What is your position in the coffee industry?
barista
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Where are you located? ( City and Country )
Bloomington, IL, USA
How many years have you been in the industry?
1
Tell us more about your coffee shop or barista skills.
Coffee Hound in Bloomington, IL is owned by Steve and April Fritzen. Steve has competed and placed very high in both the regional and national barista championship and it is a privilege for all of us to work with him! I treated this coffee shop as my home-away-from-home, haven, and library and now it is also work. I always work for the best shots I can pull, well balanced between chocolatey and just enough acidity, but definitely more towards the chocolate tones. I won my first latte art throwdown with beginners but still await the chance to develop my steaming and pouring skills. Challenging myself to have the best shots I can for Jan or Steve or anyone is what makes being a Barista what it is for me.
What cities or countries are you interested in traveling to?
Any Italian city or shop, as well as some Middle Eastern ones if I ever have the opportunity. Italian ones, though, since that is where I acquired my love for espresso.
About Me:
I used to hate anything coffee, until my girlfriend made me try the Mocha Bianca at Coffee Hound; later, I studied abroad and fell in love with un caffé/espresso, going from none to the dark side with no gateway. Since then, I have enjoyed learning about the variety of tastes, acidities, mouth feels, and histories of the coffees Steve brings in and those I try at Zanzibars in Des Moines.
About My Company:
Again, Steve and April Fritzen own Coffee Hound in Bloomington, IL. The original store is in Downtown Bloomington and has a much more old, character, lived-in, established, relaxed atmosphere to it, with old aluminum ceilings, while the other location is in Uptown Normal and is much more lively, young, hip, and conversational, with yellow and green walls. About one year ago, Steve installed a roaster and has spent many hours developing his bean roasting skills both alone and with Tracy Allen. Baristas from Coffee Hound regularly compete in Latte Art competitions and some are in the process for training for the Barista competition. In addition to Espresso Perfections, Steve and his Bakers also put out some delicious Bakery Delights that many a coffee drinker cannot ignore. However, they all complement the coffee, be it Steve's rich, always evolving espresso, or the many single origin coffees and blends. I have spent many hours on either side of the bar, and still love enjoying the atmosphere of any shop I visit, but it is a joy to be pulling shots!
What is your favorite thing about the coffee industry?
Espresso; Discussing anything over espresso
