pouring praise and coffee

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Blog Entry 003: You ask, I answer

A while back, I have asked you guys on my Instagram some questions that you’ve wanted to ask your favorite barista. To be honest, only two people asked me a question, so the rest of the questions will be found on Google.

Let’s get started!

Q#1 What is your favorite part about being a barista?

A - I have to say that my favorite part about being a barista is just seeing the growth I’ve made in the past year. Now I can reflect and remember what I was doing this time last year and at the same time, how the shop was at as well. I am so privileged to see all the accomplishments not only the business has made, but how much personal growth I’ve made. But on another note, I love to serve people, and the best way for me is to make coffee for people, whether it is used to bring people together, make memories with, and helping people be the best version of themselves for the people around them. I am so glad to give people what they need (caffeine obviously).

Q#2 - What is the hardest part of being a barista?

A - There isn’t anything that I would categorize as ‘hard’ for the job itself. Maybe it’s adapting, and I say this vaguely because there are so many parts of the job. As a barista in a new business, everyone goes through change, new ideas set for the team, new recipes, discovering opportunities, weaknesses, and strengths, new additions to the shop, and learning all the new drinks and systems set. All of this to say is that everyone takes change differently, but it comes easier with experience. We all react differently to how we make adjustments throughout the shop, and we are all in this together (note the High School Musical reference?) so the quicker you adapt, the smoother everything falls into place.

Q#3 - What has been your go-to drink?

A - As of now, I have a little menu this week at the shop I made of all of my favorite drinks, so I go through all four of those. It depends on how I’m feeling, so maybe a pumpkin spice and brown sugar cinnamon latte. I cannot wait for fall!

Q#4 - What is the most unique coffee drink that you have ever made?

A - There has only been customers who ask for flavor combinations that I would’ve never thought to put together and that is what I consider as unique. If they enjoy it and know what they like, that is all that matters! I think one that I remember are lavender chai or chocolate chai. Honestly, I would try those! My family doesn’t get how I like the ‘unique’ flavors! But if a customer wants to build their own drink and have never tried it before, it’s nice to show some creativity to their creation.

Q#5 - What is a underrated flavor combination you wish people would try?

A - Okay hear me out, but it would be lavender and brown sugar cinnamon. I don’t care about the weird looks I just got from that response! The floral from lavender and the warmth of the cinnamon tie in together to me, it all-together is a very calm drink and I wish that I made this more. Don’t give me the credit, one of my former coworkers’ husbands tried this before and I’m so glad I tried it!

Q#6 - How do you make coffee at home?

A - I have a few things I rotate with! My twin sister bought a Nespresso machine a while back and I like to reuse the pods from her, empty them out, grind my own beans, and put the grounds in the pod, and seal them with a aluminum sticker (from amazon). I also have a Moka pot, which I like to use for a stronger drip coffee. If I don’t want to wait the seven minutes it takes to brew, my family also has a kurieg-like machine from Hamilton Beach.

Thank you for those who have asked a few questions, now I feel like you know me a little better! I hope to make another post of even more questions you might have for me in the future, these would be great to look back on. Thank you so much for reading!

kEEP POURING,

Khalie x