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Audio story #7 - Andrew Jay
77 Plays2 years ago
Andrew Jay’s coffee story is a unique one because…well…he couldn’t steam milk to save his life. The world of coffee baffled Andrew. Nothing ever fully clicked until he had his first sip of a V60.
Do you also think you’ll never know everything about coffee? Were you in a similar predicament to Andrew when the pandemic hit? Let us know.
Story by Emma Niro
Read the full story here
https://notabarista.org/andrew-jay/
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Transcript
Discovery of Coffee Passion
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Coffee Stories, Andrew Jay, by Emma Nero.
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In 2014, Andrew Jay had his first encounter with coffee at a bar in Scotland. It was a memorable, but somewhat baffling one because he couldn't steam milk to save his life. During his time at this job, Andrew didn't learn a single thing about coffee. Little did he know it did plant a seed in his brain that would very soon grow into something he has not been able to shake. Andrew had his first Eureka moment when he tried a V60 for the first time. Despite the coffee's humbling appearance,
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Andrew said the taste felt like a rocket breaking through the atmosphere, like an explosion in his mind.
Secret Barista Training and Industry Exposure
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After this coffee awakening, Andrew poured himself into the world of coffee. He studied James Hoffman and Colin Harmon. He delved into books and YouTube videos. Shortly afterward, Andrew got his first job as a barista, where he would secretly practice latte art against his boss's wishes. Eventually, latte art became the norm at the coffee shop once Andrew was promoted to assistant manager.
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During his time at the coffee shop, Andrew was fortunate enough to attend the London Coffee Festival to represent his shop. There he talked to people from La Marzocco, Square Mile, Union, Clifton Coffee Roasters, and more. He witnessed a latte art championship. He also tried a variety of coffees. Andrew had reached coffee nirvana.
Specialty Coffee Mastery and Challenges
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Andrew attending the festival led him to realize that if he wanted to learn more about the coffee industry, he would have to leave his current job.
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In 2018, Andrew entered the specialty coffee world. At a coffee shop in Swansea, Andrew had his first cupping session, witnessed coffee being roasted for the first time, and learned to dial in via taste rather than by recipe. He began to excel in latte art, extraction, V60s, and brew ratios. Because of his success, the owners of the shop asked Andrew to take over.
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Unfortunately, Andrew's dream job of running his own coffee shop came to a halt due to the COVID pandemic. He had to quit because he was working over 80 hours a week without pay. Eventually it came down to Andrew choosing to pursue his dreams or sustain his own livelihood. He said, things were on hold. Even with government support, I could not sustain the store or a paycheck. So I handed the store over to my business partner and I left to be a barista again.
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So after all that, I went back to just making coffee.
Pursuing Advanced Skills and Industry Impact
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Despite this rough patch, Andrew still kept busy. He completed his SCA barista skills intermediate and is currently working towards his professional, his AST and his coffee diploma. With all this experience, Andrew was able to shape his end goal. He wants to complete his AST and be able to teach future baristas about coffee so they can create their own moments and shape their own career in the industry.
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Andrew hopes to inspire people going into the industry with these parting words, drink coffee, all types, broaden your horizons and ways of brewing. Don't wait to purchase expensive technology, a specific espresso machine, grinder, or a roaster. Just start and you will learn and experience amazing things on the way.
00:03:09
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You can never know everything about coffee and that's okay. So why does Andrew's story matter? Why does he deserve the spotlight? Andrew's story highlights the struggles of the coffee industry. He had to give up his dream of running his own coffee shop just so he could get by. His story reminds people why organizations like I'm Not a Barista exist. His voice is the voice that needs to be heard.