The real cost of being a CS

[Crisp_image]

Started to think about this the other day when a friend rang and announced that he would be dropping in for coffee later in the afternoon.
First there is th$1000s spent on the bright shiny eapresso machines and dont forget the grinder. This can run into quite a bit fi you suffer from upgradeitis.
Then spending time researching and trying different beans from different suppliers to find "The One".
Countless of kilos of beans perfecting your technique.
Once all this is completed and you think it is right you may turn your hand to roasting.
This means that countless hours building a home roaster or the purchase of a ready made one....Look out for the upgradeitis to hit!

more time experimenting and geting things just right.
Then count the ammount of epople that come to your house for the best coffee in town.
If you were to put a price on all that could we afford it?
You can always find time and money for the things that we are passionate about
Regards
Crisp Image

[A_M]

Re: The real cost of being a CS

Started to think about this the other day when a friend rang and announced that he would be dropping in for coffee later in the afternoon.
First there is th$1000s spent on the bright shiny eapresso machines and dont forget the grinder. This can run into quite a bit fi you suffer from upgradeitis.
Then spending time researching and trying different beans from different suppliers to find "The One".
Countless of kilos of beans perfecting your technique.
Once all this is completed and you think it is right you may turn your hand to roasting.
This means that countless hours building a home roaster or the purchase of a ready made one....Look out for the upgradeitis to hit!

more time experimenting and geting things just right.
Then count the ammount of epople that come to your house for the best coffee in town.
If you were to put a price on all that could we afford it?
You can always find time and money for the things that we are passionate about
Regards
Crisp Image

But put into perspective... You have something to show for it..

1: Equipment
2: Savings Vs spending $ on crap coffee
3: Time at home
4: The contacts and relationships you have built
5: A product and hobby that others can share in and understand
6: Helping others to learn

Now how many other activities; are really that social and acceptable to ALL ages and all the sexes...

CHEEP and very cost effective...

[tashie]

Re: The real cost of being a CS

As a certain credit card company would say:

Coffee machine - $ 1000
Grinder - $450
Being able to have fantastic coffee at home - Priceless

[bolb]

Re: The real cost of being a CS

Started to think about this the other day when a friend rang and announced that he would be dropping in for coffee later in the afternoon.
First there is th$1000s spent on the bright shiny eapresso machines and dont forget the grinder. This can run into quite a bit fi you suffer from upgradeitis.
Then spending time researching and trying different beans from different suppliers to find "The One".
Countless of kilos of beans perfecting your technique.
Once all this is completed and you think it is right you may turn your hand to roasting.
This means that countless hours building a home roaster or the purchase of a ready made one....Look out for the upgradeitis to hit!

more time experimenting and geting things just right.
Then count the ammount of epople that come to your house for the best coffee in town.
If you were to put a price on all that could we afford it?
You can always find time and money for the things that we are passionate about
Regards
Crisp Image

Can we afford it, why yes, otherwise we wouldnt be doing it or would petentially paying more that we currently do.

Personally i dont spend time researching bean types as i want to try everything and i dont throw away shots or roasted beans during the learning process as i believe understanding the results by consumption helps the process of mastering what i want to acheive.

At the end of the day its a win/win situation.

[Luke_G]

Re: The real cost of being a CS

At the end of the day its a win/win situation.

I totally agree!

Looking back 12 months i wouldnt have thought i would own the toys i do now but i wouldnt change any of it..except that ebay buy gone wrong.

Coffee is my profession, without coffee i would be lost! some sort of desk job worker or something? :-/

As a barista...do you think my tax accountant could claim my purchases? ;D

[maheel]

Re: The real cost of being a CS

As a barista...do you think my tax accountant could claim my purchases? ;D

thats a very interesting question, tools of the trade are deductible (generally) so easy to deduct your tamper as you use it at work everyday DONT YOU!! .

To claim those nice machines is going to be harder, now if you were to do some study about coffee it might be possible to write off some of the cost. In a similar way  as education costs that can be directly linked to improving your chances of a better job in your chosen field are deductible. You never actually have to get the better job just be able to demonstrate that the "study" improved you chance of getting that better job.

So (this is a stretch work with me), are those machines part of the equipment needed to fully undertake a "roasting / coffee degree / course". One may be able to say YES? In this case it might be possible to deduct them via your tax as you work in the industry and coffee is your profession.

*disclaimer *I am an accountant but this is not tax advice just ideas, please consult a professional

here is the ato area i am talking about.
http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/content.asp?doc=/content/18843.htm&pc=001/002/013/008/002&mnu=44737&mfp=001&st=&cy=1

[muppet_man67]

Re: The real cost of being a CS

If your using it to cup and make decision on coffee that will be used at work, or your planning on opening a cafe and need to cup, or you planning on becoming a proffesional roaster and need to cup. Im not sure practice qualifies when you do the same thing 40hrs a week in a cafe.

I know musicians who claim tax deductions on concert and festival tickets.

[dannyh]

Re: The real cost of being a CS

I have been a lawyer for 17 years and was never really passionate about it. Over the past 6 years I have spent alot of time and money on coffee and it has been worth every cent. Not only have I loved the learning experience but I now welcome the opportunity to turn it into my job by opening a business in Phuket. So for me it has been well worth the money and time and now I even get to turn my passion into a business and job.

[Crisp_image]

Re: The real cost of being a CS

All good responces to the question.
Would I do it again? Of course I would because it is something I love. Never in the past would I have thought that I could drink espresso based coffee without sweetning but we do now.
What would I do diffrently? I would buy the best machine and grinder that I could the first time and not have to upgrade later.
The world is your coffee bean. for you to grow, roast, grind and extract just the way you like it.
I really like having friends over for coffee knowing they are getting some of the best in town. Even they are starting to wonder how I do it.
I even had one of the local hospitality trainers impressed with my coffee.
The best part for me is I can go into my own little world standing at (wiith) my machine and make coffee and forget about the world for a few moments. It is like some sort of therpy. I am not sure why. It could be the aromas or just the total absorbition in the process.
What ever it is it sure makes being a CS very much worth the cost!
Regards
Crisp Image

[Koffee_Kosmo]

Re: The real cost of being a CS

I will keep my answer short

Its a hobby that teaches
Its a hobby that gives back
Its a hobby that pays for itself
Its a hobby that is full of joy albeit after mastery :
Its a hobby that has millions of members

I like this hobby

KK

[cyrilgoldenrock]

Re: The real cost of being a CS

I love this hobby.