Skills & Education
Sarah Posma: A Fairbanks Coffee Leader's Path From Barista to Manager
An Alaska-born coffee professional reflects on eleven years at a Fairbanks roaster, a long-distance barista competition, and the rituals of winter café life.
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Barista
28 stories
- Skills & Education
Staying Centered Behind the Bar: Practical Grounding Methods for Baristas
Working in customer service brings stress that can't be avoided, so having grounding strategies on hand is vital for baristas to remain composed and focused during tough moments.
- Coffee Competitions
Dylan Johnson on AeroPress Competition Culture and Extraction Principles in New South Wales
An email interview with Australian AeroPress champion Dylan Johnson, covering his path into coffee, the brewer's growth in New South Wales, his competition preparation, and his extraction philosophy.
- Coffee Competitions
Lemuel Butler on Competition, Signature Drinks, and Coffee Craft
The five-time Southeast Barista Champion shares his journey from reluctant barista to industry mentor, and explains how competition shaped his approach to coffee.
- Staffing & Labor
Safeguarding Baristas: A Guide to Preventing Common Café Injuries
Strategies for café owners to reduce barista strain and injuries through ergonomic design, equipment choices, and staff education.
- People
A Roaster's View from the Coffee Expo: Rachel Apple on Hospitality, Mentorship, and Innovation
Rachel Apple, quality control at George Howell Coffee, shares her experience hosting international guests, supporting a partner's product launch, and participating in a mentorship panel at the coffee industry's major trade show.
- Coffee Competitions
Barista Guild and SCAA Board Retract Regional Competition Overhaul, Form Committee for Future Qualifying Events
After facing backlash over the cancellation of regional qualifiers for the US Barista Championship, the organizations have reversed the decision but say the old format cannot return as it was.
- Coffee Drinks & Food
The Story Behind a Chicago Café's Unlikely Signature Latte
How a honey-coconut-cayenne espresso drink overcame skepticism to become a café staple.
- Coffee Drinks & Food
Affogato Beyond the Espresso Pour: How Cafés Are Reinventing a Classic
From gelato swaps to waffle bases and Prosecco drownings, the humble coffee-and-ice-cream dessert keeps branching out—presentation and scoop size included.
- Coffee Competitions
The Craft Behind a Barista's Fifteen Minutes on Stage
Eden-Marie Abramowicz of Intelligentsia shares how flavor expectations shape the competition routine that took her to the national stage.
- Coffee Competitions
Randall Jackson’s Road to the CoffeeChamps Stage
A behind-the-scenes look at how a Lubbock barista built his first competition routine after hours, wrestled with self-doubt, and earned a mid-pack score in Austin.
- Skills & Education
Beyond the Bag: How Baristas Build Careers Through Structured Learning
Skepticism about barista training persists, but certifications and camps offer a path to professional credibility.
- People
From Barista to Roastery Owner: How Andy Sprenger Turned Competition Wins into a Colorado Coffee Hub
Sprenger, a US Aeropress and two-time US Brewers Cup champion, opened Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters in Lakewood, Colorado, in December 2013 after more than two decades away from his home state.
- Skills & Education
How to Steam Milk for Consistent Microfoam
A step-by-step guide to aerating and heating milk so the foam is evenly integrated, from purging the wand to the final swirl before pouring.
- Brewing Methods
Rethinking the Espresso Shot: When Weaker Means More
Some cafés are deliberately dialing back espresso concentration. A pioneer of the style now has second thoughts, while others keep pushing extraction further.
- Coffee Competitions
Carolina Ibarra Garay: From First Competition to Global AeroPress Stage
The 2018 U.S. AeroPress champion reflects on her rapid rise and her preparations for the World Championship in Sydney.
- Opinion
Coffee Activism, Part 2: Forging a Path Ahead
Born as a grassroots movement in the United States, coffee activism has since expanded into an international force uniting professionals across the sector. Part Two examines the organizations and individuals in the United Kingdom and Australia working to make the industry more inclusive.
- Coffee Competitions
When Baristas Take the Stage: How One City Built a Coffee Scene
A group of coffee enthusiasts revived a local latte art tournament and discovered an audience hungry for connection—and a blueprint other cities could follow.
- Skills & Education
Two Quick Edits That Make Coffee Shots Stand Out
Contrast and color temperature tweaks can bring out crema and foam in your own phone photos, no canned filter required.
- Coffee Drinks & Food
Building Flavor Into Coffee with Infused Simple Syrups
How sugar-and-water mixtures become a creative base for lattes, cappuccinos, and other coffee drinks.
