Palate Training & Sensory Analysis - July 19-20

[TC]

Re: Palate Training & Sensory Analysis - July 19-2

Well, how how much it would take for the the likes of Hazel, Scottie, Emily Oak or Dave Makin to run something like this?

With all due respect Bon, I suspect Hazel, Scottie, Em and Dave would probably be really keen to attend something like this- as its unique and at at whole new level. For industry people of this calibre, it may only be palate calibration but you dont know unless you check. The responses from the last session were along the lines of mind blowing...

Bottom line is that you gets what you pays for and perhaps it not all that wise to place a perceived value on something you have not experienced. :-?

Im going and if the responses of the last group who attended are anything to go by, it will be worth every cent.

[luca]

Re: Palate Training & Sensory Analysis - July 19-2

From the sounds of it, before you even walk in the door youre paying for someone to spend at least a day on a sample roaster.

Sometimes I think that its nice and very useful to get a coffee perspective from someone who is not all that in to coffee. At First Pour, I am lucky enough to count a wine maker and beer taster as my customers and though they profess not to know anything about coffee, their comments based on tasting are as insightful as anything that I have heard from people who work in the coffee industry.

Cheers,

Luca

[Dimal]

Re: Palate Training & Sensory Analysis - July 19-2

Dunno Bon..... :-?

As a humble Electrical Engineer working in Heavy Industry and Mining, I was frequently seconded out to sister organisations and others for a minimum of $175/Hr and that was back in the early 90s. When you consider that people with my knowledge and experience arent exactly as scarce as hens teeth, compared to someone of the ilk of one "Lindsay Corby", I think the asking price is more than reasonable in todays money. Im with the others, if it was within my means and I was physically up to the challenge of the travel involved, Id jump at the chance..... 8-)

Mal.

[martybean]

Re: Palate Training & Sensory Analysis - July 19-2

Bon, even though I said I probably wouldnt have the money thats largely due to the fact that we just spent $900 on a new dishwasher.
I do think the course is good value, people should think of how long it takes to aquire such knowledge. My wife pays about $120 p/h for chocolate making lessons at a top Melbourne school

[luke_gts]

Re: Palate Training & Sensory Analysis - July 19-2

i think it would be an awesome expirence... i wanna go. i think it would be a bit advance for me right now... maybe the next one....

as a few people already mention, generally you get what you pay for...

[Bon]

Re: Palate Training & Sensory Analysis - July 19-2

Well, how how much it would take for the the likes of Hazel, Scottie, Emily Oak or Dave Makin to run something like this?

With all due respect Bon, I suspect Hazel, Scottie, Em and Dave would probably be really keen to attend something like this- as its unique and at at whole new level. For industry people of this calibre, it may only be palate calibration but you dont know unless you check. The responses from the last session were along the lines of mind blowing...

Bottom line is that you gets what you pays for and perhaps it not all that wise to place a perceived value on something you have not experienced. :-?

Im going and if the responses of the last group who attended are anything to go by, it will be worth every cent.

Youre probably right, but that is why they are champions I guess - their whole mindset of learning from everybody and even if they only learn 1 little thing, it was worthwhile.

Mal, I think you are comparing apples to oranges mate. I see no relevance to the mines forking out big money for someones skills/knowledge as they have millions of dollars at stake and we are looking to enhance a sensory experience. I think comparing this to 1 on 1 training with an industry leader like I said is more relevant.

[TC]

Re: Palate Training & Sensory Analysis - July 19-2

<snip>I think comparing this to 1 on 1 training with an industry leader like I said is more relevant.

....and any industry leader who consults for $50 per hour is dramatically undervaluing his/her skills

[Dennis]

Re: Palate Training & Sensory Analysis - July 19-2

....and any industry leader who consults for $50 per hour is dramatically undervaluing his/her skills

DOH!!! ;D

[Dimal]

Re: Palate Training & Sensory Analysis - July 19-2

Mal, I think you are comparing apples to oranges mate. I see no relevance to the mines forking out big money for someones skills/knowledge as they have millions of dollars at stake and we are looking to enhance a sensory experience. I think comparing this to 1 on 1 training with an industry leader like I said is more relevant.

Not so Bon.....

Most of the organisations were industrial, and sited within major populations centres that required specific technical knowledge and experience.... not broad-based. As I said above, that was the minimum charge-out rate, domestic and o/seas mining corporations were charged significantly more. I have also attended several educational seminars over the years too and I know that the people recruited to run these (usually University Professors) were charged out at a higher rate than this, so is not irrelevant in my view,

Cheers,
Mal.

[Framey]

Re: Palate Training & Sensory Analysis - July 19-2

Is there any chance the course will ever be run in Sydney?

Or perhaps on a regular basis so a trip might be planned interstate?

Is the course affiliated or accredited with either La Trobe or TAFE?

[GrindOnDemand]

Re: Palate Training & Sensory Analysis - July 19-2

...and any industry leader who consults for $50 per hour is dramatically undervaluing his/her skills  

I totally agree, Chris - but theres a flip side to this debate.

Theres plenty of organisations (especially government based) that pay highly skilled staff a rate thats not in keeping with their abilities, compared to similarly skilled private consultants.

As an example, I have a mate highly skilled in his field as a statistical analyst who worked for CSIRO. He was on a defined salary that equated to roughly $60 per hour. He got jack of his job, & decided to throw it in to re-focus on what hed like to do. 2 weeks later he received a call from his previous manager asking if hed like to return on a consultancy basis to complete a project that hed been working on (because they couldnt find anyone in the organisation with his comparable knowledge & skills)

He didnt really want to do the work, so plucked a $300 per hour rate out of the sky to put on the table to return

They didnt even baulk, & agreed. He finished the project after 20hrs work.

Calculate the difference in earnings he reaped by returning as a sought after consultant

Tony

[Thundergod]

Re: Palate Training & Sensory Analysis - July 19-2

Comparing the consultancy rates to the course cost was always the perspective I looked at to decide its value.

When I was the Training Coordinator for my last organisation external courses at this kind of price were the norm.

And speaking of consultants rates, when I was auditing a large Y2K project a few years ago my company loaned me out to a couple of affiliate companies at "mates rates" of $3000 a day or part thereof.
That meant that the first 20 minute meeting (plus an hour of travelling time) was charged a full $3k.
No wonder they both insisted I complete the audit in a day.  ;D

We did throw in the report for free.  

I wish Id been paid a percentage of that.

[Dimal]

Re: Palate Training & Sensory Analysis - July 19-2

I wish Id been paid a percentage of that.

Me too TG.... But I really enjoyed the work and the opportunities to travel so I was always pretty happy with the arrangement, as no doubt were you.... 8-)

Mal.

[raphec]

Re: Palate Training & Sensory Analysis - July 19-2

if id known about this before i forked out for my landscaping, id have put off the landscape and done this. Hopefully i will be able to make it to a future one.

[mahalia]

Re: Palate Training & Sensory Analysis - July 19-2

Hey Palate people

Im going to the workshop. Coming over from Robe, SA, along with my barista trainer. Hope to meet some other roasters, as am starved of coffee speak !!!

I believe that we are lucky that is type of workshop is on offer, considering that the lecturers are working on their weekend, have taken the time to put this intensive course together (which could of been a financial risk) along with that Australia doesnt have many courses available that tackle the finer details of coffee from roasting, to cupping or green bean grading - besides the obvious of espresso extraction

Mahalia