What is your position in the coffee industry?

barista

Where are you located? ( City and Country )

Ellensburg, WA

How many years have you been in the industry?

4

If you are a barista or shop, are you interested in a barista exchange with another coffee shop/barista?

yes

Tell us more about your coffee shop or barista skills.

I have a lot of experience working in drive-thru coffee shops, which I love for their pace and diversity of the people who come through, but I also enjoy working in cafe-style atmospheres because I get to practice latte art and learn interesting facts from my quirky regulars.

What cities or countries are you interested in traveling to?

I'm a traveler. I can always find something to peak my interest nearly anywhere I go. I'd be happy checking out any place I have never been before.... but, I do love beaches and hippies! :p

About Me:

I like everything I do to have meaning. This is true whether I'm meeting interesting people, forcing myself to research what I want to learn, or challenging myself in personal conquests. I have a list of all the things I am going to do before I die, and I do not plan on letting that list turn stale and yellow. I guess I kind of dance to the beat of my own drum. I love people with eclectic tastes and open minds. Formerly agnostic, I've since found that saying I believe in a "universal truth" describes my religious perspective more accurately. I have a lot of my own opinions regarding religion, moral issues, and politics, but I love hearing and discussing what others believe. I would consider myself an ambitious person, but also a realist in the sense that I only strive for things that I know I will try to make happen. I don't care what you look like, who you hang out with, or what ideals you have, so long as you are also sweet, modest (confidence vs. arrogance is key), and considerate, in every sense of those terms... :) It is incredibly unjust to judge a person before trying to get to know them and I do my best to stand by that statement everyday. I hope you do the same!

About My Company:

The company I currently work for is called, "D&M," which stands for the names of the couple who started the company nearly 30 years ago, Donna and Mark. They have built their company up to include 2 drive-thrus/cafes and two normal walk-in cafes. They roast their own coffee beans, have participated in fair-trade, and have recently started incorporating "green" products such as biodegradable cups, lids, etc to reduce waste. They are always willing to learn more about what they can do to give back to the community, participate in community programs, host concerts (one cafe has a stage in the back), etc. They just recently started exporting their beans internationally.

What is your favorite thing about the coffee industry?

Learning!! ...from customers, about coffee production and programs, making latte art, etc. I also love meeting other baristas because many have very intriguing philosophies on life or are just plain interesting people

Website:

http://www.myspace.com/jaded_ruby