Take your coffee making skills to the next level
You have now found your first job as a barista and thinking how to grow and enhance your skills ?
Here are my 5 tips to take your coffee making skills to the next level and become a better barista:
You have now found your first job as a barista and thinking how to grow and enhance your skills ?
Here are my 5 tips to take your coffee making skills to the next level and become a better barista:
1. Keep learning, never stop learning
If you think you know everything, you know nothing !
“A strong mind is built with learning, learning new things every day”
Most of the cafes in which you will work can arrange free training, with their coffee supplier, where you will learn heaps of free stuff and very important, different approaches to coffee making.
Gather informations from different sources, for comparison, to analyse different perspectives, always ask yourself why, and search for answers. Be curious.
2. Join the coffee community
Enter the coffee community ! You will exchange knowledge get connections which leads into more job opportunities, make new friends and always stay "up to date”.
Join events, there are tons of them, taking Melbourne as example. We are incredibly lucky to have them organised not only by the best coffee experts, roasters, cafe owners etc in the world.. but they also come to us for FREE and on a regular basis.
3. Read articles
The web is full of usefull resources to be used wisely, follow good instagram profiles, read content online.
4. Surround yourself with likeminded people
Surround yourself with likeminded people who can add value to your personal and professional figure, surround your self with positive people and enjoy the process.
5. Enter competitions
An amazing way to skip many steps and jump ahead straight away. The whole process of preparing and training will already give you a lot in terms of preparation, knowledge and experience. There are people made for competitions and people who are not. My suggestion would be give it a try, push your limit get out of your comfort zone. Definitely on my to do list.
If you would like to have a chat regarding in-depth details, tips, training methods and smart routines to take immediately your skills to the next level; Hit the “learn more” button now.
I would like to hear your thoughts, opinions and experiences. If this was helpful and inspiring tag or use #gianmarcoierardi on instagram to connect with me !
“If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you”
All the above is based on our personal and professional experience, it is what we believe and what brought us here writing this guide.Onto the way to success there are no rules, just commitment and consistency.Ultimately the is no right and wrong but only different ways of thinking, different approaches and different methods.There is no perfection but only progression.Do not believe who says to know everything. Learning is ongoing and endless.What we believe is right today might be wrong tomorrow, stay always up to date.
Be curious.
I wrote this hoping to inspire others! If you made it to read all of this to the end..
THANK YOU !
Find your first job as Barista - part 2
You are looking for your first job as barista, within the specialty coffee industry, and you feel overwhelmed or you are having difficulties ?
Here my further 8 tips that will help you to find a job as a barista, within the specialty coffee industry:
You are looking for your first job as barista, within the specialty coffee industry, and you feel overwhelmed or you are having difficulties ?
Here my further 8 tips that will help you to find a job as barista, within the specialty coffee industry:
Let’s use Melbourne as example..
1. First impressions count
-Customize your resume based on the job position you're applying for.
-Customise your resume for a particular venue you're applying for.
-Create a customised cover letter to apply for jobs using different platforms.
2. Do not ask for a job !
Let me explain. Before asking for a job, sit down have a coffee chat with the barista then propose your self.
-Do not ask for a job.
-Propose yourself instead.
-Tell them you could offer your help for their business.
-Showcase your key strengths.
-Explain how you could add value to their business.
-Make them feel like their not hiring someone but instead they're investing in someone, you.
3. Go professional
Proposing your self for jobs in high end venues might be a little scary but trust me, they are often better organised in every aspect. Organisation means better work conditions and possibilities to grow your professional figure within the company.
4. Use the power of connections
-Use connections to find a job but do not count only on them.
-Speak to people get involved in events and connect within the coffee community.
-Network, network and again network.
5. Find your luck
Being in the right place at the right time is luck but you have to take action and get there. Let others know you're looking, use connections, before that.. connect with others :)
“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity ”
6. Mindset
-Turn failures into lessons.
-Find positive friends mentors and co-workers.
-Shape your mindset with visions and goals.
-Jump out of your comfort zone.
-Think positive stay positive surround your self with positive vibes and people.
-Remember attitude is more important than knowledge, if you show interest, if you show willingness to learn, you will make it ! Knowing that you do not know and being honest is better than pretending to know.
“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard”
7. Do your homework !
Even now before doing trials I do my “homework” I research:
-What “coffee” is used.
-What “equipment” and how to use it if I do not know. This is so important and i can not believe how people can skip this point all the time, when is as easy as opening youtube or google and literally get free coaching online.
-What is the “level” of that cafe, i have applied to, and the baristas working there.
-What is the “area” where the venue is located. Is it a business area ? If yes might be a fast paced environment based on big rushes serving mainly takeaways so latte art is a plus and not the main requirement for example.
-I look for any “detail” which I could take advantage of while doing my trial.
-Be detail oriented
YES, DETAILS MATTER !
This will give you a big advantage in comparison to your competition —> other trials
8. Last but not least
-Smile.
-Show your confidence, humility and your humbleness.
-Show them you are passionate and interested.
-Show curiosity.
-Ask questions.
-Remain calm, do one thing at a time but do it right. Remember you are doing a “trial” you are not supposed to know everything and work as you have been working for ages like the other employee.
-It is ok to make mistakes, we are human being and again is your first day!
-Smash it ! Let your positive energy flow touching others.
If you would like to have a chat regarding in-depth details, tips, training methods and much more to immediately land you a job within the coffee industry; Hit the “learn more” button now.
I would like to hear your thoughts, opinions and experiences. If this was helpful and inspiring tag or use #gianmarcoierardi on instagram to connect with me !
“You dont have to be great to start but you have to start to be great ”
All the above is based on our personal and professional experience, it is what we believe and what brought us here writing this guide.Onto the way to success there are no rules, just commitment and consistency.Ultimately the is no right and wrong but only different ways of thinking, different approaches and different methods.There is no perfection but only progression.Do not believe who says to know everything. Learning is ongoing and endless.What we believe is right today might be wrong tomorrow, stay always up to date.
Be curious.
I wrote this hoping to inspire others! If you made it to read all of this to the end..
THANK YOU !
Find your first job as Barista - part 1
You are looking for your first job as barista, within the specialty coffee industry, and you feel overwhelmed or you are having difficulties ?
Here my 6 tips that will help you to find a job as a barista, within the specialty coffee industry:
You are looking for your first job as barista, within the specialty coffee industry, and you feel overwhelmed or you are having difficulties ?
Here my 6 tips that will help you to find a job as barista, within the specialty coffee industry:
Let’s use Melbourne as example..
1. Know the market in which you are trying to find a job.
Being one of the leaders regarding the specialty coffee scene in the world, Melbourne might become a little crowded when it comes down to “barista shifts availability” and therefore competition.
2. Know the standards
Again Melbourne coffee standards are pretty high and constantly being pushed by ambitious and passionate baristas, cafe owners, roasters showcasing exceptional coffees, work being made by farmers at origins.
3. Know the menu
Is important to know beforehand what are the standard drinks and milk options, served in the daily “Melbourian caffeination” if you want to have an advantage at your trial.
4. Know the basics
Being the standards very high, it’s important to know how to manually tamp, use scales, weighting in and out, the very basic coffee recipes terminology and variables, such as dose, yield, time, grind setting.
5. Understanding the basic workflow
No matter how different each and every cafe is between them, set up and workflow will be always at least similar in terms of equipment positioning.
6. Milk texturing
Whilst i believe latte art is not essential I believe a perfect mix of speed, multitasking and technique are essential if you wanna have a change to succeed at your trial. Speed and multitasking, meaning being able to steam using one hand only, while using the other one to accomplish other tasks, such as managing dockets on the rail or filling your next jug with the appropriate e milk , ready for the next one. Technique equals being able to consistently deliver silky texture and good temperature steamed milk, over time, pouring a nice dot in the centre of the cup.
Does it all seem so complicated ?
No worries mate
I will release “part 2” of this article series
where i will give you few tips and tricks that will direct you toward the right way
☕️ 😃
If you would like to have a chat regarding in-depth details, tips, training methods and much more to immediately land you a job within the coffee industry; Hit the “learn more” button now.
I would like to hear your thoughts, opinions and experiences. If this was helpful and inspiring tag or use #gianmarcoierardi on instagram to connect with me !
“You dont have to be great to start but you have to start to be great ”
All the above is based on our personal and professional experience, it is what we believe and what brought us here writing this guide. Onto the way to success there are no rules, just commitment and consistency. Ultimately the is no right and wrong but only different ways of thinking, different approaches and different methods. There is no perfection but only progression. Do not believe who says to know everything. Learning is ongoing and endless. What we believe is right today might be wrong tomorrow, stay always up to date.
Be curious.
I wrote this hoping to inspire others! If you made it to read all of this to the end..
THANK YOU !