.
Five days built around the moment you take responsibility for real learners.
Coffee Roasting Trainer Practicum is a Five-Day Train, Lead and Assess Program. The sequence is confirmed; a rigid hour-by-hour curriculum is not published here.
Days 1–3
Trainer development and preparation
Develop and assess the candidate’s ability to:
- Establish clear learning outcomes.
- Structure a practical roasting session.
- Explain technical ideas in usable language.
- Demonstrate clearly and safely.
- Ask questions that reveal understanding.
- Observe both the learner and the roasting process.
- Give useful feedback.
- Respond when a learner needs a different explanation.
- Prepare to lead the verified Two-Day Fundamentals experience.
Days 4–5
Supervised lead practicum
The candidate leads one complete real Two-Day Coffee Roasting Fundamentals course. Public Academy students are informed. The candidate carries real responsibility for explanation, demonstration, practice flow and learner support. Tristan observes throughout and may intervene when required to protect learning and safety.
After the live class
Assessment and feedback
Review planning and delivery. Identify strengths and recurring risks. Discuss how the candidate observed and responded to learners. Provide the private readiness outcome and the next appropriate development step.
Not a ten-minute role-play
The practicum becomes real when real learners enter the room.
Simulated practice has value. This program goes further. The candidate experiences the complete learning arc, not only a prepared demonstration. Questions and misunderstandings emerge naturally. Pacing must respond to real people. Practical work must be monitored while the class continues. The candidate must connect explanation, demonstration, observation and feedback. Reflection is grounded in what actually occurred.
Real responsibility. Active supervision.
The candidate leads. Tristan remains accountable for the learning environment.
This is a supervised live teaching practicum. Public students remain Academy students whose learning experience is protected.
Students are informed
Public students are told that a supervised trainer candidate will lead their course.
One candidate leads
Only one trainer candidate leads the course. The candidate leads; they do not merely observe.
Tristan is present throughout
Tristan observes the trainer and the student experience and may intervene when needed.
Feedback is not theatre
The candidate receives feedback after the class rather than public correction being used theatrically.
The practicum may proceed only when Tristan is satisfied that it can be conducted safely and without compromising the public students’ experience. Unusual cases requiring additional preparation are discussed individually.
Post-AST trainer development
Authorisation gives you permission to teach. Supervised practice helps you become ready to lead the room.
If you already hold current SCA Roasting AST authorisation but still need confidence and experience leading a complete practical class, this independent practicum gives you a real supervised teaching environment, direct observation and structured feedback.
The live practicum uses Cottle Coffee Academy’s independent Two-Day Coffee Roasting Fundamentals course. It does not grant, renew or extend AST status. It is not delivered, endorsed or certified by SCA. It is not an AST credential. A current or new AST must still satisfy experience and suitability requirements.
Trainer capability model
Five capabilities the practicum makes visible.
Attendance does not confer mastery of all five. The work is to develop and make them observable.
1
Plan
Translate an intended outcome into a workable learning sequence.
2
Explain
Make technical reasoning understandable without oversimplifying it.
3
Demonstrate
Show the work clearly, safely and deliberately.
4
Observe
Notice what the learner is doing, understanding and missing.
5
Adapt
Change the explanation, pacing or support while protecting the course outcome.
Assessment without theatre
Completion is recognised. Readiness is described honestly.
Assessment is used to identify strengths, risks and the next stage of trainer development—not to create a theatrical pass/fail experience.
Public completion certificate
Certificate of Completion
Coffee Roasting Trainer Development & Supervised Teaching Practicum
This certifies that the named candidate completed the five-day Coffee Roasting Trainer Development Program, including trainer preparation, practical assessment and supervised lead delivery of the Two-Day Coffee Roasting Fundamentals course, followed by structured observation and feedback.
This is an independent Cottle Coffee Academy completion certificate. It is not an SCA Authorized Trainer credential and does not constitute appointment or ongoing authorisation to represent Cottle Coffee Academy. It is not an AST credential.
Private trainer-readiness report
One of three developmental outcomes
- Ready to lead independently.
- Ready to lead with support.
- Additional supervised practice recommended.
The report is private and separate from the public certificate. Unusual cases requiring further practice are discussed individually. Repeat classes are not promised as included.
The practicum investment
MYR8,990 for the complete five-day development and supervised delivery process.
- Three trainer-development and preparation days.
- Initial practical assessment before public delivery.
- Lead responsibility for a complete two-day live Fundamentals course.
- One trainer candidate per practicum class.
- Tristan present throughout the live course.
- Observation, intervention and learner-experience protection.
- Post-course structured assessment and feedback.
- Completion certificate.
- Private readiness report.
Program price
MYR8,990
Five-Day Train, Lead and Assess Program
Entry requirements and evidence
Trainer development begins with credible roasting experience.
Route 1
Ten-Week graduate
Completion of the Ten-Week Professional Roaster Mentorship.
Route 2
Experienced roaster
More than 100 completed roasts, supported by roast records and Tristan’s individual assessment.
Evidence
Records Tristan can review
Roast logs, employer or roastery confirmation, or other credible records. A typed number is not automatic eligibility.
Ask Tristan to assess my experience
An SCA Roasting AST may use either route but is not automatically accepted solely because of AST status. The practicum is not an AST credential.
Boundaries
What completion does and does not mean.
It means
Recognised completion and honest feedback
The candidate completed the five-day trainer-development process, led a real two-day course under supervision, received structured observation and feedback, and received a private readiness assessment.
It does not automatically mean
Appointment, work or Academy authority
Completion is not appointment as a Cottle Coffee Academy trainer, guaranteed Academy work, employment or contractor status, permission to represent the Academy independently, ownership or licensing of Academy teaching materials, or SCA AST status or endorsement.
Future teaching opportunities may be explored in particular cases, separately from this program. No future role or payment arrangement is promised by enrolment or completion.
Practical information
What you need to know before you apply.
- Program
- Coffee Roasting Trainer Practicum.
- Format
- Five-Day Train, Lead and Assess Program.
- Price
- MYR8,990.
- Days 1–3
- Trainer development, preparation and assessment.
- Days 4–5
- Lead one real Two-Day Coffee Roasting Fundamentals course under Tristan’s supervision.
- Candidate ratio
- One trainer candidate per practicum course.
- Location
- Cottle Coffee Academy, Petaling Jaya, Greater Kuala Lumpur.
- Entry
- Ten-Week completion or 100+ verified roasts plus individual assessment.
- Certificate
- Independent Academy completion certificate.
- SCA status
- Not an AST credential.
- Next action
- Apply for individual assessment.
Application process
Apply, assess, then arrange the five days.
1
Apply and document experience
Tell Tristan your route, roast history and why you want to teach.
2
Complete Tristan’s suitability assessment
Eligibility requires individual review. Application does not reserve a practicum.
3
Arrange the days
Trainer-development days and a suitable live Fundamentals practicum are arranged after fit is confirmed.
Questions
Before you apply for the practicum
Is this program only for coffee roasting trainers?
Yes. This offer is roasting-only. It does not include barista trainer development.
What happens during the five days?
Days 1–3 develop and assess trainer preparation. Days 4–5 are supervised lead delivery of a real Two-Day Coffee Roasting Fundamentals course. After the live class, the candidate receives structured assessment, feedback and a private readiness report.
Will I lead a real public course?
Yes. The candidate leads one complete real Two-Day Coffee Roasting Fundamentals course. The practicum uses Cottle Coffee Academy’s independent Two-Day Coffee Roasting Fundamentals course. It is not presented as an official SCA course.
Will students know I am completing a supervised practicum?
Yes. Public students are informed that a supervised trainer candidate will lead their course.
Is Tristan present throughout the live course?
Yes. Tristan is present throughout the candidate-led live course, observes the trainer and the learner experience, and may intervene when required.
What happens if support or intervention is needed?
Tristan may intervene to protect learning and safety. Feedback is given after the class rather than as theatrical public correction.
Do I need the Ten-Week Mentorship?
Ten-Week completion is one valid entry route. The other is verifiable experience of more than 100 completed roasts plus Tristan’s individual assessment.
How is experience of more than 100 roasts verified?
By roast logs, employer or roastery confirmation, or other credible records reviewed by Tristan. A typed number is not automatic eligibility.
I already hold SCA Roasting AST authorisation—can I apply?
Yes, through the appropriate experience and suitability route. AST status alone is not automatically sufficient. The practicum does not grant or renew AST status and is not an AST credential.
Does this program grant or renew AST status?
No. It is an independent Cottle Coffee Academy program. It is not delivered, endorsed or certified by SCA and does not grant AST status. It is not an AST credential.
Is the live practicum an official SCA course?
No. The practicum uses Cottle Coffee Academy’s independent Two-Day Coffee Roasting Fundamentals course. It is not presented as an official SCA course.
Does everyone receive a certificate?
Candidates who complete all program requirements receive the completion certificate and private readiness report. The readiness report may recommend independent delivery, supported delivery or additional supervised practice.
What does the private readiness report say?
One of three developmental outcomes: ready to lead independently; ready to lead with support; or additional supervised practice recommended.
What if additional supervised practice is recommended?
Unusual cases are discussed individually. The page does not promise a free additional class or automatic rescheduling terms.
Does completion make me an official Cottle Coffee Academy trainer?
No. The certificate does not constitute appointment or ongoing authorisation to represent Cottle Coffee Academy.
Will Cottle Coffee Academy give me teaching work?
Completion does not guarantee employment, contractor work or future Academy classes. Particular opportunities may be discussed separately when appropriate.
Can I use or reproduce the Academy curriculum afterward?
No. Completion does not grant ongoing authority to represent Cottle Coffee Academy or license Academy curriculum or materials.
What does MYR8,990 include?
All five physical program days, the candidate’s supervised lead practicum, subsequent structured assessment and feedback, the completion certificate and the private readiness report.
Are the five days consecutive?
Consecutive delivery is not published here until confirmed. The five physical days are arranged after suitability assessment.
When can I begin?
Apply for individual assessment. Confirmed practicum dates are not published here until they are verified.
Application
Tell Tristan where your roasting and teaching development stands.
Review the WhatsApp message below, then send it to Tristan. Sending does not reserve a practicum.
The first time you lead the whole room should not be the first time anyone watches you teach.
Tell Tristan how many roasts you have completed, what teaching experience you already have and whether you are applying as a Ten-Week graduate, experienced roaster or current SCA Roasting AST.