Hey guys,
Welcome back. So today I’m going to go through how you can lock in and develop in the speciality coffee industry, no matter your background or experience. How to start and some tips on where to put your efforts and energy. This is a guide from personal experience, so I hope it helps
So, let’s get started.
Build a Community
On my journey in speciality coffee, I’ve learned that building what you love requires a community that is passionate about coffee and the industry.
Start on social media: start posting your journey, from pictures or videos of your latte art, espresso, or filter coffee. Find and tag other coffee lovers and users, and trust me, the community will follow. There is so much love online for speciality coffee, so just post and build. And as you get more into the ins and outs of speciality coffee, put in loads of effort, and your content will improve, you’ll connect with like-minded individuals that will lift you and support your journey just as much as you do for them.
Study and Take Some Courses
Another key element to building yourself in the speciality coffee industry is knowledge. Think about it this way – whatever you do, you want to grow, improve and succeed, right? And that’s where knowledge and learning new skills come in.
What I have done and what I recommend is taking some coffee skills courses, whether it be a basic coffee enthusiast course at your local coffee roastery or coffee shop, to fully accredited SCA (Speciality Coffee Association) courses like barista skills, brewing, sensory, roasting, etc. And these are the ones I thoroughly recommend if you want to lock in on your speciality coffee career. The SCA courses give you the baseline skills throughout three different levels (foundation, intermediate and professional) and will enable you to grow your skills independently once learned. For me brewing and sensory are the keys for me that opened up my knowledge and pushed me and made me more inspired to pursue my coffee journey, They allowed me to build the base knowledge on what it takes to be a great coffee brewer and how to taste different variables and characteristics in different coffees – and boy is there a lot of them) And from there, it’s allowed me to practice different methods and become more experienced in the way I taste and brew.
What I’ve learnt is that learning these things really does help you build something that is absolutely necessary when wanting to grow in this industry. because the coffee industry is full of valuable information of all shapes and varieties. Whether it’s the physics of brewing or roasting, or the art of espresso, or how different processing methods are performed on green coffee or how coffee cherries are treated, grown and farmed. There is so much information available to you, and learning a lot of it can really be helpful when growing in this amazing industry.
I highly recommend you check out some accredited SCA courses to help build your coffee knowledge, or if you’re only just getting started, some local speciality coffee courses like a latte art or home espresso course at your local coffee roastery.
Be Curious
In the ever-changing world of speciality coffee, being curious isn’t just beneficial—it’s essential. The industry thrives on innovation, and staying mindful and involved ensures you’re always learning and adapting to the industry around you.
Keep your palate fresh: Regularly taste coffees from different origins, processing methods, and roasters. This not only broadens your palate but also deepens your appreciation for flavour characteristics. It will also help you identify brews that are over- or under-extracted. This ensures that your taste for coffee is always thriving and that you know how and where to adjust your brews to make them better.
Ask Questions: Whether it’s about brewing techniques, origin stories, or flavour notes, never hesitate to seek knowledge. Engage with peers, mentors, and the wider coffee community—especially on social media. Never be afraid to comment on a post or directly message someone to ask a question about a coffee, a piece of equipment you are used to using, or anything coffee-related—the coffee community is always thriving and full of positivity.
Stay Updated: Follow industry publications, attend workshops, and participate in cuppings to keep an eye on the latest trends and discoveries.
Develop Your Sensory Skills
Like I briefly mentioned earlier. Developing your sensory skills and understanding the flavours in coffee is a major key to speciality coffee expertise. Building a refined palate allows you to appreciate the characteristics of each cup and so you can communicate them effectively.
Some advice on how to develop this is:
Regular Cupping: Make cupping a routine practice. Compare different coffees side by side to discern subtle differences and enhance your sensory vocabulary. I do this at work and at home a few times a week, as I noticed one of my weaknesses is tasting, so ensuring my palate is developing and improving really is essential.
Flavour Journaling: Document your tasting experiences. Note the aroma, acidity, body, and finish. Over time, this practice sharpens your descriptive abilities and helps track your palate development and will also help you understand how to explain a taste when you’re not too sure.
Explore Beyond Coffee: Tasting a variety of foods and beverages can enhance your flavour recognition. Experiment with fruits, teas, and spices to expand your sensory skills. Have a look at the Speciality Coffee Lexicon – this is a great guide for coffee to food sensory and how to prepare each one! It’s quite long, but this is a journey of development after all.
Master Your Equipment
Proficiency with brewing equipment and techniques is fundamental. Understanding the mechanics behind each method empowers you to consistently produce great coffee. Use what you have, perfect it over and over, and you’ll be on your way to a better brew.
Experiment with Variables: Adjust grind size, water temperature, and brew time to observe their effects on flavour. This hands-on experimentation deepens your brewing knowledge and allows you to open up different options for adjusting to make your brew style smoother and more frequently great.
Stay Informed on Innovations: The coffee industry is continually introducing new tools and technologies. Stay informed on the new equipment that is being released every year, so Master Your equipment, embrace the change of innovation and reflect on what options will be best for your personal coffee journey.
Embrace the Hospitality
At its core, coffee is about connection. While technical skills are vital, the ability to create welcoming experiences and share knowledge with kindness sets professionals apart. – A great fellow coffee professional that we at Caretta Coffee follow is @brewedbyjay – the founder of the UFO dripper, on his social platforms, he helps coffee enthusiasts and professionals step up their game with a no BS approach.
Prioritise Customer Experience: Engage with customers warmly, listen to their preferences, and guide them through their coffee journey with enthusiasm.
Be in Learning Environments: Encourage questions and discussions among peers. Sharing knowledge and skills helps develop a collaborative and supportive coffee community.
Reflect on Feedback: Constructive criticism is a tool for growth. Embrace feedback as an opportunity to refine your skills and approach to brewing.
Explore a Variety of Career Paths
Speciality coffee offers a huge variety of career avenues beyond brewing in a café. Exploring different roles can lead to fulfilling and dynamic career paths.
Shadow Different Roles: Spend time with professionals in various positions—roasters, green buyers, quality control specialists, barista trainers, consultants, etc, to gain insight into different aspects of the industry.
Pursue Relevant Education: Like I said at the start of this post, education matters, and developing your skills for the industry will help you thrive in the areas you want to pursue.
Stay Open to Opportunities: Be fully open to roles that may initially seem outside your comfort zone. Diverse experiences can lead to unexpected and rewarding career paths.
Understand the Global Coffee Landscape
Recognising the broader developments of coffee production and trade fosters a deeper appreciation for the beverage and the people behind it. The families that farm and produce the amazing drink we are lucky enough to enjoy every single day.
Educate Yourself on Origin Stories: Learn about the regions where coffee is grown, the challenges faced by producers, and the cultural significance of coffee in those communities. A great read regarding this is the Legendary James Hoffmann’s World Atlas of Coffee 2.0, it’ll help you diversify your knowledge for everything coffee-related.
Support Ethical Practices: Advocate for and support initiatives that promote sustainability, fair trade, and equitable practices within the industry – for speciality coffee, look for traceability, how much roasters pay to farmers, length of relationships and producer recognition. This is all a part of ethically sourced speciality coffee.
Share Knowledge: Use your platforms to educate others about the complexities of the coffee supply chain and the importance of ethical consumption, and how ‘speciality coffee’ isn’t just something that people have because they’re enthusiasts, but because it is a journey and a story behind every single cup.
To Finish
Embarking on your journey in speciality coffee is a continuous process of learning, sharing, and evolving. By being curious, developing your skills, embracing community, and understanding the broader horizons available in the industry. You not only grow as a professional but also contribute meaningfully to the industry. At Caretta Coffee, we’re committed to supporting you every step of the way. Here’s to your ongoing journey in the world of speciality coffee. And hope every article we write is one where you can make the information available into something special.
I hope this has been a good read. We’re off to the London Coffee Festival this week, so until then! Catch you on the next one.
Be sure to check out our latest post on How to Brew Delicious Coffee With the Origami Dripper.
