greaterthan Senior Member Joined: 29 May 2006 Posts: 2 Location: Melbourne Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Mon May 29, 2006, 5:47am Subject: Barista Training Courses - Melbourne
Hi there,
Can anyone recommend a barista course in the inner city? I guess I'm looking at a short one that would prepare someone for working in a cafe... Angliss? Eureka? Veneziano?
AndreasM Senior Member Joined: 17 Mar 2006 Posts: 53 Location: Melbourne Expertise: Professional
Espresso: w:2 x Synesso, FB80 Grinder: w:3 x Robur, 2 x K10, Major,... Roaster: Atomica
Posted Mon May 29, 2006, 6:00am Subject: Re: Barista Training Courses - Melbourne
Can recommend William Angliss as I went there myself 3 months ago for both the ABC and advanced espresso courses, Chris (2muchcoffeeman) is a great trainer. I realise now that there's so much more to it than what you learn in those two days.
Cant speak for the other courses but I intend to send my staff to the Veneziano course shortly where Aust barista champ Dave Makin is the trainer.
Luca Moderator Joined: 27 Jan 2004 Posts: 2,646 Location: Melbourne, Australia
Espresso: H: Maver W: FB-80 Grinder: H: Super Jolly W: Brasilia... Vac Pot: Hario TCA-2 Roaster: Sample Roaster at Work
Posted Mon May 29, 2006, 6:40pm Subject: Re: Barista Training Courses - Melbourne
What experience do you have?
I did the Angliss course (ABC of espresso) a while back (with Chris) and found it to be a great intro from nothing to the basics. After that, you want work experience and tasting experience, and WA do have followup courses. From memory, they have a master class with Hazel de los Reyes, last year's Australian Barista Champ, coming up in a few months. The "Pulling Shots" course is something more advanced that Chris put together after he saw the sorts of experimentation that we were doing at Maltitude.
I know that Veneziano also has some stuff in the works that should be awesome. Having watched Dave's performances in the local barista comps and having had him point out some shortcomings in my technique, I've got no hesitation in recommending them.
Unfortunately, when I did my course, it did absolutely nothing to help me get a job. Now, though, I suspect that barista comps, etc, have created a slightly different climate ...
AndyL Senior Member Joined: 31 Dec 2003 Posts: 1,317 Location: australia Expertise: Pro Barista
Espresso: synesso Grinder: Robur,k10,mini Vac Pot: still in its box Roaster: Matty
Posted Mon May 29, 2006, 9:28pm Subject: Re: Barista Training Courses - Melbourne
It really depends on who your coffee supplier is and what you are after. Chris at william angliss is great and doesnt push any brand of coffee which is great. Going to eureka or veneziano or whoever.... there not going to help if you sell coffee mio. A good coffee supplier will train any staff at no charge.
greaterthan Senior Member Joined: 29 May 2006 Posts: 2 Location: Melbourne Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Mon May 29, 2006, 10:09pm Subject: Re: Barista Training Courses - Melbourne
Hey there.
I used to pull OK coffees in a boho city cafe a few years ago, but the course is for my partner, who's after a seachange from the ever decreasing world of face-to-face music retail.
2muchcoffeeman Senior Member Joined: 6 Aug 2004 Posts: 273 Location: Melbourne Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Veneziano S1/VBM Levetta Grinder: Compak K10WBC/Macap... Vac Pot: no thanx Drip: damn that plumbing Roaster: chook and gene cafe ;-)
Posted Tue May 30, 2006, 4:20am Subject: Re: Barista Training Courses - Melbourne
Thanks for the feedback all- it's greatly appreciated!
Good training is very important. Visit cafes all around the country and you see the legacy of those who think that they know their stuff...and perhaps did 20 years ago....but things change...
So I reckon a good balance can be found by:
Doing a good course. Unbiased education will teach you (in most cases) the right techniques.
Educating your palate by tasting, tasting, tasting- in contemporary places which do it well- and places like Maling room and St Ali do it well- and consistently
Repetition. Nothing (including doing every course available) will substitute for experience at the coal face. Get out there and watch and learn from passionate people. Bang out a thousand, or better still 100,000 and you might be 1/2 way there ;-)
Never close your mind to new views and techiniques. Some of the most famous and best known coffee "institutions" may had done it well in the 60's...but times change and many of them simply don't cut it any more. Millions of cups of stale underextracted swill and overheated, reheated milk accompanied by fly blown food is not accepatble...and probably never was...
firstcrack Senior Member Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 115 Location: Melbourne Expertise: Pro Roaster
Espresso: David Makin Grinder: Mazzer Roaster: 60 Kg Batch - Custom Build
Posted Tue May 30, 2006, 3:00pm Subject: Re: Barista Training Courses - Melbourne
Training is not a one off event but on ongoing investment in both your people and your coffee sales potential. We have an open door policy at Veneziano that allows both our customers (whom it is not charged) and there customers to learn more about quality coffee and the skills of barista's. We do not have any bias to which coffee company they my be using. Because if this was so both Cassie and Belinda whom was second in the Vics would not be recieving my help.
Our methodology is about Quality, Freshness, Local supply and onging education for baristi. Also providing an enviroment to learn and share ideas and most importantly to experiment. My trip to La Marzocco recently only encuraged me to continue taking risks.
Previous comments are correct in that the traditonal bearers of epsresso culture are antiquated and reluctant to move with the times. The simply are going to be left behind! For any coffee roaster that does not get behind its customers baristi and try to effect change from within will only be left with financial inducements as there only selling platform to gain business that has no respect to what ends up in the cup.
That's a bit harsh and untrue. What's true is that they will charge you, where they wouldn't charge their customers, or would give them discounts, and they will use their coffee in whatever training sessions they run, which is fair enough. Exactly what Peter said above and exactly what Mark at Eureka's policy is.
2muchcoffeeman Senior Member Joined: 6 Aug 2004 Posts: 273 Location: Melbourne Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Veneziano S1/VBM Levetta Grinder: Compak K10WBC/Macap... Vac Pot: no thanx Drip: damn that plumbing Roaster: chook and gene cafe ;-)
Posted Tue May 30, 2006, 7:38pm Subject: Re: Barista Training Courses - Melbourne
Luca Said:
That's a bit harsh and untrue. What's true is that they will charge you, where they wouldn't charge their customers, or would give them discounts, and they will use their coffee in whatever training sessions they run, which is fair enough. Exactly what Peter said above and exactly what Mark at Eureka's policy is.
Luca, just one minor correction there in the case of WA. We have and continue to allow clients to use their own coffee where appropriate....After all, it only makes sense!
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