Page 13 - ARUBA TODAY

A13
Tuesday 15 May 2018

Coffee Stars

ORANJESTAD – A ‘barista’ The Venezuelan-Aruban is
is a person who prepares a dynamic lady with lots
and serves espresso-based of smiles. “Three years ago
coffee drinks. The word I started at Starbucks Re-
is originally Italian and naissance as a part-time,
means waiter. But at Star- coffee-unexperienced em-
bucks we could call them ployee. Before that I was a
coffee stars. They do much waiter. Within half a year I
more than preparing one worked fulltime and partici-
cup at a time. They cre- pated in the Barista Cham-
ate meaningful connec- pionship and won. It was
tions. Starbucks organizes the greatest experience as
a Barista Championship I went to Mexico being rep-
every year, happening to- resentative of Aruba and
night at Starbucks Renais- Curacao.” She loves the
sance Mall. Aruba Today contact with the customer
had the privilege to talk to and she is stoked about
last year’s champion be- coffee. “Here in Starbucks
fore the heat’s going on. we have so many different
Meet: Shamiris Ascanio. coffees like medium roast,
dark roast and blend roast Latte with a Heart, the milk preciate my beans”, she
and in Mexico I got to see foam forming a heart on laughs. “Starbucks is fair
how they produce the cof- top of the latte, which was trade and eco-friendly. I
fee. my extra bonus.” love that.
Starbucks works only fair The championship requires You know you do good to
trade and supports families the participants to present others.” At home, at work,
with this guideline. We had an espresso, latte and one she only drinks Starbucks
a training of two weeks, ice beverage. The taste coffee.
how to treat the beans, and experience will decide Her favorite is the Kenia
clean the machines, pre- whether you are a winner. roast and her top bever-
pare the drinks… we all age the White Mocha.
have our own way but Appreciate My Beans
these trainings teach you The Barista Championship ”Tonight the Barista Cham-
the Starbucks way. When I does not only bring the pionship of Starbucks is
returned they want you to participants forward in their on and we are all excited
train the employees here knowledge, they also learn to find out who will be the
and so I did.” to appreciate the effort winner. There is one partici-
that goes into the produc- pant from each store and
Latte with a Heart tion of the beans. one participant from Cura-
Shamiris explains that the “In Mexico I saw how much cao and they together will
competition contains three work goes into the beans. compete to be the all-over
focus points: procedure, The entire family works to- winner. That one can go to
taste and presentation. gether and they depend Costa Rica where the win-
Add a little creativity to on this for their living. ners from the Latin-Ameri-
that and you gain extra When I came back I told can and Caribbean desti-
points. “I came up with the my colleagues: please, ap- nations will meet.”q