What is your position in the coffee industry?

barista

Where are you located? ( City and Country )

Billings, MT, USA

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.

My career in coffee began two years ago with the opening of a local coffee shop. The owners/managers/fellow baristas were all very passionate about coffee and we continually encouraged each other to expand our knowledge and skill in the industry.

I very much appreciate that this was my entrance to the spectacular world of coffee. It gave me the passion and strength to leave a later job at an anonymous (biggest...) coffee conglomerate, knowing that when no skill or expertise is needed to create an excellent drink, no satisfaction is attained, and the act (or, rather, non-act) of making coffee in this way is a belittlement to those whose lives are dedicated to it.

What cities or countries are you interested in traveling to?

All!

About Me:

I'm twenty four and hail from Jersey. (Though I don't claim it...) I spent high school in the beautiful state of Montana. Some college and Americorps in Olympia, WA.

I've traveled throughout Ecuador and Italy volunteering on organic farms in exchange for room and board. I recently returned from a trip to Hawaii, volunteering on a coffee farm, where I learned quite a bit about the groundwork of the coffee industry.

I am now back in Billings, MT, continuing my constant learning path to coffee wonderment! I love to longboard, create art (in various forms), hike, camp, travel, read, and continually strive to learn all I can about... well... everything! Learning is growing. Never stop!

About My Company:

I just got a job at a local esteemed coffee shop that I've always wanted to work at! The owner seems pretty passionate about coffee as does the other super nice barista. They both have a desire to enhance the quality of the coffee and are taking action to get that done. I'm excited to be a part of the quest!

What is your favorite thing about the coffee industry?

Artistry of growing/milling/roasting/extracting/preparing coffee and the community that embraces the passion in doing so!

Website:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=678311613