What is your position in the coffee industry?

barista, barista trainer, coffee enthusiast

Where are you located? ( City and Country )

New Albany, IN

How many years have you been in the industry?

2

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 really started getting passionate about coffee about a year ago when I by chance pulled a shot that was simply amazing. The thing, is, however, the machine I was using (the model of which is anyone's guess as it was about 20 years old and unlabeled) was incredibly wonky. I believe it pulled 1.5 oz per shot and we always ran doubles, and I have no idea what the portafilter's capacity was as we had no way of measuring that, but I would figure it was about standard.
Anyway. The shot took 60+ seconds to complete and literally dripped crema for the largest chunk of that time. I assumed it to be a bunk shot, but, being the curious personage that I am I decided to taste it. What I tasted was a pure, sweet, nutty flavor that I'd never witnessed in coffee before. I had to double-check everything to make sure the grinder hadn't been filled with flavored beans on accident (I despise flavored coffee, by the way).
I spent the rest of my employment attempting to recreate that shot, but with the machine being as inconsistent as it was, I was never able to. Though I did pull a 100 second shot that tasted pretty impressive at one point.
Somewhere in all that experimenting and research, I realized I was having more fun doing that than I'd ever had at any job. Then the store went up for sale and I began to obsess over the management aspects. Unfortunately, the owner managed to keep the store, so my dream has been on hold ever since.

Le sigh.

What cities or countries are you interested in traveling to?

I've always wanted to check out Intelligentsia in Chicago.

About Me:

I like HORSE the Band. I have a two year-old daughter. I want to own a coffee shop. I smoke a lot of cigarettes.

FIN

About My Company:

Currently out of work :(

What is your favorite thing about the coffee industry?

Really, I guess I'd have to say the science

Website:

http://don't have one :(