SCA Intermediate Barista Skills Exam
Questions and Answers10
How is water quality measured? - ANSWERS-GH (General Hardness), Alkalinity, KH (Temporary
Hardness)
What is GH? - ANSWERS-The sum of calcium and magnesium in the sample
What is Alkalinity? - ANSWERS-The amount of acid that has to be added to a water sample to
decrease the pH to 4.3
What is KH? - ANSWERS-Corresponds to the maximum amount of limescale that can form when
water is heated
What is the range that pH can lie in? - ANSWERS-0-14
What effect does water quality have on equipment? - ANSWERS-It can minimise corrosion and
scale formation, leading to minimal breakage and need for maintenance
Which chemicals should be removed from water? - ANSWERS-Chlorine and Iron - prevent
extraction
What is the ideal GH range? - ANSWERS-50-175 ppm
What is the ideal alkalinity range? - ANSWERS-40-75
, What is the ideal pH of water? - ANSWERS-6-8
Which plant does coffee come from? - ANSWERS-The Coffea genus of the Rubiaceae family of
flowering plants - shrubs or small trees (4-7 foot tall)
Name 5 species of coffee - ANSWERS-Arabica (66%), Canephora/Robusta (33%), Liberia,
Racemora, Eugenioides
What is the origin myth for coffee? - ANSWERS-Discovered by a goat herder in Ethiopia in the
1300s - discovered a change in his goats
What is Typica? - ANSWERS-The oldest variety of coffee - discovered in Ethiopia
What is Bourbon? - ANSWERS-Natural mutation of Typical - on the island of Reunion (known as
Bourbon)
What is Timor Hybrid? - ANSWERS-Natural hybrid of Arabica and Robusta - discovered Timor
What are SL28/SL34/SL14? - ANSWERS-Bred by Scott Labs in Kenya in the 1930s - high-quality,
resilient, fruity
What is Pacas? - ANSWERS-Found in 1949 in the Santa Ana region of El Salvador
What is Gesha/Geisha? - ANSWERS-Wild Ethiopian coffee - cultivated in Central America
Flavour profile of African coffee - ANSWERS-Floral/fruity
Flavour profile of South American coffee - ANSWERS-Nutty/chocolatey
Questions and Answers10
How is water quality measured? - ANSWERS-GH (General Hardness), Alkalinity, KH (Temporary
Hardness)
What is GH? - ANSWERS-The sum of calcium and magnesium in the sample
What is Alkalinity? - ANSWERS-The amount of acid that has to be added to a water sample to
decrease the pH to 4.3
What is KH? - ANSWERS-Corresponds to the maximum amount of limescale that can form when
water is heated
What is the range that pH can lie in? - ANSWERS-0-14
What effect does water quality have on equipment? - ANSWERS-It can minimise corrosion and
scale formation, leading to minimal breakage and need for maintenance
Which chemicals should be removed from water? - ANSWERS-Chlorine and Iron - prevent
extraction
What is the ideal GH range? - ANSWERS-50-175 ppm
What is the ideal alkalinity range? - ANSWERS-40-75
, What is the ideal pH of water? - ANSWERS-6-8
Which plant does coffee come from? - ANSWERS-The Coffea genus of the Rubiaceae family of
flowering plants - shrubs or small trees (4-7 foot tall)
Name 5 species of coffee - ANSWERS-Arabica (66%), Canephora/Robusta (33%), Liberia,
Racemora, Eugenioides
What is the origin myth for coffee? - ANSWERS-Discovered by a goat herder in Ethiopia in the
1300s - discovered a change in his goats
What is Typica? - ANSWERS-The oldest variety of coffee - discovered in Ethiopia
What is Bourbon? - ANSWERS-Natural mutation of Typical - on the island of Reunion (known as
Bourbon)
What is Timor Hybrid? - ANSWERS-Natural hybrid of Arabica and Robusta - discovered Timor
What are SL28/SL34/SL14? - ANSWERS-Bred by Scott Labs in Kenya in the 1930s - high-quality,
resilient, fruity
What is Pacas? - ANSWERS-Found in 1949 in the Santa Ana region of El Salvador
What is Gesha/Geisha? - ANSWERS-Wild Ethiopian coffee - cultivated in Central America
Flavour profile of African coffee - ANSWERS-Floral/fruity
Flavour profile of South American coffee - ANSWERS-Nutty/chocolatey
