Apache Kafka Series – Kafka Streams for Data Processing

Course Overview & Key Highlights (2026)

Course introduction

Apache Kafka Series – Kafka Streams for Data Processing, taught by Stephane Maarek, is an advanced, hands-on course focused on real-time data processing with Kafka Streams. Updated for 2026, this course teaches how to build scalable, fault-tolerant stream processing applications using Java 8 and Kafka’s native Streams API.

Designed for developers who already understand Kafka basics, the course explains how to transform, aggregate, join, and process streaming data without needing an external processing cluster.

Course facts at a glance

• Instructor: Stephane Maarek
• Last updated: 2026
• Duration: ~5 hours (4h 50m total)
• Rating: ⭐ 4.6 / 5
• Students: 60,000+
• Language: English
• Access: Lifetime (mobile + TV)
• Certificate: Udemy Certificate of Completion
• Typical sale price: ~US$6–10 (varies by promotion)

 Key highlights

• Build 4 complete Kafka Streams applications in Java 8
• Learn Exactly Once Semantics (EOS) configuration
• Use Kafka Streams High-Level DSL
• Perform real-time aggregations, joins, and transformations
• Package, deploy, and scale Kafka Streams applications
• Write automated tests for stream processing topologies
• Understand Kafka Streams architecture and internals
• No separate cluster required (runs directly on Kafka)

Apache Kafka Series – Learn Apache Kafka for Beginners v3

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 What you will learn

Kafka Streams fundamentals

• What Kafka Streams is and when to use it

• How Kafka Streams differs from Spark and Flink

• Kafka Streams architecture and processing model

Stream processing with Java

• Creating stream processing applications in Java 8

• Using the Kafka Streams High-Level DSL

• Working with KStreams and KTables

Exactly Once & reliability

• Configuring Exactly Once Semantics (EOS)

• Handling failures and state recovery

• Ensuring data consistency in stream processing

Scaling & deployment

• Scaling Kafka Streams applications horizontally

• Packaging and deploying production-ready apps

• Running Kafka Streams without a dedicated cluster

Testing & best practices

• Writing unit tests for Kafka Streams topologies

• Validating stream transformations

• Applying best practices for maintainable stream apps

 Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q — Is this course suitable for beginners?
No. This course assumes prior knowledge of Apache Kafka fundamentals.

Q — Do I need Java experience?
Yes. A solid understanding of Java 8 is required.

Q — Does this course cover Exactly Once processing?
Yes. Exactly Once Semantics (EOS) is a core focus of the course.

Q — Will I build real applications?
Yes. You will create multiple complete Kafka Streams applications and test them.

Q — Is a certificate included?
Yes. You receive a Udemy Certificate of Completion.

Why this course is worth it

Kafka Streams is one of the most practical tools for real-time data processing on Kafka. This course teaches how to build production-grade streaming applications using native Kafka APIs, without relying on heavy external frameworks. Stephane Maarek’s clear teaching style makes complex stream processing concepts approachable and practical.

Final verdict

If you already know Apache Kafka and want to process data in real time directly on Kafka, this course is an excellent next step. It focuses on clean architecture, reliability, and scalability—exactly what’s needed to build real-world streaming applications.