What is your position in the coffee industry?

barista

Where are you located? ( City and Country )

Rome, USA

How many years have you been in the industry?

2 1/2 years total.

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.

It started with 4 months of volunteer work at a campus cafe at MSU (decent experience for my first time), followed by 3 months of work at a cafe/local roaster outlet. Between the shotty coffee practices (don't get me started. I knew better even then) and scheduling conflicts with school, I had to quit. It didn't grant me much in the way of valuable bar experience, but it gives me perspective. Skip ahead a few years to late 2010, when after college and a myriad of other jobs, I landed work at a local cafe in my hometown. The market: a mix of 1st and 2nd wave coffee drinkers. A single-origin pourover for $2 is a tough sell. I've worked for the company since the first location opened in January 2011. Add in lots of Counter Intelligence courses (Barista and Coffee Steward certifications pending the exams), one lever machine restoration, bar consultation, and training for a local restaurant (an ambitious and fruitful venture), and you have my experience. I'm working on it.

What cities or countries are you interested in traveling to?

Any. Have passport, will travel. I'm a sucker for road trips.

About Me:

I can make good coffee, tell a story, and fix your car. I try to be useful.

What is your favorite thing about the coffee industry?

Showing people that coffee can and should be excellent.

Website:

http://https://www.facebook.com/mark.mclucas