What is your earliest coffee related experience?
Making a flat white my first night at Iguacu in 2002 and not having a clue what I was doing. Steamed milk everywhere, it may have even touched the ceiling.
When / why did you first get working in coffee?
Had always been around coffee working in various restaurants in cafes but wasn’t something I knew a lot about. I had been through various trainings, but never really ‘got into’ coffee until I started with Caffe L’affare nearly 4 years ago.
What led you to becoming a barista?
I was looking for part time work while I was at Uni, and as all students know it is a flexible industry that works in well with the studies. So, kind of fell into it.
What is the best part of your job?
I enjoy the training part of the job. Particularly when we train someone who has maybe little to no experience and they end up leaving wanting to practice even more. The best part of the job would have to be that my
Work colleagues are also my best mates so I am never dreading going to work.
Talk us through a typical work day
A typical day starts off with meeting the team at 8am up in our office on Rose Rd, usually followed by a bit of admin/emailing. Followed by any meetings booked in, and around this I call in to customers and do service work and or take trainings with staff.
What are your roles outside of making coffee?
Sales/causing mischief/training customers/technician
What is your favourite brew method and/or coffee origin and why?
I quite like cold brew coffee at the mo. The boys at Shaky Isles have a good little setup going on down in Britomart – Ethiopia Sidamo.
Tulip or rosetta?
Tulip
What would be your dream ‘coffee experience’?
Going to origin would be an eye opener so that would be an obvious dream, not just for me but I would say most in the industry.
Do you have a ‘coffee crush’ (person you most respect in the business)?
Tony Kerridge. Obviously he is no longer directly involved with Caffe L’affare but he is one of those guys you cannot help but admire. He will be missed. He just got sh#!t done.