THE STARBUCKS COFFEE MASTER Because, for Coffee Masters: This is their lifeblood, passion and mission. Satish, an excellent Coffee Master at Starbucks shares his experience and coffee journey. 1. How long have you been in the coffee business? I’ve been working in the coffee business for more than nine years. I gained most of my experience from Starbucks where I’ve completed eight years. I completed my diploma in hospitality management and worked with some five-star properties and coffee shops prior to joining Starbucks. I’ve been a coffee ambassador for Starbucks Middle East since 2008.
Ever wondered why some baristas wear black aprons instead of the usual green ones in Starbucks stores? It is because they are Coffee Masters, experts in all things coffee and trained to be the best of the best. Just like some people love languages or beautiful landscapes; others have a deep passion for coffee. Starbucks believes that anyone can be swayed by the call of the bean, and that’s why they started the Coffee Masters program to anyone who joins Starbucks as a barista (also known as partner). From their first day, partners are shown the ropes and led down the exciting path of taste and texture, taking a journey to the different growing regions
around the world to help them develop a true connoisseur’s palate from the start. Not only do they learn the basics about coffee and its rich history, but they also find out how to craft their own coffee and demonstrate this knowledge to you at any Starbucks store. For some Starbucks partners, however, this is simply not enough. They want to breathe, sleep and dream coffee aspiring to achieve the highest level of recognition – the Coffee Master. These diligent partners will have to pass rigorous levels of Coffee Master training, be judged by experts in the field, create perfectly composed drinks and even speak at the annual Starbucks conference.
2. Which Starbucks do you work in and what makes that store special? I work in Starbucks Kuwait at Grand Avenue – The Avenues, and I will be handling the store in the Lakes Area of the same mall, which is one of the finest locations in Kuwait. At this location, we create the “third place” for the customers, giving every customer special attention, or as we like to say “serving one cup one customer at a time.” 3. Have you always been passionate about coffee? I wasn’t a regular coffee drinker before working at Starbucks, but since joining, the story of bean to cup made me passionate to know more about it and from there my journey with coffee began and now I feel proud to be a part of Starbucks. 4. How do you become a Coffee Master? To become a Coffee Master you