30% Off sale until 30 March 2025 on our Flagship Bartender Course

Thirst Academy

Thirst Academy Bartending Courses

Giving you the techniques and skills to give client service excellence. Thirst Academy Bartender Courses & Barista Courses are now available in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.

We also offer an online option to those who wish to do the Flagship course in the comfort of their own home.

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BARTENDING COURSE

An intensive course designed to give bartenders the necessary skills to work a bar under a fair amount of pressure whilst making cocktails. The course includes theory and practical exams.

We have the option to do the course online in the comfort of your own home, or you can come into our training rooms and get the benefits of doing the course in-person.

We cover topics from the role of the bartender, tools of the trade, glassware, basic skills, pouring techniques, customer service, product knowledge and time management and then the introduction to cocktail making and classic cocktails.

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DO THE COURSE ONLINE

CONTACT US ON (011) 444-9401

BARISTA COURSE

The ideal course to teach budding baristas everything they need to know about the world of coffee and the skills required to make an amazing coffee at home or in a cafe.

Course Duration: 2 days

Introduction to coffee – Module 1
Equipment used – Module 2
Coffee explained (types, history, etc) – Module 3
Setting up the grinder – Module 4
Setting up the machine and equipment – Module 5
Pouring the perfect espresso – Module 6
Texturing milk – Module 7
Types of coffees – Module 8
Short practical on Latte art – Module 9
Short practical test (not for points just some friendly competition for the attendees) – Module 10
Cleaning the machine – Module 11

 

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EXPRESS BARTENDER COURSE

Day 1 – History of bartending, The role of a bartender, Customer service & complaints,  Licencing laws and regulations, Health and safety in the bar (Covid-19 Compliant), Free pouring & accuracy.

Day 2 – How to setup a bar, Preparation of basic garnishes , Personal bar tools, The process of beer and wine, History of spirits, Perfect serves of various drinks categories.

Day 3 – Production of spirits and liqueurs, The concept of layering shooters, How to speed up service & speed round, Standard cocktail methodology, Cocktail methodology demo.

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Contact us for more information

Giving you the techniques and skills to give client service excellence. Bartender & Barista Courses in JHB, Cape Town and Durban.

We also offer an online option to those who wish to do the Flagship course in the comfort of their own home.

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Bartending Courses

Online Bartending Courses

Barista Courses

HAPPY STUDENTS

Attending this course was an amazing learning opportunity that I thoroughly enjoyed. Not only did I acquire a wealth of knowledge about various types of alcohol and their diverse applications, but I also had a great time and made new friends in the process. The practical aspect of the course was particularly enjoyable, and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in this field.

– Gabriel Magidon

This course was an amazing learning experience! I enjoyed learning about the science behind alcohol, and Solly made it even more enjoyable. The practical sessions were my favorite part. Solly taught us free pouring techniques that are essential for working behind the bar. We even got to create our own cocktails, which was really fun. I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in bartending. You’ll gain valuable experience and even get the chance to work shifts at Thirst. With Solly as your mentor, you’ll learn the skills you need to succeed behind the bar.

– Brett Slade

“I recently completed the bartender course at your establishment, and it was an excellent experience. The theory sessions were incredibly interesting and gave us a deeper understanding of the different types of alcohol and what it takes to be a great bartender. The practical part was even better – learning how to make cocktails efficiently was informative and fun, and learning about the techniques of pouring was also enjoyable.

What I enjoyed most was the opportunity to make real cocktails using actual ingredients, which gave us a real taste of what it’s like to be a bartender. I would highly recommend this course to anyone looking to improve their bartending skills. Solly, our instructor, was amazing and made the course 1000 times more enjoyable.”

– Alessi Trinchero

“I recently took this bartender course and it was an absolute blast! The theory sessions were surprisingly interesting, giving me an in-depth understanding of the history of bartending. And the practical sessions were even better – I loved learning how to make different cocktails and how to free pour.

But the best part was definitely making actual cocktails with real ingredients and tasting them all. It was so much fun and gave me a real taste of what it’s like to be a bartender. Solly, our instructor, was amazing and made the whole experience even more enjoyable.

If you want to impress your friends with your bartending skills, I highly recommend this course. Sign up now and join me in mastering the art of bartending!”

– Zachary Levin

I attended the Thirst Bartending Flagship Course in December 2022 to get a qualification for her gap year. But she was pleasantly surprised by the in-depth explanation of cocktails, process of making alcohol, and the art of being a great bartender. Solly Mshengu taught the course and was an engaging, fun, and fair teacher who remains a great mentor and manager as she continues working for Thirst. Karla loved the detailed and interesting theory side of the course and found the practical side to be her favorite, as it was interactive and hands-on. Making cocktails with her peers and Solly at the end of the week was one of her favorite parts of the course. She highly recommends the course to others and Thirst as a company, where she has gained so much experience and knowledge from the amazing teams she worked with and the opportunities Thirst offered her, including working at amazing events like Fashion Week and for the Ambani Family in India.

– Karla Ristic