Learning Apache Kafka can be done by downloading the Confluent distribution, installing it, and starting with a quickstart guide to create topics, produce messages, and subscribe to them. Depending on the role, engineers can find a suitable client for their favorite programming language, learn to configure clients for reliability and performance, and experiment with failure conditions. For SREs, learning to manage production Kafka systems involves setting up a realistic environment, monitoring metrics, observing system behavior under load, and configuring administration tools like Kafka Connect and the Schema Registry. Engineers can also explore enterprise data management features, build ETL pipelines, and take training or attend conferences to deepen their knowledge of Kafka.