If you want to stay up to speed, learn about green buying and coffee cupping, or just want some inspiration as a barista, these resources can help.
BY J. MARIE CARLAN
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Featured photo courtesy of Unsplash
If you’re new to the specialty-coffee game, there’s a lot of catching up to do. But if, like most of us, you’ve been doing this for a while, you’re going to be very knowledgeable already.
The specialty-coffee landscape is constantly changing and growing. New growth presents new challenges, like climate change and economic woes, certainly. But it also expands our knowledge and resources. There are more ways to glean information from industry experts than ever before.
Here are some ways to up your coffee game and stay up to speed.
1. Continued Coffee Education
If you can make a significant time and money investment, then taking official courses will bring your knowledge to the highest industry standards. Becoming a certified Q Grader through the Coffee Quality Institute is one example. Q Graders are an essential part of the specialty-coffee grading system, and earning this certification opens many new professional pathways. There will always be a need for coffee quality assessments.
There are plenty of other coffee learning programs. The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) has multiple options: the Coffee Sustainability Program, Coffee Value Assessment (CVA) for Cuppers Course, Coffee Technicians Program (CTechP), and Coffee Skills Program. One benefit of these is that there are SCA-certified training campuses all over the world, so you may not have to travel too far to attend classes.
Barista Hustle also offers online courses. Monthly and yearly membership options grant access to all Barista Hustle educational content, and they grant certificates.
2. Origin Trips
Seeing coffee grown in its country of origin is a remarkable experience. Green buyers often make these trips, but shop owners and baristas can also glean valuable knowledge from visiting coffee farms. Learning about coffee directly from farmers makes theoretical knowledge tangible; tasting the difference between fresh Gesha and Typica variety coffee cherries was one highlight of my recent trip to Costa Rica with DC Campus. I also learned a lot about the milling process, drying, and fermentation, as well as environmental concerns.
Another benefit of origin trips: Establishing relationships with growers and exporters is invaluable, especially if you’re buying coffee from them! Their knowledge and dedication are best understood firsthand. If planning farm visits seems a daunting task, there are coffee expedition providers, such as Viaje con Café, that offer origin trip packages.
3. Podcasts
Podcasts are a great way to keep tabs on the specialty industry, get tips on running your business, or just listen to coffee people talk about coffee people stuff. The nice thing about podcasts? You can listen to them while commuting, roasting, or catching up on email.
Keys to the Shop is a podcast focused on equipping café owners and other leaders with tips, inspiration, and insider info from industry pros. “I believe that coffee shops are key to the success of all we do in the industry,” said podcaster Chris Deferio in a previous interview. “They are not just the place where the coffee reaches its final expression, but where customers form their opinions and worldview towards specialty coffee.”
Filter Stories is a narrative-style podcast by James Harper that dives into the lives of coffee people, along with a hefty dose of science and history. James has other worthy podcasts under his belt as well: The Science of Coffee and A History of Coffee. If you want to get into the details of where coffee comes from and how it affects people across the globe, “Filter Stories“ is a good place to start.
Some other favorite podcast providers include I’m Not a Barista, which features “voices from the coffee world”; Cat & Cloud, coffee pros with a tagline involving “general mayhem”; and Boss Barista, which covers serious topics like sex, gender, and labor issues in the specialty industry.
4. Attend Specialty-Coffee Events
It cannot be overstated how much you will absorb through sheer osmosis at coffee events.
They range from the professional (such as World of Coffee, the Specialty Coffee Expo, and HostMilano) to the professional-ish and fun (like crowd-favorite competitions from The Barista League). Coffee trade shows are an excellent resource, as they feature professional panels, Q&As, lectures, and workshops.
There are plenty of local and national coffee festivals, from Birmingham to Brazil. These are great places to check out new products and equipment, try lots of coffees, and make lifelong friendships with like-minded people.
A Google search might be overwhelming here; Luckily, Barista Magazine Online has you covered with our Coffee Events Calendar.
5. Follow the Professionals
Coffee TikTok is not the only place on the internet where you can find drink ideas and funny café staff videos. Most coffee pros and companies have Instagram accounts or tweet on the platform formally known as Twitter. And for thoughtful content and business contacts, you can’t beat LinkedIn. Following specialty-coffee experts on social media will help you stay up to date on what’s happening in the specialty scene.
YouTube is still a great place to find how-to guides, and it offers the benefit of easier search options than social media sites. Classic channels like that of James Hoffmann and Morgan Eckroth are a go-to for new baristas. Dan Fellows (World Coffee in Good Spirits champ) has a channel dedicated to coffee and cocktails. And the World Coffee Championships channel will wow you with the skills and creations of coffee champions, and inspire you to push your coffee game.
While it’s easy to fall down a rabbit hole in the digital landscape, there are plenty of resources for the discerning specialty enthusiast to deepen their knowledge and expand their contact list.
6. Frequent Your Favorite Cafés
Most of us spend quite a lot of time drinking coffee at home and at work. But there are benefits to making the trek to other local coffee shops when you have the opportunity. Buy fresh beans. Make connections with shop owners and baristas, watch roasters, and try new flavors and origins to expand your horizons. You can also keep tabs on more localized coffee trends and events like throwdowns. And of course, one of the highlights of travel is trying out specialty cafés in an unfamiliar place.
Why It’s Worth It
Why continue your coffee education?
It could help you better understand the current and future coffee market; help boost your creativity; help you make informed decisions in your café; help you better train your baristas; and help improve your roasting skills. And the best reason of all: Learning is fun, and spending time with coffee people is fun.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
J. Marie Carlan (she/they) is the online editor for Barista Magazine. She’s been a barista for 16 years and writing since she was old enough to hold a pencil. When she’s not behind the espresso bar or toiling over content, you can find her perusing record stores, writing poetry, and trying to keep the plants alive in her Denver apartment.
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