Barista, Barista, Bring Me My Coffee

Before Easter this year, I enrolled in a Barista course on the spur of the moment, a decision I'm glad I made.

Reading through the enrolment terms and conditions, it said there may be knowledge assessments.  Carefully the fine print because the 'may' should have read 'will be', but I wasn't there to edit the T&Cs.

The assessment quizzes also included a Language, Literacy and Numeracy Test (LLN), which required a 100% pass mark, either 100% or 'see you on the next prac course'.

So I carefully read (twice) a mountain of pages about hygiene practices for food and preparing and serving espresso until my eyes and brain hurt. 

The quizzes seemed easy enough until it wasn't.

Hello there coffee machine, we have work to do.

It was all fun and games until one question baffled me.

There were countless alternatives to the answer to the question, at least to someone as detail-oriented as me, and after an excruciating period passed, I gave up and called the college.

The college contact wasn't a facilitator but was worthy of one. 

Their clear line of questioning to the question I agonised over helped me finally reach the correct answer - go me!  It was embarrassingly simple.

Note to Self: next time I take an exam or quiz, try not to keep things simple.

The following morning I arrived at the appointed time, eager to begin my barista learning experience in the finer art of making espresso.

I learned to pour two at a time x three milk coffee of caps, lattes, piccolos, mochaccinos (looked delish) and flat whites. 

Milk coffees done, we started on the short/long blacks, ristretto, short/long macchiatos, and a long black ... phew! 

I prefer soy milk with coffee, so I decided to froth soy. 

My steam wand whooshed, squealed and occasionally screamed as I moved the milk jug up, down and around. 

It was disappointing to see my best effort of frothing had produced a jug of hot milk instead.

Maybe it was because the milk wasn't cold, or it wasn't barista-class soy, or could this have been a student error? 

Last we cleaned everything until everything sparkled and the angels sang.

Now that I am competent in making the above coffees, I have a newfound respect for baristas -  pulling shots of delicious coffee is an art form. 

The irony of my barista course was we didn't get to sample a single drop of delicious dark brew. 

Nope, not a single drop of coffee passed our lips - we were too busy pulling shots and being assessed!  

I solemnly give thanks to the Hairy Goddess for the flat white with soy I thought to buy from the cafe next door before class commenced.

As a sexagenarian, I know one thing for sure, age is no barrier to learning a new skill - you can train an old dog new tricks - who decided you couldn't?

Now to secure an apprenticeship ...

To Art Class With Love

Inspiration can arrive like a whisper in the wind, a feeling of excitement followed by goosebumps, or as a vision in the dream state, a relaxing  moment, or when still and calm. When it does knock on your door be on the look out for synchronicity at play. 

Whatever method inspiration uses, take notice because from a lifetime of personal experiences it will move on to the next person who will bring it to life by taking action.

Synchronicity happens in magical ways though often recognised in hindsight.

During the latter half of 2020 I would hear the word painting somewhere outside of myself and would see works of art displayed on easels in my mind's eye. Back then art class was an idea floating in my head not yet my heart.

Returning from Darwin in early 2021 friends met me at the airport to very kindly drive me home. As we chatted enthusiastically (mostly me), free art classes in Bulimba were mentioned and I knew this was a sign leading me there. I thanked my friends for passing this information on though it took several weeks before I finally sat down and began my search for these classes.

 I tracked them down through the Art with Love Foundation website and found they're held in the lovely riverside suburb of Bulimba, 4kms from Brisbane's CBD.

Bulimba isn't close to where I live but I decided to go and attended my first Saturday morning class in February.

My decision to paint a 'simple' landscape on my small canvas (see left image) was anything but and  took 3 hours to paint one layer.

 Over the course of 3 classess Art With Love founder Steve Ninnes said for me to let go of control, 'easy for some' I thought as he stopped to help me with technique. Watching him use deft, flowing strokes on my canvas made it look so incredibly easy, which apparently it is if I could just let go of control and be in the flow.

Looking for non-existent perfection, my artwork remains incomplete and I've promised myself that I will continue to work on letting go of control and be in the flow.

Tomorrow I return for another art class, first stop the Fiddle Leaf cafe (image below) which is conveniently located next door, for a delicious flat white with soy. 

After my coffee? Well, it's possible my inner genius will rise up to the challenge and finally complete my artwork so I can chat more with the many talented artisans you can find here.

I might even see you there next week 😉