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Prison chiefs have been inundated with requests from prisoners to sign up for the six-week course which has already seen a number of inmates trained up as baristas.

Lags at the 900-capacity south London prison, which is home to volatile prisoners including around 100 Islamic militants, are being trained to make morning staples such as cappuccinos and frothy lattes.

A number of prisons around the UK have started barista courses after the explosion of coffee shops around the country last year.

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The six-week course will teach them how to serve up gourmet coffees as well as smoothies and hot chocolate.

A report released by the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) confirmed the classes had started.

It stated: “The Board is pleased that the training in Barista skills has recently started."

The south London prison has been home to hate preachers Abu Hamza and Abu Qatada as well as Lee Rigby’s murderer Michael Adebolajo.

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Belmarsh was likened to a “Jihadi training” camp by a former inmate.

A Muslim graduate in the jail for bank fraud said prisoners were “brainwashed” to “spread the terror message” and that the jail was run by a group of jihadists who call themselves "the Akhi" or “the brothers”.

The classes are part of the prison’s Offenders’ Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) programme, which aims to help prisoners gain work opportunities when they are released.

The VTCT Level 2 Award in Barista Skills (QCF), teaches students to taste the difference between coffees and make other specialist drinks.

It states: “You will develop the skills to make various types of coffee and tea that are regulary prepared for customers in coffee shops, cafes, hotels and restaurants.

“You will learn about coffee, where it is grown, how it is processed and how it arrives ready for you to grind and brew.”

It also states students need to learn about “the importance of good customer service” and how to solve problems that arise on a daily basis when working as a barista.”

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A prison worker, who has worked in jails around the UK for the past 10 years, said the courses were the “next big thing” and would take over from traditional trades.

“Most of the courses in jail cover the basic trades, like painting and decorating and bricklaying – or in women’s jails hairdressing and sewing," he said.

“Barista training is the next new thing, it’s no surprise with the number of coffee shops around these days.”

Prisoners at HMP Holloway, a 590-capacity jail in north London, were set to be trained up as baristas by Pret a Manger staff.

The scheme was scrapped when it was announced the jail was to be closed later this year.

A spokesperson for Pret A Manger confirmed the scheme at HMP Holloway had been cancelled, but said it was committed to working with prisoners to help offenders get jobs through its Pret Foundation Trust.

Despite the scheme being scrapped at HMP Holloway, prison chiefs are keen to roll out the training in other UK prisons.

A spokesperson for the Prison Service said: “Prison should help offenders get the skills and qualifications to make a success of life on the outside, we should see them as potential assets, people who can contribute to society and put something back.”

There are an estimated 19,000 coffee shops in the UK and it is estimated that within the next 15 years the number of coffee shops could take over the number of pubs in Britain.