lassygenevra asked:


I’ve applied to many different coffee shops, andhave heard back that I need to be trained as a barista. None of the shops want to train. So I’m wondering where a potential barista should go to get training? Any information will help. I live in the marysville- Everett area of Washington State.

Christopher Brown asked:




Lately I’ve been noticing my coffee hasn’t been tasting quite right. I don’t have any first hand experience with the taste of cardboard, but I suspect it’s just like my coffee had been tasting.

I cleaned my coffee maker with vinegar and water but that didn’t help. I was also suspicious about the new coffee filters we had purchased recently, so I went out and bought some of the kind we usually bought. Sure enough that was it, sure, they only cost a third of what we normally pay for premium paper filters but what they did to the taste of my coffee should be outlawed.

The majority of at home coffee drinkers use a drip coffee machine. The coffee grinds are contained in a basket or cone shaped filter. Most of us don’t give a second thought about the quality of the filters that we are using.

I’ve always wished I could make coffee at home like the local coffee shop I go to on the way to work. A great filter for your drip machine isn’t going to single handedly turn you into an gourmet coffee barista, but it could make a big improvement.

Paper Filters

The most common filter used in households today is the paper filter. This is a no mess way of making coffee. Just lift the paper filter out along with the coffee grinds and dispose of it. The whole mess is even compost friendly. Paper filters stop any sediments from passing through. They also prevent most of the coffee oils from passing as well. This results is a smoother, weaker tasting coffee. Not all paper filters are created the same. Different pore sizes will allow more or less oils pass through. There is a danger of passing a paper taste on to the brew though.

Cloth Filters

Cloth filters are usually made of unbleached cotton. They allow more of the coffee oils to pass through which results in a stronger cup of coffee, but without letting the grinds and sediment pass through. A cloth filter will typically last several months with proper care. It is the care and cleaning that makes these an unpractical choice for the majority of households.

Plastic Filters

Basket and cone shaped plastic filters are made to most coffee machines. They have a plastic mesh that prevents grinds and sediments from passing into the pot. They must be cleaned out after every use. Coffee oils can tend to build up and stain the plastic over time. Some people suspect that the plastic or build up affects the flavor.

Stainless Steel Filters

Similar to the plastic filters, stainless steel filters will last for years with proper care. These are often called gold tone filters as they have been colored gold. They are more durable than plastic filters and easier to clean, in fact you can place these filters in your dishwasher. A cleaner filter means better coffee. These metal filters will allow the coffee oils to pass through, and even some of the finer sediments. This will result in a stronger cup of coffee with more body.

Gold Filters

Gold filters are Stainless Steel filters with a gold plating on them – usually 23k. Their main benefit is that the filter will not pass any taste onto the brew. This sounds extravagant and people sort of look at my sideways when I bring it up, but they becoming more popular in high end coffee machines.

Whatever type of filter you choose, spend the money on a good filter. I have thrown out the cheap no name filters and am using a natural brown basket filter. I tried the plastic filters and found that they clogged. In the end, the convince of paper won out.

5 mo old baby girl asked:


Im not talking starbucks, I mean like a coffee shop barista with a tip jar. I usually tip a dollar a coffee since our coffee averages 3 dollars. What do you think is appropriate to tip?

AdvancedFabrication asked:

www.ivyleaguebaristaacademy.com Ivy League Barista Academy offers a wide array of informative coffee barista classes that range in length and material at its San Diego coffee school. The programs offered at Ivy League Barista Academys coffee school are essential to any coffee business….

Shabs Piercy asked:




Any avid coffee drinker can easily tell the difference in taste and quality by a coffee prepared and poured by someone who is trained in the art of coffee, and someone who isn’t. The grinding and preparing of coffee, or more specifically ‘the espresso’ is an art, and those trained in it are known as a coffee Barista. The term Barista is Italian for ‘bar person’ but is more commonly and widely used to refer to Coffee experts that have a passion for great coffee.

In order for a person to be qualified as a Barista they must have undertaken a Barista training course, usually offered to them by a Barista school, which is specifically written and tailored to ensure that they have the knowledge and practical skills in all areas of coffee preparation and the equipment in use. Many large coffee house chains have in-house training programmes for their employees, also external Barista training courses are available all over the world.

A trained coffee expert, or Barista, will have the skills to be able to correctly grind the coffee beans to the desired consistency, this will ensure that the coffee is extracted for the right mount of time (usually 20 seconds) and the correct amount of liquid (usually 30mls), to form the perfect creamy espresso. After completing a training course a barista will also be able to complete necessary quality checks and adjust the equipment accordingly to ensure high levels of consistency in the coffee they prepare. Baristas will also have extensive knowledge on different types of espresso based drinks, for example Caffe Latte, Cappuccino, Mocha, and how to prepare and serve them to a high standard.

Any good coffee connoisseur will be able to tell the difference between a bad espresso and a Barista espresso, so make sure you get a good Barista course to get all the knowledge and skills that are so important and often over looked on bad Barista courses.

hobartbarista asked:

17 Year old Azza Kindred, Competition Barista for Oomph! Coffee, Tasmania Australia shows us a glimpse of a day in the life of an Australian barista.