What is your position in the coffee industry?
barista, barista trainer, coffee enthusiast, industry professional
Where are you located? ( City and Country )
Los Angeles, California
How many years have you been in the industry?
almost 5yrs.
If you are a barista or shop, are you interested in a barista exchange with another coffee shop/barista?
maybe
Tell us more about your coffee shop or barista skills.
I got my "third wave" barista start at Espresso Vivace where I created the foundation for my love of the game for about 3 years. I have been in the coffee industry atmosphere for a total of 6-7 years. I don't really rely on what I learned at the big corps though. My real education started when I began working with people who are serving the finest on a daily basis.
I now work for Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea in Los Angeles. We'll be starting a Venice Intelligentsia where people can come and really geek out about coffee to the fullest!
What cities or countries are you interested in traveling to?
Any spanish speaking country. Italy, England, France, Germany, Ethiopia, South Africa, Brazil, to name a few.
About Me:
When I was 15 my mother saved my life by moving me to Seattle from New York City. Escaping mediocrity. Always wanting to move me somewhere better than we were before. I moved around alot when I was younger. Up and down the northeast along with some time with my father in Florida, until we came to the Emerald City where she provided a fresh start for us. Where I live happily and thankful for the courage of my mom. I am me because of her. I aspire to be an urban renaissance man so I have my hands in a little of everything. Baseball, football, acting/singing, drawing, sculpting, name it and I'll try it atleast once.
About My Company:
Working for Espresso Vivace in Seattle, WA. I got to learn an approach to being a Professional Barista along with one of the most nurturing, diverse, dedicated, talented, and hardworking group of people ever assembled in one place. Some of the photos you see are drinks I served to customers daily at Espresso Vivace Roasteria and Alley 24. I usually just had my cell phone on me but, once in a while I had my digi to snap a quality pic.
I now attend the University of Intelligentsia. My latest photos will chronicle my new endeavor to really pursue coffee on an academic level. I love my job!
What is your favorite thing about the coffee industry?
I love what I do. You would have never convinced me a few years ago that a puerto rican kid from Far Rockaway Queens, NY. Which is about as far away from any sort of coffee culture you could get, would be doing what I'm doing right now. I have been blessed to find a job with amazing balance between skill and art. This job saved my life.
