How much does the coffee training course cost? how much is the salary of the barista apprentice?

Professional coffee knowledge exchange More coffee bean information Please pay attention to coffee workshop (Weixin Official Accounts cafe_style)

Holding a cup of coffee in hand, walking on the way to work or class is already the scenery of the city.

If you are a part of this landscape and love the aroma of coffee, have you ever thought that instead of drinking coffee made by others every day, you could one day become a barista who makes coffee for others?

Enter "Coffee shop" in Openrice and the information of 1,673 coffee shops in Hong Kong is displayed. To join the coffee shop everywhere, become a barista, it seems not too difficult, both can learn while doing, also do not have to have relevant education.

"But the most important thing is to have love for coffee beans!"

You are right, at the "Basic Concept Sharing Conference for Baristas" held at Trial and Error Lab X Alternative Cafe last month, Ouyang Ronghan and Steven Tsang, coffee blenders of Alternative Cafe, have been galloping at coffee shop workstations for many years. They pointed out that coffee blenders should not only make a cup of coffee in front of them, but also walk with sincerity and beans.

Alternative Cafe's coffee blenders, Mr Auyeung Wing Hon (centre) and Steven Tsang (left), share how to get started.

Can you become a barista without a degree?

As a rookie in the workplace, interested in catering, but inexperienced, joining the ranks of coffee blenders (remember that people who make coffee in coffee shops should be called coffee blenders, Barista) may be a good entry point. Ouyang Ronghan has worked as a restaurant consultant for many years. Among the positions in the catering industry, he thinks that Barista is the most clear promotion ladder and future."There are too many things to learn as a chef, and it is not easy to cope with the examination; if it is a floor, it may not have been recognized for a few years. But learning to make coffee is something you can do without experience or education. Every day's experience helps you make a cup of coffee, and the exam is not too difficult to deal with."

To obtain Barista qualification, even if the academic qualifications are average, you can attend coffee blending courses in different schools. In addition, you can also obtain certificates in different fields from internationally recognized coffee organizations such as SCA (Specialty Coffee Association), SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America), SCAE (Specialty Coffee Association of Europe) and City and Guilds in Hong Kong. "I have four accreditation qualifications in SCA's Barista Skill, Brewing, Roasting and Sensory Skill; Steven Tsang is also a registered trainer in SCA and holds a cup tester Q Arabica Grader from the American Coffee Quality Association (CQI)." these qualifications are recognised under the qualifications framework.

He stressed that the entry threshold for coffee blenders is low and the treatment is good."Coffee is the second largest trade commodity after oil, so coffee is also called 'Black Gold'. There are coffee shops all over the world, and everyone loves coffee. If you have this major, you can work anywhere!" Where can I find a job with such an international perspective?

Steven Tsang means that there is no other way to be a barista than to be serious and careful.

2) But how do you get in? Can I knock on the coffee shop door naked?

"Of course!" Ouyang Ronghan resigned naked and went to get a coffee certificate."The Employees Retraining Board has a book-free course for coffee blenders. As long as there is no job, you can apply." However, there are many applicants or classes are not available immediately. Please wait patiently.

Even if you don't have a certificate, you can apply for a coffee shop assistant. Even if you don't have any experience, you will get on-the-job training after joining the job. You can also take an examination after work and get certificates in different fields of coffee specialty. After officially becoming a coffee blender, you can also obtain the qualification of coffee trainer and then be promoted to the operation management level of the coffee shop. "Our coffee shop often has some young people who have no experience at all to apply for. Of course, it is easier to get a certificate, but if you have no experience but have enthusiasm, you still have a chance to succeed."

Ouyang Ronghan has worked in the catering industry for many years and believes that coffee blenders are the most confident and successful positions.

[3] What is the most important condition for a barista?

"Of course, your tongue must be functioning normally!" (Laughter) Ouyang Ronghan said that Barista has requirements for taste, can distinguish different coffee beans sweet, sour, bitter and other different levels of taste,"otherwise you have to drink dozens of cups of espresso a day during the exam, you answer the same cup will fail!"

Not only does red wine have different tastes, coffee beans from different origins will bring different tastes to coffee due to the production year, climate, roasting and the coarse and young coffee beans. Steven Tsang also stressed that "this is not something that can be practiced in a short time. Pay attention to the taste of food in daily life. For example, if you eat a cabbage, you must distinguish the difference between fried and fried. In fact, your taste buds must be sensitive enough."

But my tongue doesn't seem to be strong enough…

It doesn't matter, because the most important thing is to be careful, patient and curious, and to love coffee beans as much as life. "Coffee beans seem to be a person, every day will have different performance, meaning that coffee beans will be affected by the humidity, temperature and so on that day, you have to learn to 'talk to them' every day, in order to judge how to brew a cup of coffee." If you use a general automatic coffee machine, of course, the taste of each coffee bean is not big, but Barista uses an Italian coffee machine, even with a pair of hands to brew coffee, there is no shortcut at all, from grinding beans to brewing must be manually controlled,"so every morning rework, we must carefully and patiently observe the state of coffee, only to decide what coffee beans and coarse and young, smell, touch, listen to their sound." Sounds like a date.

Ouyang Ronghan also pointed out that Barista sometimes has to be full of curiosity like a scientist,"each customer has different requirements, so try to satisfy them and create new tastes." Just like an old man who said he wanted a cup of coffee with lemon, but I couldn't add a lemon to his coffee. Even if it wasn't a cafe! So I tried to make a smoothie with lemon juice and espresso. The old man actually liked it very much. It tasted like the old one. It made me happy for a few days!"

So to have creativity and courage to create different coffee works, can not stick to a method, Steven Tsang added,"Yes, basic skills and certificates are only the foundation, the most important thing is careful, patient and curious practice, every day to carefully brew coffee to accumulate experience." All must practice diligently, like bartender, may have own work,"the day merit, in the Barista body is absolutely visible."

Alternative Cafe is a new small coffee shop that welcomes young people interested in becoming a barista.

Is it better to join an independent coffee shop or a chain coffee shop?

It depends on what skills you want to learn. Steven Tsang cited his own experience as an example. In large or chain coffee shops, he learned systematic management."Everything from coffee beans to coarse and fine choices is decided early on." No wonder we drink the same taste in the global star XX! "Large or chain coffee shops learn personnel management, and the promotion ladder is obvious; however, coffee brewing is less effective, and it is difficult to find out how to brew coffee on their own."

If you go to a small coffee shop, you learn all about brewing coffee."Even the temperature of coffee to be brewed for takeout is exquisite; let alone the choice of coffee beans and brewing methods, you can try and explore by yourself." Ouyang Ronghan added, Small coffee shop has human touch, But also depends on what teacher,"I once participated in Guangzhou coffee exhibition, See a big six master pull flowers very good, But the process of brewing coffee is very dirty, Coffee powder a machine, All are, Go out exam really failed, If learn from him bad master." Or do not have to die with a master, wait for some skills mature, can go to different coffee shops to work, learn other skills.

This evening's coffee tasting, hand-brewed coffee with Laotian and Ethiopian beans respectively, tastes different, so that participants are very interested.

But I don't just want to make coffee, I want to open a coffee shop...

When the two Baristas asked who wanted to open a coffee shop, more than ten people raised their hands. It seems that there are many future coffee shop owners at the table!

Steven Tsang reminds me that I don't have experience opening a coffee shop."It's like holding a grenade. It's easy to explode!" It means that entering the catering industry is not as romantic and easy as imagined."The most difficult thing is personnel management. From the chef to the dishwasher, you have to deal with the relationship; and whether you have business or not, it is all troublesome!" Of course, coffee shop location, design and even bean selection are also knowledge, in order to avoid investment damage, it is best not to be anxious, first learn to make a good Barista, only to know how to save costs and manpower in the future, also do not let employees lead by the nose.

After listening to two experienced Barista sharing this evening, the most anticipated part was of course watching Steven Tsang demonstrate coffee brewing and coffee tasting. Steven Tsang is a blend of Laotian and Ethiopian beans. The former has citrus fruit and floral aromas with chocolate notes, while the latter has fruit and cranberry aromas. Even the color and taste are very different. Steven's skillful brewing skills, his first move full of vigor, and his confidence in Barista made sense. However, in fact, it is not necessarily a Barista job. As long as it is a job that rewards hard work and gives full play to self-confidence, it is also a suitable job, right?