Education & Classes in Tacoma

A poorly trained barista in front of a top-notch espresso machine is like an 8-year-old behind the wheel of a car—he has no idea the power before him, nor how to use it. Enter owner Bob Burgess—a specialty-beverage entrepreneur for more than 39 years—and his team at Seattle Barista Academy. For just less than a decade, Burgess and company have taught intense hands-on training programs that focus on crafting coffee, espresso, cappuccino, macchiato, and mocha drinks using advanced techniques and equipment. From learning the life cycle of a coffee bean to mastering grinding methods, extraction techniques, and latte art, students walk away with a wealth of knowledge that makes them more employable. Like deeply unpopular one-man shows, the classes consist of one-on-one attention, since class sizes are limited to no more than seven participants. The school provides educational materials and CDs for each course, and complimentary shuttle services are available both to and from the class.

Seattle Barista Academy's staff members—all of whom have been coffee-shop and kiosk owners at some point in their careers—also provide consultation services for owners and soon-to-be owners of coffee establishments. These sessions provide clients with the coffee-making and marketing knowledge they need to grow their coffee cart, kiosk, or fort built from coffee beans.

When Studio 6 Ballroom owner Wes Rogers learned how to be light on his feet, it might’ve helped that they were rarely on solid ground. Rogers began taking lessons while he served in the navy, and, after returning stateside, he continued his studies under the tutelage of Natasha Thayer—now the master coach at Studio 6. Still adjusting his sea legs to twinkle toes, Rogers continues to learn alongside other students, who hone the moves for dances such as the foxtrot, the Argentine tango, and swing’s nimble dips and triple backflips. Studio 6’s independent instructors bring their own flair to classes, which have earned several accolades from local media and residents.

The staff at Edge of Seattle Cooking ushers guests onto its lush, 5 acres of wooded land for gustatory experiences ranging from simple, peaceful relaxation to a romantic and refined experience in this culinary destination. An extensive roster of chefs, including French natives and a culinary instructor from the Art Institute of Seattle, welcomes students to six-hour, hands-on cooking classes, ongoing class series, and Michelin-starred bake sales. Classes instruct students in a range of skills, from basic kitchen competency to how to whip up haute cuisine, and many courses focus on classic French cooking methods. Owner and Proprietor Nancy Gates-Douglas developed her love for food and wine growing up in Morocco and the Loire Valley of France, and these culinary roots spurred her to create the inn as a place for celebrating French regional cuisine and Washington-state wines. The inn itself combines the provincial with the modern by incorporating such contemporary touches as wireless Internet into its bedrooms and banquet areas, which brim with French antiques and fluffy, decorative lap dogs.