There was a teacher, handouts and lots of dry information to cover in the school day.
But this wasn’t your typical class.
It was barista basics 101.
Three 18-year-old girls gave up their Saturday to attend the recent class at a coffee shop in Marysville. So, too, did a middle-aged mom from Mukilteo.
Marysville Parks and Recreation partners with the Living Room Coffee House, a nonprofit community hangout, to offer a barista class several times a year to give job seekers an edge and coffee lovers some tricks.
“I kept hearing from young girls who have a hard time finding a job, that places only hire people with experience,” said Maryke Burgess, parks program coordinator.
It appealed to her as well. “I personally wanted to learn how to do it.”
The city offers classes on everything from jewelry and line dancing to pancake art and energy healing. So why not coffee?
Washington is, after all, the coffee capital. “Some people take their coffee as seriously as brewmasters take their craft beers,” Burgess said.
The Living Room uses beans from Stumptown Coffee Roasters, a direct trade company with farmers.
The venue, located in a Marysville strip plaza, opened six months ago as a creative gathering place by The Hillside Church, which uses the space on Sundays for ministry.
The Living Room has a full service coffee bar with sofas, ottomans, tables, stocked kitchen and that comfy at-home vibe.
“It was a good match,” Burgess said. “They are willing to teach people and let volunteers work in the shop as well to get their foot in the door to work elsewhere.”
Baristas who take the coffee class can work for tips at the coffee bar at the Living Room, which is staffed by volunteers.
“People gain a skill they can use to further themselves if they want to get a job or want to gain some knowledge,” said coffee instructor Brandon Wilson, also a volunteer at the Living Room.
The class is also an end in itself for those not looking for a paying job. “A lot of people here are moms whose kids are in school during the day so they get to hang out and make food and have fun,” Wilson said.
Deirdre Campbell, a Mukilteo mom, took the class because she said it sounded fun. The teen students, Erika Janik of Snohomish, Karli Showalter of Arlington and Melissa Heilman of Marysville, want to get jobs as baristas.
“It is not just making coffee from espresso,” Wilson said. “We teach people about coffee.”
Before operating the machinery, the students learned the history and science of coffee: what beans are, where they grow, how they are roasted. It’s like having to study all the rules of the road before getting a driver’s permit.
“I didn’t have my first cup of coffee until I was 21,” said Wilson, 29. Obviously he’s not from Washington.
The teens were way ahead of him on that subject, with established drinks of choice and coffee bars at school.
“White chocolate mocha breve with hazelnut. It’s what I usually get,” said Erika, who got a chance to make her favorite drink.
Students learned about all the drinks, which basically fall into three categories: Milk and coffee. Milk, coffee and chocolate. Water and coffee.
As for working the intimidating machines, Living Room volunteer Bekki Countryman, who has 13 years of barista experience, said it just takes practice.
“I’ve opened stands, closed stands, come in and help save stands,” Countryman said.
She showed students how to use the tools of the barista trade and let them make multiple drinks.
“This is kind of my ministry,” said Countryman, who has three kids and volunteers at The Living Room because she has a brain tumor and is unable to work a full-time job.
“I like the hands-on experience definitely,” said Melissa, an avid hiker who gave up a day outside to study coffee. “Learning about it first, then putting all your knowledge into practice.”
The hands-on experience was the best part for Karli, whose favorite pastime is barrel racing. “It was just amazing how much you can learn by just doing the basics.”
The students caught on quickly, including how to dodge the occasional burst of steam. Which led one teen to remark: “I don’t know how they do this in bikinis.”
Andrea Brown: 425-339-3443; abrown@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @reporterbrown.
Learn coffee
The Marysville Parks and Recreation offers a barista training class three times a year for ages 16 and older. The next class, which costs $110, is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 13. A half day class is scheduled for the fall. For more details go to www.marysvillewa.gov or call 360-363-8450.
Living Room Coffee House, 1212 State Ave., is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday. The venue does private parties, event rental and catering. For more, call 360-658-8646 or visit www.lrcoffeehouse.com.
Coffee basics
Americano: Espresso with water.
Chai latte: Steamed milk flavored with a spiced tea. This is not coffee, unless espresso shots are added for a “dirty” chai latte.
Breve: Espresso with half milk and half cream.
Cappuccino: Espresso with half steamed milk and half foam. “Wet” means more milk than foam. “Dry” means more foam than milk.
Doppio: Double shot of espresso.
Espresso: Concentrated coffee.
Latte: Espresso with mostly steamed milk and little foam.
Macchiato: Means “stained.” Espresso with a dash of foamed milk.
Mocha: Espresso, chocolate, steamed milk topped with whipped cream.
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