3 minute read
BARISTAS COFFEE JOURNEY
Millie Gay , Barista artist who has a passion for all things coffee. She has a lot of knowledge to share on how to make those perfect coffee’s and the stunning latte art. We interviewed Millie so she could to tell her thoughts on how it became her passion in life.
Advertisement
“My love of coffee developed purely by accident. I studied English Literature & Education Studies at University which sets you on a path to become a teacher and it was purely by happy chance that I needed a job a few years after and I encountered a coffee machine. Through in-house coffee training, I discovered a whole different world that I did not know existed before. I didn’t know that so much work went into a coffee – from the farmers, the people who pick/sort/source the beans, the roasters, the baristas and the THOUSANDS of job roles in between that I am missing.
There are so many amazing jobs within the umbrella of “the coffee industry”.
I decided to do some more training so did the SCA Barista Skills foundation, intermediate & professional courses.
You learn so much over a few days and I am hugely lucky to be able to have done those courses. Whilst before I had gone to university & done my degree because that was ‘expected’ of me (though I did absolutely love it), this was something that I was doing because I was completely interested and it was to gain skills for something I love doing”.
I have also competed in a few latte art throwdowns which are friendly competitions, usually held at a cafe or roastery. They are amazing for getting to meet all the other wonderful people who work in the local area & also a great excuse to get together and eat pizza. Whilst I would love to do a more formal competition, I know that I get extremely nervous “performing” in front of people. My first throwdown involved me shaking like a leaf, which worked out well for doing a Rosetta! It is a dream though, to be able to do a bigger competition – maybe one day!
I have recently started doing some barista training myself & I love it. It is so rewarding to be able to help people and maybe pass on some tips that they have not come across before.
Creating the perfect pour is a saying all baristas say. The importance of the Pour of the milk is very strong factor to your cup of coffee so it has to be done the correct way. Millie explains her thughts on how the perfect pur becomes a work of art.
“I really enjoy doing latte art. It is the little cherry on top of the cake - you can make amazing coffee with no latte art at all - it is all about the texture and consistency of your milk. However, I find doing latte art is so calming, in the same way that drawing is. I love watching instagram videos of other baristas and their skills - learning from them.
I am currently still trying to perfect a seahorse. Latte art does get completely ridiculous and some people find it frivolous, but for me it is about trying (and trying some more) to perfect something. It takes years of practice sometimes to get a particular design quick enough to actually serve & for me, I like pushing myself & making myself learn more so I can always try new ones. My instagram is full of the “better” attempts at different patterns - but you don’t see the times I drop the cup, completely mess up the milk, accidentally do phallic latte art etc. I never stop learning & trying out different ideas - some that work and others that really really don’t.
