Tasting Britain
Barista Training Foundation Course @ The Artisan Coffee School, Ealing Broadway, London
Artisan Coffee opened its doors in back in 2011, with its first outlet in lovely Putney. The seem to have been going strong, opening their third outlet in August 2014, just off of Ealing Broadway. It was at this store where I studied for part of The SCAE Coffee Diploma (since I’m pretty much powered by caffeine it seemed like a good idea for me . Training takes place in 'The Training Room' - described as 'a cross between a lab and workshop'
We are ‘educated’ by Alessandro Bonuzzi (@alebonuzzi) - the first ever SCAE registered professional barista, not just within the UK but within Europe. He is from Verona and at first glance looks like some kind of Italian jazz prodigy. He was previously in the wine industry and uses a lot of wine metaphors to explain coffee tasting and varietals. In between delivering technical info on grind permeability he will occasionally say great stuff like "If the internet works, we can watch videos on the internet!"
The cool thing about here is that you get a schooling in coffee in a very non academic environment. It is a good feeling. As people here are often working on their laptops or catching up with friends, and our little group learning fits in entirely. at no point do you feel like 'trainees' or out of place. The school, which is an extension of the coffee shop, was set up by Edwin and Magda Harrison, who arrived back in the UK after spending (and presumably meeting during) a year in Uganda. Edwin is English, whereas Magda is Australian (apparently a country also known for a fanatical dedication to 'the world's favourite beverage’). Educational fun with small scale adrenal damage.
Barista Training Foundation Course @ The Artisan Coffee School, Ealing Broadway, London
Artisan Coffee opened its doors in back in 2011, with its first outlet in lovely Putney. The seem to have been going strong, opening their third outlet in August 2014, just off of Ealing Broadway. It was at this store where I studied for part of The SCAE Coffee Diploma (since I’m pretty much powered by caffeine it seemed like a good idea for me . Training takes place in 'The Training Room' - described as 'a cross between a lab and workshop'
We are ‘educated’ by Alessandro Bonuzzi (@alebonuzzi) - the first ever SCAE registered professional barista, not just within the UK but within Europe. He is from Verona and at first glance looks like some kind of Italian jazz prodigy. He was previously in the wine industry and uses a lot of wine metaphors to explain coffee tasting and varietals. In between delivering technical info on grind permeability he will occasionally say great stuff like "If the internet works, we can watch videos on the internet!"
The cool thing about here is that you get a schooling in coffee in a very non academic environment. It is a good feeling. As people here are often working on their laptops or catching up with friends, and our little group learning fits in entirely. at no point do you feel like 'trainees' or out of place. The school, which is an extension of the coffee shop, was set up by Edwin and Magda Harrison, who arrived back in the UK after spending (and presumably meeting during) a year in Uganda. Edwin is English, whereas Magda is Australian (apparently a country also known for a fanatical dedication to 'the world's favourite beverage’). Educational fun with small scale adrenal damage.