Excerpt from Interview With A Barista
VCS: I would like to begin by having you share with us some of your experiences as a Barista at Second Cup.
Katie: ...When I first started I received a manual that I had to study for about 3 weeks, at the same time as serving coffee to customers at Second Cup.
I had to learn about the different types of coffee grinds, kinds of different tastes and how to differentiate amongst them. So, I study that for 3 weeks and then I was given a test. Having passed it, I was known as a coffee agent. The test is based on knowledge and your performance at the store and customer relations.
...Then you learn how to make the hot specialty drinks on the Barista. Drinks like: Latte, Cappuccino, Mochaccino, Chai Latte and Carmel Macchiato. For your experience on the Barista, it was important to develop proficiency and accuracy in creating the drinks to the satisfaction of the customer. This was important because of the long line ups; more specifically Friday nights and Saturday mornings.
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