What Dublin Barista School does

Dublin Barista School Ltd. is a privately held barista training institution founded in 2011 in Dublin, Ireland, operating with approximately 11 employees across three training locations (Anne Street South and Stephen's Green Shopping Centre in Dublin, and a Cork satellite venue). The company delivers hands-on practical barista courses, anchored by a 3-day Licence to Work program (€499) that is the only accredited barista course in Ireland, plus 1-day Barista Essentials (€159, World Barista Institute certified) and Latte Art (€149) programs. It has certified approximately 50,000 baristas cumulatively and positions itself as Ireland's #1 barista training school, with 500+ five-star Google reviews supporting the brand claim.

The business operates a hybrid go-to-market: direct-to-consumer via a self-serve website booking system for individual course buyers, an enterprise/B2B motion through corporate team-building events and bespoke staff training for hospitality businesses (with up to 20-25% Skillsnet government subsidies), and a community-led channel via Transition Year programs delivered on-site at secondary schools. Adjacent revenue streams include online HACCP Level 1 and Manual Handling compliance courses hosted on Thinkific, digital gift vouchers (€25-€1,000, 5-year validity), and corporate gift packs (V60 at €49, Aeropress at €79). Class sizes are capped at 6 students to preserve hands-on instruction quality, with all training delivered by an in-house team possessing 50+ years of combined coffee industry experience. The company is founder-led by James, with no disclosed external investors, and is currently scaling into Cork and a second Dublin retail-adjacent venue.

Name

Dublin Barista School

Legal name

Dublin Barista School Ltd.

Website

https://dublinbaristaschool.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Dublin Barista School is a Dublin-founded (2011) barista training school operating three Irish locations, offering accredited 1- to 3-day courses for individual job seekers, corporate teams, and secondary school students, plus online compliance courses via Thinkific.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Barista Training and Education

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Test Prep Tutoring Platforms (SAT/ACT/GRE/GMAT, etc.) (EDANAGAH)

Keywords

• Barista training
• Coffee education
• Hospitality training
• Corporate team building
• Food safety compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Barista Training Courses: Primary revenue stream from in-person barista training courses including Licence to Work (3-day, €499), Barista Essentials (1-day, €159), and Latte Art (1-day, €149). One-time payment per course with no recurring component.
2. Online Compliance Courses: HACCP Level 1 and Manual Handling certified online courses for food service industry professionals. Delivered through Thinkific platform.
3. Corporate Training & Team Building: Customized corporate events, team building experiences (2.5 hours), and staff training programs for hospitality businesses. Up to 20% funding available through Restaurants and Hospitality Skillnet.
4. Transition Year Programs: Programs for secondary school students including full day certified training or 90-minute group experiences. Budget options available for schools.
5. Corporate Gifts & Equipment: V60 Pack (€49) and Aeropress Pack (€79) sold as corporate gift items. Gift vouchers from €25 to €1,000.
6. Gift Vouchers: Digital gift vouchers redeemable against barista courses, ranging from €25 to €1,000. Valid for 5 years from purchase date.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Dublin Barista School is an Ireland-based barista training institution that delivers hands-on practical courses covering espresso preparation, milk texturing, latte art, and café workflow. It sells individual consumer courses (Licence to Work, Barista Essentials, Latte Art), corporate team-building events and staff training, Transition Year school programs, and online compliance courses (HACCP Level 1 and Manual Handling) via the Thinkific platform, along with branded gift packs and gift vouchers.

Product overview

Dublin Barista School is a barista training institution offering a portfolio of courses and related products. Core offerings include the 3-day Licence to Work (€499, globally certified), 1-day Barista Essentials (€159, World Barista Institute certified), and 1-day Latte Art course (€149). The school also provides Transition Year experiences for secondary schools, corporate team-building events (in-person and virtual), and bespoke staff training for hospitality businesses with up to 20% Skillnet funding. Complementary products include digital gift cards (€25–€1,000), corporate gift packs (V60 Pack at €49, Aeropress Pack at €79), and online compliance courses via Thinkific (HACCP Level 1, Manual Handling). The school operates from Dublin (19a Anne Street South) with expansion to Stephen's Green Shopping Centre and periodic courses in Cork.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Licence to Work A 3-day intensive practical barista training program covering espresso preparation, milk texturing, customer service, and café workflow. Includes a 10-hour online training course and a globally recognized certificate upon examination. Targeted at individuals seeking job-ready barista certification.
• Barista Essentials A 1-day practical course teaching espresso routine, milk texturing techniques, and a 3-hour online course. Certified by the World Barista Institute, providing an internationally recognized credential. Designed for beginners and coffee enthusiasts.
• Latte Art A 1-day specialized course focused on milk frothing and latte art pouring techniques covering Monks Head, Heart, Rosetta, and Tulip designs. Certified by The Barista School. For coffee enthusiasts wanting to advance pouring skills.
• Transition Year Experience A full-day or 90-minute hands-on coffee experience delivered at secondary schools for Transition Year students. Includes optional HACCP Food Safety and Manual Handling training. Maximum 25 students per group. Targeted at secondary school students.
• Corporate Events Team building events for corporate clients including in-person (2.5 hours, 5-50 people) and virtual (1 hour live) coffee experiences led by professional baristas. Includes customized packages, coffee, and equipment. For companies seeking team engagement or hospitality upskilling.
• Staff Training Bespoke training programs for hospitality businesses covering latte art, coffee menu understanding, and simulated café workflow. Delivered at the Dublin school or client location. Eligible for up to 20% funding through Restaurants and Hospitality Skillnet. Optional HACCP and Manual Handling training add-ons. For hospitality employers.
• HACCP Level 1 Online Certified Course A self-paced online HACCP Level 1 food safety certification course delivered via the Thinkific platform. For food service industry professionals needing food safety compliance certification.
• Manual Handling Online Certified Course A self-paced online manual handling certification course for hospitality sector workers, delivered via the Thinkific platform.
• DBS Course Gift Card
• V60 Pack
• Aeropress Pack

Quantifiable outcome

• 50,000+ baristas certified since 2011
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• NobóminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNobó provides better treats with far less sugar and no dairy for corporate gift packs and team building events. Partnered under 'Barista On Demand' initiative for virtual team building events.
• 9th Degree CoffeecoreOthersDublin Barista School's in-house coffee brand roasted weekly in Ireland. Provides specialty coffee for training and corporate gift packs. Offers Ethiopian and Brazilian coffee profiles.
• Restaurants and Hospitality SkillnetcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment-funded training network providing up to 20-25% funding for eligible participants. Dublin Barista School is the only approved barista training provider with this available funding.
• World Barista InstitutecoreOthersInternational certification body that provides accreditation for Barista Essentials course. Certificate recognized globally for employment purposes.
• Department of Social ProtectionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTraining Support Grant scheme providing up to €500 per annum for eligible jobseekers. Case officers can approve grants for courses linked to employment opportunities.
• Secondary SchoolsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with secondary schools for Transition Year programs. Dublin Barista School delivers training at schools including St. Mary's CBS Portlaoise. Schools act as referral channel bringing students to programs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Barista Hustle: Online barista training platform offering paid courses on espresso, milk science, and brewing. Closest digital analog to Dublin Barista School's core barista education business, but operates globally and online-only.
• London School of Coffee: UK-based barista and coffee training school offering accredited, hands-on courses similar in structure to Dublin Barista School's Licence to Work. Same target customer (job-seekers, hobbyists) in an adjacent geography.
• Bellissimo Coffee Advisors: Specialty coffee education consultancy offering barista training, consulting, and curriculum design. Comparable in offering professional training services to coffee industry employers and individuals.

Broad incumbents

• Specialty Coffee Association: Global industry body that defines barista certification standards and runs its own training/certification programs. Sets the bar DBS's curriculum aligns against and competes for the same professional-development wallet.

Emerging players

• Square Mile Coffee Roasters: UK specialty coffee roaster with a training and education arm offering barista courses. Comparable in combining coffee expertise with paid training programs, though anchored in roasting rather than pure education.
• Hasbean Coffee Training: UK specialty coffee roaster offering barista training and workshops. Comparable in combining roasting operations with paid consumer and professional training, though smaller in scale.

Others

• La Marzocco: Premium espresso machine manufacturer that runs training programs (La Marzocco Home, Accademia) for baristas and home users. An adjacent ecosystem participant that builds barista skills using its own equipment.

Regional players

• Melbourne School of Coffee: Australia-based specialty coffee training school offering accredited barista and brewing courses. Comparable barista-school model with hands-on delivery, but operates in the Asia-Pacific region rather than Ireland/UK.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/dubbaristasch
• Facebookfacebook.com/Dublin-Barista-School-352006341503467
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dublin-barista-school-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/dublin_barista_school
• TikToktiktok.com/@dublinbaristaschool

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dublin Barista School