The speciality coffee industry can be a scary world. Confusing terms, judging hipsters and multiple flavours can lead to individuals shying away from the speciality coffee industry. Many struggle to find an open door that will allow new coffee drinkers into the deep rabbit hole that will change their perspective on coffee.

There are three ways that any new coffee enthusiast can take to ensure that they connect with baristas, coffee trainers and roasters in the speciality coffee industry. Starting with a local cafe and connecting with the baristas is one of the best ways to start.

Videos, online blogs, and online content are easy ways to dive into the industry on your own time. The last option is a quick or in-depth course that will enable any learner to start their journey by connecting to a knowledgeable trainer who will assist in multiple ways.

Every step will take courage and time. The key, however, is to take the journey head-on and enjoy every step. The industry professionals are all there to assist where they can once you open the floor to learn and grow from the start.

Three ways you can start

There are multiple methods and ways that new coffee enthusiasts can take that will allow them to step into the intriguing industry that many classify as the speciality coffee industry. We will explain three methods to open the door and enable anyone to take easy steps into this industry.

Local coffee shops and friends

Visiting your local coffee shop on a regular base is a great start for any individual to experience a form of the fantastic coffee industry. These regular experiences will allow you to try new drinks and a variety of coffee beans.

Regular visits will enable you to chat with the local baristas. Understanding their perspective, knowledge and ideas will be the gateway that will lead you down the rabbit hole of coffee. The key is to ask your questions. Baristas can look intimidating, but most are eager to chat and assist where they can.

2. Online blogs and videos

Coffee is everywhere. A simple Google search will enable anyone to witness the beauty of coffee shared through videos, blogs and multiple other formats. The free content on YouTube, blogs and social media is an excellent start for anyone to experience a bit of the speciality coffee scene.

Videos

YouTube is a platform that will allow you to search for video content to produce the solutions and results for your exact problem. The platform will provide high-quality content produced by industry leaders, introducing any individual to the coffee industry.

James Hoffman, Euro Coffee Trips and Clive Coffee are three amazing examples of YouTube channels that will add value and insight into the speciality coffee industry.

Blogs

Blogs are a great tool for newly interested coffee lovers to find new information based on the intricacies of the speciality coffee industry. These blog articles can cover ideas such as making espressos or interviewing coffee professionals on their opinions and ideas.

Blog posts are diverse and have the opinions of many across the world. These posts will enable any reader to experience a variety of opinions, lessons, information and knowledge spread worldwide.

3. Barista training courses

Coffee courses are another great tool to learn quickly. Downloading information from professionals will enable students to understand the depth of the speciality coffee industry.

Barista courses, coffee workshops and cupping events will allow new coffee enthusiasts to find their feet. These barista course groups will introduce you to coffee's terminology, history and knowledge.

Accredited Courses

Accredited courses are barista courses that aim to provide students with educational coffee information that will equip them to understand the knowledge and techniques to make good coffee.

The Barista trainer will explain all the concepts and assist the students to ensure that they understand every aspect of coffee. The Specialty Coffee Association Aims to provide learners with the opportunity to work through various courses to raise the standard of the coffee industry.

The accredited courses are specialised, and only a handful of trainers have the authority to teach these courses.

Non-accredited courses

Non-accredited coffee courses are fun, interactive and educational courses that will allow the students to experience a practical aspect of coffee. These barista courses aim to provide students with practical experience.

Coffee is very technical and consists of many theories. These courses take the theory and turn it into a practical course that will allow students to learn and grow rapidly.

Coffee Cupping and Tasting

Coffee tastings and cuppings are opportunities that will allow attendees to taste, chat and experience a variety of coffees. A coffee cupping session is an event where attendees can taste a variety of coffee through a cupping process. It is the purest form of tasting coffee without adding human flaws.

Coffee-tasting events introduce a combination of food, chocolates or fruits and coffee. These events are exceptional for individuals to compare a variety of coffees with daily flavours and foods they encounter. This will enable attendees to build up a repertoire and history of flavours that are present in coffee.

Five tips to keep in mind

The journey into the speciality coffee industry can be challenging and scary. The key, however, is to use the following tips to push through uncomfortable situations and scenarios and find the beauty on the other side of your comfort zone.

Learn as you go

The coffee industry has technical terms, theoretical knowledge and practical tools. The best way to learn is to experiment and experience it first-hand. Learn from others and ask a lot of questions. Learn on the go.

Invest in a home brewing method such as a French Press, V60 or percolator. This will enable you to play around and discover what coffee you enjoy.

Accept failure

You will be wrong sometimes. If the host of the cupping asks for flavour, don't fear being wrong. You will learn at a rapid pace when you are wrong. Dive in and make the mistakes. You will build confidence, learn the correct vocabulary and enjoy the process. Laugh, learn and grow.

Taste, taste, and more taste

Drink coffee. This is the best part of the entire journey. Drink as much coffee as you can. Try different drinks, different origins and roast profiles. Identify what you enjoy and pursue the understanding of why you enjoy it.

Start by brewing coffee at home. Using various coffee brewing methods at home will spark your interest in improvement and enjoyment at home. A plunger is an excellent little method to start with. After you have mastered the plunger, the V60 can be next on your list.

Journal through your journey

Keeping a journal will enable you to keep track of your progress. You can write down recipes, ideas, flavours and opinions on every coffee you taste. The journal will directly reflect how you feel about specific products and coffee. The journal can be used for notes when you attend barista training or during coffee cuppings.

Connect

Connect with the coffee community and coffee lovers. Although many coffee professionals look angry or scary, most are friendly and will help where they can. Use social media or connect with baristas, trainers and coffee lovers worldwide to provide an in-depth understanding of the coffee world.

To wrap it up

The coffee industry is a scary world. Baristas and roasters that use long and heavy terminology and various drinks with funky names can be very intimidating. The key, however, is to start the exploration as soon as possible. Enjoy the journey and take one step at a time. This will ensure that you move closer and closer to the goal of understanding and appreciating the coffee industry.

Three ways to jump into the world of speciality coffee