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Call THAT espresso!!!

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  • #31
    Re: Call THAT espresso!!!

    With the understanding that the coffee is going to be below-par in any case, my primary wish for a cafe experience is:  SPEED.

    I dont want to be waiting in a long, disorderly queue at the counter to have my order taken...  Darting out of the way every now and then as the waiters collect a trayful of cups to take to the tables.

    And having had the order taken, I dont want yet another long wait, staring at the rows of paper orders,  looking despondently at each coffee being made, trying to mentally match the quantity with the number of people sitting at tables, let a lone standing at that disorderly queue.... trying to work out where mine is in all that.

    Walk in, order, get served, get out.  Anything else---like good coffee, is a bonus.

    --Robusto

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    • #32
      Re: Call THAT espresso!!!

      I can relate to that experience you have described Robusto. When I used to frequent a coffee shop near where I live to get a takeaway. Always feeling like you were in the way no matter where you stood when you were waiting for a coffee that was always pot luck how good it was going to be. But now I just have it at home or make a special trip to a quality cafe that I know wont let me down and I am more relaxed as it is not a takeaway anyway.
      Obviously quality can still come at speed with the top cafes whether you are sitting in or taking away. I know when I sit at Mecca in Sydney it is amazing to see the flow of people that they can produce quality coffee for with speed as well. Obviously there are other cafes around that can achieve this and do it well but they seem to be few and far between.

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      • #33
        Re: Call THAT espresso!!!

        Originally posted by lucinda link=1169639920/15#26 date=1170079293
        Originally posted by Thundergod link=1169639920/15#25 date=1170078534
        Originally posted by nunu link=1169639920/15#24 date=1170073399
        Anyone can push a button...
        I think youre being overly generous.
        My cat can push a button...
        How good a coffee does it make?


        Originally posted by lucinda link=1169639920/15#28 date=1170081518
        Many cafe owners would rather employ a cute young woman/man who looks pretty/handsome behind the machine than an older woman/man who has a passion and some dedication and interest in what they are doing.
        Dont say that.
        Ive got an interview on Friday for a barista job.
        Young and handsome I no longer is.

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        • #34
          Re: Call THAT espresso!!!

          If that works our Thundergod you willl have to let me know where it is. I may be able to add another cafe where I will actually buy coffee instead of just coke

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          • #35
            Re: Call THAT espresso!!!

            Thundergod arent you a black belt in Karate?

            You could always set up your own MA school.

            Or as a barista people could order a haito Latte ;D

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            • #36
              Re: Call THAT espresso!!!

              Thanks for the idea Cindy but I already run a small dojo.
              I have never charged the exhorbitant prices the modern sharks do.
              And these days running costs like insurance keep going up.
              Providing I dont lose money and can keep passing on the knowledge, that has generally been the way I operate.

              Im old fashioned I suppose.
              Although I do have my Level 1 Coaching Certificate from the Australian Institute of Sport.
              So Old Values + Modern Training Methods = Best of both worlds.

              I cant expect the parents of my students to support me whilst I have this unemployment problem.
              Besides which, the area I service is a low income one.
              Im already dreading the rent increase next year.
              They put it off this year because Im their best customer but next year will see an increase for sure.

              Now to get back on topic, hopefully I can get a short run at the barista job and not get any complaints like Robustos opening post.

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              • #37
                Re: Call THAT espresso!!!

                Let us know if you get a trial, Thundergod, along with where and when. Maybe some of us can come in while youre there and make a fuss about how great the coffee is.

                There are still places out there that prefer a mature person who knows what they are doing. You certainly know your coffee. Good luck.

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                • #38
                  Re: Call THAT espresso!!!

                  Id rather an older person passionate about their coffee than a young person whos there as eye candy. I have seen that around Perth too and for a coffee snob it is a false approach that should be met with appropriate disdain. Of course if the young person is passionate about coffee that is fine - it is that I want in someone making a coffee for me.

                  After all, Im there for the coffee!

                  I am just a little more than half the age of most of the team I work with. One colleague is 66 and could have retired but he enjoys his work and is good at it. Id rather have him and his experience based insights on my team right now than a young ethusiastic graduate full of energy. Energy we have - thinking skills are to be highly valued for me right now.


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                  • #39
                    Re: Call THAT espresso!!!

                    Originally posted by robusto link=1169639920/0#9 date=1169708661
                    Its a pitiful shame. Theres some mighty expensive hardware sitting on those cafe benches. Three- and four-group machines with volumetric dosing, pressure gauges, temperatue control and all the rest.

                    Machinery just itching to realise its potential to make excellent coffee.

                    But add cheap beans and untrained staff to the mix.... and we get a poor excuse for coffee.

                    To make it that bad at home with our domestic machines, wed have to try really hard.

                    Pity.

                    --Robusto
                    I have tended to find that young girls masquerading as Baristas in many cafes allow a quick and generally pretty accurate visual assessment of their skills - The larger the assets generally combined with a lowish top and a short skirt the less chance of anything relating to decent espresso. But hey it gets the customers in just like the coffee cow girl barely clad story from the good ol hue hess of hay.

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                    • #40
                      Re: Call THAT espresso!!!

                      So an attractive, fashionably dressed female isnt capable of barista skills???????????

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                      • #41
                        Re: Call THAT espresso!!!

                        Originally posted by Viviane link=1169639920/30#39 date=1170453011
                        So an attractive, fashionably dressed female isnt capable of barista skills???????????
                        Vivi,

                        Of course they are.... but from my experience the selection criteria for many of these jobs reads something like....

                        1. young, attractive, fashionably (not sure thats the word Id use) dressed female
                        2. Barista skills desirable - but not essential....

                        Believe me, the old expression "sex sells" is alive and well

                        Comment


                        • #42
                          Re: Call THAT espresso!!!

                          Originally posted by JavaB link=1169639920/30#40 date=1170453598
                          Originally posted by Viviane link=1169639920/30#39 date=1170453011
                          So an attractive, fashionably dressed female isnt capable of barista skills???????????
                          Vivi,

                          Of course they are.... but from my experience the selection criteria for many of these jobs reads something like....

                          1. young, attractive, fashionably (not sure thats the word Id use) dressed female
                          2. Barista skills desirable - but not essential....

                          Believe me, the old expression "sex sells" is alive and well
                          I know what youe saying, but I cant help thinking that this attitude could have you walking past the best espresso youve ever tasted. That criteria would be for the cafe that is being run purely for profit. It would be a shame if someone who is young, attractive and an excellent barista misses out on a job at a "serious" coffee shop (also being run for profit, but dedicated to good coffee) because the owner is worried about how she will be perceived by customers.

                          As far as "fashionably dressed" goes, I wasnt actually saying that fashionable is always attractive..... :P

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                          • #43
                            Re: Call THAT espresso!!!

                            If you look at the pictures on their website, every one of the baristi look like absolute tarts. Obviously you can attempt to train anyone. A good barista shouldnt have to flaunt their wares to sell the product. Its whats in the cup that counts. If theyre hiding behind the machine making coffees, what do you see anyway?

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                            • #44
                              Re: Call THAT espresso!!!

                              Originally posted by Viviane link=1169639920/30#41 date=1170454881
                              I know what youe saying, but I cant help thinking that this attitude could have you walking past the best espresso youve ever tasted. That criteria would be for the cafe that is being run purely for profit. It would be a shame if someone who is young, attractive and an excellent barista misses out on a job at a "serious" coffee shop (also being run for profit, but dedicated to good coffee) because the owner is worried about how she will be perceived by customers.
                              Vivi,

                              Epic here in Perth is a good example..... Corey has employed very attractive young women ( and Im sure most female customers would think the men were OK as well) - but they are all excellent baristi..... one of the women is even the State latte art champion - and makes a great espresso as well....

                              But you wouldnt go past Epic - It just looks like a place which serves great coffee - a combination of the decor, the smartly and professionally dressed staff (and the line-up of synessos is a bit of a give away )...... It has all the vibes of a great coffee house.

                              Generally you can tell if the staff have been employed for other than their barista skills - management want them to flaunt their main assets...... and a serious barista (male or female) wouldnt want to work there- and I wouldnt want to have a coffee there either. :

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                              • #45
                                Re: Call THAT espresso!!!

                                Yep, I guess the difference is in the establishment itself. If the place looks professional, then youll take a chance on whoever is in there being able to produce a good coffee. As far as the type of cafe that I mentioned in my last post, run purely as a business, I cooked in such a place for a little while about a year ago. The owner had a girl there, young attractive and fashionably dressed, on the coffee machine. Shed had no real training, but was interested in coffee so did the best she could. This girl has left, the owner is advertising for a new "Barista", however I know hes going to wind up with a kid who is young, attractive and straight out of school.....

                                For the record, Im not young, Im old enough to be these kids mother. Used to be considered attractive, but I never let that stand in the way of a job.

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