CAFETTO BARISTA PROFILE
Tilly’s triumph From the producer who makes it to the customer who drinks it, the relationships behind coffee are why Tilly Sproule loves the industry. Tilly Sproule frequently collaborates with the Lanza family of Finca la Huerta.
D
espite five consecutive wins at the Northern Region Barista Championship, Tilly Sproule says the growing Queensland coffee scene has kept her on her toes. “There’s a bit of excess pressure every year, but part of me feels proud to come back and represent 12 months of exploring new coffees and ideas. There’s also been a nice movement in the Northern Region competitions,” Tilly says. “The support you feel onstage is incredible. This year, the room was jampacked and the community was keen and excited to see what we had to present. There was also so much passion from the baristas this year – old faces coming back and new ones striving to succeed. I like to think I played a part in that.” When Tilly began working as a barista at Gloria Jean’s 11 years ago, it was less as
64
beanscenemag.com.au
a career choice and more of a casual job. “During the busy morning trade in the city, we had a lot of professionals coming in, making interesting conversation. It was the opposite of what I was studying at university,” Tilly says. “The whole customer interaction side of things really intrigued me, and it felt good being somewhat responsible for making someone else’s day with a cup of coffee.” Tilly deferred her urban and regional town planning degree and went to work for Gloria Jean’s full time. She entered a management role, overseeing several coffee houses, before transitioning to training, covering the Sunshine Coast. During this time, Tilly started attending industry events and became a regular of Lamkin Lane Espresso Bar, the café of former Australian Barista Champion Tim Adams and face of his roasting business, Tim Adams Specialty Coffee.
“I’d been following Tim’s journey in barista competitions and knew [Head Roaster] James Pedrazzini previously. We got to know each other and build up a relationship,” Tilly says. “I started to feel a disconnect between what I was learning about coffee and my job as a trainer for a large international company. Tim offered me the chance to join his team and it took me about 30 seconds to give an answer.” With Tim Adams Specialty Coffee, Tilly heads up barista training for wholesale or “anyone who wants to chat coffee for a few hours”, and contributes wherever else she’s needed, from managing and building wholesale relationships to machine maintenance, packing, and deliveries. “Our team is really one big family that does everything together. There’re no set roles, which I find really refreshing and versatile. Our customers appreciate that
