Robson Barista

11:28 pm - Sun, Aug 29, 2010

2 notes

My London Move

A few months ago I was living and working in Aberdeen, Scotland for a sub-par cafe serving what we called BBQ style roast coffee with pretty latte art in 18 oz cups to people who felt this “small” drink was far too expensive at £2.20 when they could get a coffee for £1 in their local diner. 30lb rule, 25 sec rule, 2oz rule with tampers fitted to grinders and a boss shouting at us for not having the cups flat on the surface while we poured latte art. Work was work and the passion only came into play when on my home espresso machine and scanning forums online.

Going from that to working in London has been quite a change

I now work with some of the best coffee in the country on Synessos and Robur E’s with some amazing baristas and free reign to make the best coffee I possibly can. The job for me has changed in every possible aspect from the coffee I use to the machine I extract it with but most noticeably of all the customer I am serving. The people of London seem to have a huge appreciation for coffee and a good barista. Never before moving have I been asked so many questions about origin, brewing parameters and even coffee processing. Had it not been for the newly obtained knowledge this move has giving me I may have not been able to answer many of those questions.

I have been exposed to some great baristas, people I only had the opportunity to talk to in 140 characters or less on twitter I am now able to stand and chat with in a cafe for hours. They have helped me in so many ways, teaching me new things and even with getting work. I’ve had a chance to work (although only briefly) in Present/Prufrock doing my best to meet the usual occupants standards who also pointed me in the direction of my current work place.

Now settled into the shop I’m lucky enough to have many of those people I use to talk with online coming into the shop, tasting my coffee and chatting away with me which I am very grateful for. Those people really do make my day.

I feel so lucky to be one of the few that is able to get paid for doing a job I love, I’m looking forward to learning more, meeting more people and hopefully becoming a great barista.

Edit: Can I also add that I left home with a weeks notice, I arrived in London with a hotel booked for two days and the need to find a flat asap as I started work on day 3. I’ve heard a few people tell me they wish they could move…what is it holding you back?