A career

Luc

I've been travelling overseas for a few years and have now just returned back to Melbourne, where I intend to open a cafe within the next few years.
I am either going to work in a different industry to get the finance I need or;
seek out a cafe/roaster type of business that can teach me everything I need to know about coffee/barrista etc. I have spent many years working in the hospitality industry in bars, cafes & restaurants but never really nailed the art of being a barrista but damn I love coffee. Anyway to the point...

Who should I approach in Melbourne regarding employment that would give me the skills & knowledge I'm looking for?

Now I'm about to do a barrista course and may just grab whatever cafe I feel is in line with what I'm after but I just thought all you people may have some suggestions on places that I'm after. (I know of some places in NSW & QLD from this website)

Okay, any ideas and suggestions are welcome

askthecoffeeguy

As a cafe owner myself and as one who has worked my way up through the ranks, I suggest that you contact those venues that appeal to you most.   I'm sure that you have a couple of favourite venues in mind, where you already go for coffee. What not start there, and even offer to (gasp) do some unpaid work i exchange for experience? Or, if that doesn't work for you, try hotting them up for a job!  even if you get a knock-back, I'm sure that you will also get some good pointers in the right direction. the other thing you could do is to volunteer to put some hours in with a boutique coffee roaster, to boost your experience and knowledge of the industry there are plenty around, but if you get stuck for ideas, drop me a line privately, and i can make some recommendations ACG

askthecoffeeguy

scuse my typos in the above missive!

tommy

the other thing you could do is to volunteer to put some hours in with a boutique coffee roaster, to boost your experience and knowledge of the industry

this would definately pay off, the info you will pickup from a roaster will turn out to be invaluable. most roasters are keen to spread the coffee love so i cant imagine that you will find much resistance

Lukey

my advice would be is pick one and the best the you can instead of trying to be both. if you want to roast then be a roaster, and get someone else to do the barista side. or, be a barista and source your beans from a roaster and work with that roaster to get the coffee/blend you want to use. to be both is very hard and IMO you can do both and get average to good results or be one or the other get a great relult. have a chat to some roasters and they'll tell that its much more than turning on the roaster waiting 15 min until golden brown. luke

Luc

Thanks peoples! I am looking into doing a barista course this week. Options are; 1.The Lavazza one at www.coffeeclass.com.au (Can start this Monday) 2.William Angliss or 3.www.cafelearning.com.au But when I try and click on the link it comes up with an error. Is the site just down or is this school no longer operational? ACG, I did a bit of surfing and had a looked at Eureka Coffee and their cafe in Fitzroy. May check it out this week. If I do decide to go down that avenue, a place like this is something I'll be looking at. So do you know of others similar to this? I'll send a PM. Cheers

takeaim

I can recommend the william angliss course, was a good way to learn the basics.

Bon

Have a look at this place: http://www.venezianocoffee.com.au/