My journey to becoming Coffee Quality Consultant
Often I get asked, “How did you get started in coffee Renata?” Coffee was never an interest of mine until 2011 when I was working as a waitress in Bewley’s on Grafton Street, and I was asked to be a barista in their newly opened coffee shop. At the time, I didn’t know how to turn on a coffee machine, and I didn’t even drink coffee, so you can imagine how unenthusiastic I was to become a barista! However, after spending a few weeks working behind a coffee machine and trying to understand how it all works, something changed in me and I started to like it. I’m not saying I loved it straight away, but step by step my coffee making skills were developing and I realised that it was something I was really passionate about, and I became especially passionate about creating latte art. In 2013 I challenged myself to enter the Irish Latte Art Competition for the first time, and, to my surprise, I came third! It was a huge achievement for me, and I guess that was the moment when I really started falling in love with coffee.
Year by year, my love for coffee continued to grow, and I continued to improve my own latte art skills, as well as training other baristas. The people I trained became my competitors on the stage down the road! Unfortunately, I never won any Latte Art Championship, but winning wasn’t my main goal. I was competing because I love challenges and I see competition as a way to improve my capabilities and measure my level of skill compared to the previous year. However, becoming a barista and taking part in Latte Art Competitions was just the beginning of my coffee journey. The real adventure started when I got my current job as Coffee Quality Consultant in Java Republic.
Every day in Java Republic I continue to educate myself on coffee knowledge, brewing and sensory skills. Although I don’t have that much time to train for latte art competitions anymore, latte art is still a big passion for me and I have never wanted to leave it behind. As a result, I decided to step to the other side of the competition table and experience what it is like to be a judge. The judging team for National Latte Art Competitions has a panel of at least four judges, (2 visual, 1 technical and 1 head judge), plus shadow judges. For the competition, the competitor has to present photography of the pattern they intend to replicate, and then prepare 2 coffees with these designs for the judges. Judging is very technical and the judges all look for very specific things. To be a certified judge for national competitions, you need a strong background in coffee, a good understanding of the rules and regulations, and you need to go through the required briefing and morning calibrations on the day of competition. My first step to becoming a judge was taking one of the judging courses organised by WCEP (World Competitions Educational Program). The one I completed was in Kortrijk, Belgium. The three-day course covered rules and regulations, score sheets, judges stage behaviour and focused on what is expected of judges.
I didn’t have to wait too long for my first opportunity to judge the Irish Latte Art Championships-I judged for the first time only a few weeks after my course was completed! It was a great experience and I learnt an incredible amount from the event, the other judges and the baristas. My next goal was then to become a World Coffee Events (WCE) certified judge. I was lucky because the next judging certification for the world level was in Dublin in December 2015 and I decided to attend. To be certified in World Competitions, judges have to pass seven different exams (Rules and Regulations, Coffee Knowledge, Taste Test, Aroma Test, Barista Skills Practical, Practical Judging Exam and Art Bar). Before taking the exams, I studied as much as I possibly could in order to pass everything the first time, because I was aware it can take some people several years to complete! Unfortunately, I didn’t pass-I missed out by just two points on one exam! While I was disappointed initially, I was also really grateful for the experience as I learnt a lot. I decided that I wasn’t going to be beaten, so I retook the exams and passed on the second attempt!
Even though I am a World Coffee Events (WCE) certified judge, I actually have very little experience judging because everything has happened so quickly for me. It only took 6 months to start my judging journey in Belgium, pass my exams and receive my certificate. With this certificate, I get a lot of responsibility at certain events, such as the Spanish Latte Art Competition in Madrid where I was made Head Judge. Even though being a judge is all completely voluntary, my favourite aspect of taking part in these coffee events is the connection with so many people in the coffee industry from around the world. Coffee is big part of my life, and meeting people who are also passionate about this industry is something I really love to do. I would never have thought back in 2011 when I started working as a barista that my coffee journey would bring me to judging coffee at the highest level possible. I am very lucky and proud to be part of the WCE judging team, as I know that this will help me to continue to develop my carreer in coffee. I am the type of person who thrives on challenges, and Java Republic has provided me with an environment that enables me to continue to push myself, as they do for all of my colleagues. You can follow Java Republic on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn to keep up to date!
Until next time,
Renata
