Sophisticated as a Haiku, Engaging as a Warm Latte

Story By Randy Gross rgross@harrisburgmagazine.com

Photos by Paul Vasiliades

There are a lot of things that stand out about Aleah Watson. Someone meeting her for the first time might focus on her buoyant personality. Others, after some congenial conversation, her knowledge of alternative music and Haiku. But, if you’re a morning coffee drinker in need of that jolt of caffeine to shake the dust from your eyes, your attention will likely be drawn instead to Watson’s brewing, mixing, and artistic presentation skills. As our selected barista of the month, Watson definitely doesn’t disappoint in any of those areas.

For the past year-and-a-half, patrons of all three Little Amps Coffee Roasters locations in Harrisburg – 133 State Street, 1836 Green Street, and inside Strawberry Square – have been discovering just how much of a “stand out” talent Watson is. On a surprisingly warm February morn at the State Street location, she greeted us with a contagious smile, and a willingness to concoct a pair of drinks appealing both to the palate and our photographer’s lens. As she dexterously brewed a Vanilla Latte and Dirty Chai Latte (recipe at the end of this article) Watson’s latte art talents were on full display, as were her conversational skills.

“Oh, I love talking to people,” she remarked, citing one of her primary reasons for being a barista. “I love connecting with people. Putting a smile on their face, making them laugh, or just being able to see the need. Sometimes they just need to get out, and they just need their coffee really quickly. Or sometimes they just need a second to talk to someone and be seen.”

Though she describes herself as shy, the gifted Infinity Charter School, Bishop McDevitt High School, and CASA grad has an affinity for informed conversation, and loves reading, writing – and performing –poetry. A piano player by trade, Watson is also an accomplished acoustic musician, equally comfortable playing guitar or the drums. As a poet, she frequently attends open mics, and often immerses herself in Haiku (“one of my co-workers and I,” she recalls good-humoredly, “we had a whole day where we only spoke to each other in Haiku!”); as a singer, she has hosted open mics herself, and often performs at Little Amps, either as a solo act, or part of a double-bill, putting her own spin on songs by artists ranging from Lianne La Havas and Eloise, to Paramore, Weezer, and Cake. And, occasionally, even the Rolling Stones.

“My style is kind of folky,” she elaborates, “with maybe a little soul, but I like to do covers like ‘Paint it Black.’ I just like making something completely different my own.”

Music remains a driving force in Watson’s life. It was, in fact, the initial reason she became a barista at Little Amps. “I came here for the music,” she says, “and the good vibes, the good energy, the people … and then I just stuck around.” But it’s no longer her career aspiration.“I thought music was what I wanted to do with my whole life,” she explains. “I was gonna go on a tour, but with Covid happening, none of that could happen. So, it put me in a place of like ‘okay, how and what do I really want my life to look like,’ and I was reevaluating things, and I was like ‘well, realistically, this is what I really want to be doing with my life. And that [this] was psychology.”

All of which should come as no surprise, considering Watson’s love for talking to – and serving – people. “I would love to be a counselor, or do some kind of art therapy, music therapy, dance therapy type of deal.” She continues, “Just working mostly with children, or adolescents, and giving skills that aren’t normally taught. Mental health awareness is like the key for me.”

With a job in the psychology/sociology field a long-term goal, don’t be surprised to still see Watson performing in the corner nook at 133 State Street on a pleasant spring evening. As a self-confessed introvert she won’t be hard to spot. She’ll be the one wearing sunglasses, and maybe a hat.

Aleah’s Dossier

Words of advice to home coffee brewers. Know the coffee experience you are looking for and find a good recipe for your preferred experience. For example, at our shop, the grind

‘size’ varies based on type of bean (origin and size) and the mode of brewing. The amount (g) of coffee varies significantly between drip coffee, espresso shots, and AeroPress; as well as the amount of water used and the extraction rate and time. So, having a recipe for what you want will make your morning routine that much more smooth. A scale and grinder are essential. We are happy to help!

Is there anything – or anyone – who inspires you as a Barista?

Who inspires me as a barista? Probably the greatest barista that Harrisburg has ever seen, who retired last year: Zac Brady. He embodies cool and has all the qualities of a great barista. He is a great leader and his ability to communicate, unorthodox teaching style, and patience is the reason why I’m a great barista!

Favorite coffee or blend of coffee.

I enjoy natural process coffees; they’re juicy, fruity, and delicious.

Recommendations of two or three kinds of coffee to try.

Little Amps Shoondisa Natural Process Ethiopian or Luis Ordoñez Mexican Coffee.

Little Amps, continued from Page 39

Favorite coffee-fusion drink to mix.

Espresso and Tonic. A 16oz. cold drink. Orange Bitters over ice cubes, pour in tonic, and add one double shot of Espresso on top. A very refreshing summertime drink but lots of people get them year-round.

Most commonly ordered drinks during your shift(s). Probably a vanilla oat latte, hot or iced, honestly.

Philosophy on coffee brewing and/or the enjoyment of coffee. Be present with the process, whether you’re grinding beans for drip or scientifically concocting an AeroPress, let it be a little Zen.

Is Barista your day job? If not, what else do you do for a living?

Being a barista is my day job, but I also serve some nights over at the

Sturges Speakeasy. I am thoroughly considering pursuing a career in psychology/sociology, but I’ll cross that bridge in a little while. In my free time I love to sing, play guitar, dance, draw -- any creative expression really. I love to roller skate and skateboard. In the summer, catch me cruising all throughout the city!

During a typical week, what days/shifts can you be found at Little Amps?

I am usually inconsistently and sporadically at any of our three various locations! Roll a dice and you might pick the right shop.

Recipe for your signature (or favorite) coffee drink

Okay so, honesty hour. I am a tea drinker. I love Matcha. So, Aleah’s Signature Drink would be an Iced Matcha Latte with oat milk.

Iced Matcha Latte

2 tbsp. Matcha powder

60 oz. hot water

Oat milk

Place Matcha powder in a mason jar. Fill just above the powder with hot water. Put on lid and shake. Fill jar with ice, shake again. Add oak milk to the brim of Mason jar, shake again. Serve and enjoy.

Now, I know this is about coffee. So, if I had a signature coffee drink it would a Dirty Chai Latte with oat milk.

Dirty Chai Latte

28 oz. Chai syrup

Cinnamon

Double shot Espresso

10 oz oat milk, steamed

Pour our house-made Chai syrup into a cup with a couple dashes of cinnamon. Pour in Espresso. Stir. Pour steamed oat milk into Espresso/syrup mixture. Serve and enjoy.

With climate change, are we getting swept away today with melting glaciers, higher tides, and polar bears as the new house pets?

My Fitbit bit me, so I bit it back while it tracked my blood oxygen level.

I’m so stupid that I tried to shuck a corn dog.

I threw away my Everything bagel because it didn’t have Aspic. And I don’t even know what Aspic is.

And I tried to cash in my $100,000 candy bar at my local 7 Come 11 Store.

I not only upset the apple cart I took no for an answer. I’m now sentenced to cliché jail.

I can’t stay long. I’m on the run. There’s a warrant out for my arrest. I broke the law of gravity. I FELL UP.

Can you believe the price of eggs? Someone knocked over an Amish roadside stand and are now holding the eggs hostage.

I can’t believe I’m this old. Trouble is, I said that when I turned 30, when I turned 40, then 60, then... Now I’m saying it every day. Who’s the conductor on this runaway train of time?

Life is just an everything bagel without the cream cheese, metaphorically speaking. Or it’s just dirty dishes in the sink, realistically speaking.

I don’t mean to brag but I’ve never met a challenge that couldn’t beat me. And I’m proud of that!

Life is as tentative as an ice cream cone in August.

Life is as tentative as cotton candy in the rain.

With all the true crime shows on TV now