Page 12 - Something's_Brewing_Nov_Dec(Final)(6Dec22)

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER . 2022 | VOL.27

Meet The Barista!

What technology do you love, and what
technology do you hate?
I have a bit of a love/hate with most technology. I love
equipment that has been designed from a user’s
perspective (ergonomically designed). I hate when
something is overly complicated for minimum effect.
From the perspective of a barista, coffee making
must flow, things should work for the barista and not
the other way round.

If the café was burning down, what piece of
equipment would you save?
The grinder is the most important piece of
equipment. I’ve always said when I am dead and
buried I would like my grinder to be buried with me!
Hehe. It's how we, as baristas, control the quality and
flavours of the coffee and the piece of kit I use the
most.

Favourite hot beverage? (or cold variant)
Filter coffee, Africans tend to be a favourite, a nice
Michael Palliser high grown, washed Kenya or Rwanda coffee.
Training Manager at Delicious complex and fruity.
Stokes
Who is your roaster and why did you choose
How and when did you become a barista? them?
We roast our own coffee. Answered with a great
I became a barista through wanting to be a trainer at sense of pride, it's great to work for a company that
our local cinema. I originally set up training for our is self-sufficient and well established in all parts of
Ben & Jerry's ice cream and while I was doing this, I the coffee trade, it makes training so much easier as
was approached by staff from the Costa coffee outlet we can show what coffee is and the effort that is
within the cinema with a view to using my teaching made before it gets to the end product.
skills in coffee. I learnt as much as I could and
enjoyed teaching it until I needed to learn more. This Can you share one sustainability practice with
is where I found myself at Stokes, a local Family run other baristas?
roastery, with a long and prestigious history. The Being able to adapt, and the willingness to change. I
company operates 3 cafés and roasts many different believe Stokes has always been open to changing
coffees. So I have been like a kid in a candy shop! It certain practices if it means better sustainability.
has been fascinating, rewarding and I have learned
so much. When you’re not working, where can we find
you?
I hate when something is overly complicated for At home with the family, in the kitchen playing with
minimum effect. From the perspective of a barista, coffee equipment, (yes I am that sad) or chilling out,
coffee making must flow, things should work for the playing video games.
barista and not the other way round.

https://stokescoffee.com/