Page 43 - #59 English

Kristen Kovaletz, USA

I worked as a barista for a long time. The
Ex-barista, now Wholesale Coffee Manager and Educator in
Verve Coffee Roasters word Verve in English means the “Spirit, vigor,
and enthusiasm surrounding the creation of art”
and we believe that we as baristas get to make
art everyday. Which is super awesome. It allows
us to be creatives, artists, while also making a
steady income. Another thing about being a
barista that is awesome, is the community it
builds. My closest friends have come from the
coffee community and I’m so grateful for it.
My parents were both very skeptical about
me working as a barista, but as I’ve taught them
more and more, they now know how much of a
growing phenomenon coffee is, and they are
hopeful that it will allow me to be able to fulfill
my dream, which is to have a job that pays me to
travel and meet people!
I talked to my associate Eirik about what he
think of barista as a profession. He says that work-
ing in the coffee industry has given him the great-
est friends and support system, and has allowed
him to think both critically and creatively about
his work, which is where he is most happy!”

Miki Suzuki, Japan

I’ve been working at Maruyama Coffee since Three-time Barista Champion of Japan (2010, 2011, 2016)
2008. My current job is Sales Planning and
Barista. I really enjoy introducing wonderful
coffee experiences for my customers. I’m so
delighted to be a barista, the coffee industry has
been life changing for me. Also I have forged
many important relationships with coffee farm-
ers, coworkers, trainers and customers; this
experience made me grow as a professional
barista and helped me truly appreciate coffee.
My parents are proud of me being a barista.
When I started to be a barista, they didn’t quite
understood what is that, a “Barista”. They
couldn’t understand why I spent a lot of time and
effort on this job. But now, with time, they
started appreciating beauty of this job.
Talking about my friends, they always
support me. They are not in the coffee industry,
but they absolutely adore me as a barista. We
respect each others’ and can enjoy our time
through coffee.

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