The Bean Ambassadors
At the time of writing this, social media has made me cringe on the word “ambassador”, because why claim yourself as someone to look up to? Jeez! Hahaha but to really assess the whole thing with ambassadors and influencers, people should see this as some type of responsibility for what you represent.
So… who are The Bean Ambassadors? I see them as people who work in coffee, talk about coffee, or send out coffee information. The majority of these people work in coffee shops. The Baristas.
The number of hobbyists in coffee has been growing. Especially during the pandemic, more people realized that a great cup of coffee can be produced at home, and most of the time, even better than the coffee shops they know (a.k.a Starbucks haha). So when the newbies branch out to specialty coffee shops or some local cafe with a Slayer, La Marzocco, or Victoria Arduino, they get even more intrigued with what else to learn. So, we get questions.
I’ve been working in coffee for about 1 year and 3 months by now, and what I realized is that I know so much because I read & listen to available coffee resources on the internet even before I worked as a barista. I try to update myself with trends, busting out myths, or even issues that the industry is encountering.
That’s why I love it when people ask questions. I love it when I justify the price of the coffee that they pay for. “Oh. Who pays for a $10 cup of coffee?” is my favorite question.
For the answers we say or the information we give, we hold the power to open minds of consumers on why we see coffee the way we do, we give reason as to why Baristas should be paid a livable wage, & we educate them of the meticulous process of the cup that they enjoy or can’t live without.
In conclusion:
If you’re a barista, educate yourself. Find love in what you do. False information is the reason why we’re stuck with guests who underestimate the whole value of coffee & those who work in coffee. We represent the product and the rest of those in the chain.
If you’re a business owner, value the barista’s education. Invest in your people. They’re the ones who craft the drinks & give the whole cafe experience to guests & regulars. Beans are just beans without those who make the drink out of ‘em (a.k.a The Bean Ambassadors).
