Coffee lovers unite
Visit Market Lane Coffee on the weekend and you’ll find dozens of locals lined up and eager to get their hands on the city’s best coffee. From lattes and cappuccinos to pour overs and coffee tasting flights, Market Lane isn’t just a café; it’s a boutique coffee roaster with a team of coffee specialists ready and waiting to share their knowledge. If you’re a coffee lover who wants to learn more, make sure you sign up for one (or all) of their classes. There’s everything from coffee roasting to learning how to make filter coffee at home, perfecting your barista skills or learning how to become a better taster.
We spoke to one of Market Lane’s owners, Fleur Studd, to get the lowdown on each of their classes. Read on to see what she had to say.
Filter Coffee Brewing Class
This is Market Lane’s most popular class and also the one that’s been running the longest. Filter coffee is super easy to brew at home and simple to get set up and started.
What to expect:
At the beginning of the class, you’ll learn a little about the history of coffee production and preparation as well as some of the theory behind coffee extraction (we promise, it’s interesting)! Then it’s down to business – or coffee brewing in this case. Your specialist coffee trainer will show you how to brew with three different devices: plunger, aero press and pour over. You’ll explore and taste the effect of different variables on your coffee brewing and at the end of the class you’ll have the opportunity to practise the brewing methods, plus enjoy some delicious coffee. Here’s a fun fact: this class is also offered in Korean.
Introduction to Espresso Brewing
This brand new three-hour hands-on class is run by Market Lane Coffee’s baristas and head trainer and is designed for home baristas as well as coffee professionals who are looking for work or starting out in the world of coffee.
What to expect:
At the start of the class you’ll get hit with the basics; learning how to pull a perfect shot, discovering how scales and a timer can help you, and finding out how to calibrate your grinder for consistent results. Once you’ve nailed the perfect espresso, you’ll move on steaming perfect glossy milk and pouring beautiful-looking drinks – you’ll be a pro in no time.
Coffee Roasting Class
This day-long roasting class is designed to give you the skills and knowledge you need to start roasting your own coffee. Designed for coffee industry professionals, it’s run by Market Lane’s head roaster, Toshi and co-founder, Jason, who have helped many roasters get their start over the years.
What to expect:
At the beginning of class, you’ll learn the theory behind roasting and explore the chemical changes that occur inside the roaster’s drum, followed by a roast faults cupping, where you’ll learn how to taste and recognise common errors made during the roasting process. You’ll also get some hands-on time on the roaster and finish with some cupping to assess the day’s roasts. This class is also offered in Japanese!
Public Cupping
If you’re thinking you’f love to learn more about coffee but don’t really want to make it myself, one way to learn more is at Market Lane’s public cuppings (tastings). Held every Friday at 1pm at the Prahran Market shop, a cupping is the industry-standard way of tasting and comparing coffees. Market Lane’s public cuppings are run on a first-come, first-served basis so be sure to get there early to put your name on the list. The cost of this class is $5 with all proceeds donated to the Santa Clara Scholarship Fund in Guatemala, which assists the children of coffee farmers in attending school and university.
Read more about Market Lane’s Coffee classes here
