Barista-ing

Happy 2011!!
This year i made no resolutions cuz i dun wanna face any unresolved resolutions.. hehe..
Last year my resolution was to have a resolution list which i ended up not having one. So even my resolution of having a resolution list cannot be fulfilled, what more making another unresolved resolution list. hahaha... tongue twister much?

Neways... I got a part time job~! Whee....
THAT seriously im proud of myself. Why? Cuz i always wanted a part time job during sem breaks but never took the initiative to really write up my resume(since its gonna be my first one ever and oh jot down whatever little experience that i have) or search for any vacancies. I always gave reasons like "Holiday i deserve to relax la..@Ill find a job if i stumble into one la..@I dont really know how to write a resume..@I dun think anyone wanna accept me..excuses.. excuses.. excuses"
All i did was talk talk talk but i never really walked the talk. So, this time I put all the talk into action! and tadaa.. after applying to 2 companies, I am now a proud part-time employee of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Malaysia =) (I think u can guess which other company i applied for lah..haha)

So hows my job? Duh-amm tiring but fun. Period. BUT it was also partly because i joined them towards the end of the school holidays + New Years day. So crowds at shopping malls at times like these are jam packed like sardines. Take for example, New Years Eve, seriously, from the bottom of my heart, the queue at Coffee Beans was like O.M.G!! like as though that was the day coffee was first invented. Worst, the queue started 1/2 hour before closing time. How not to geram tell me?
As a result, I got to experience a countdown atmosphere with fireworks going off outside Sunway Pyramid. Normally, times like these, the first thing in my mind is to avoid places like these, avoid the crowd, avoid the massive jam. But watodo... since i was working that day, got to face everything.. So yeah, good and bad. I got sprayed with soap foam and those coloured strings that come out from the can as well while walking to my car. Thank God I parked my car quite a distance away from the mall that day or else I would have been one of those sorry-ass cars who parked right outside the mall and had all the coloured strings and foam stucked to their car.

Neways, since the school holidays have ended and everyones back at their workplace, the crowd at the cafe is much more manageable and less tiring for me.. Whee...
Makes me feel much happier when i had for work..hahaa

Also, for the past last 3 days I was sent by my manager for Barista Training at the headquarters. I thought it was quite cool till I learnt that at the end of each training day, I had to take a quiz and made sure I pass it in order for me to earn a maroon shirt. Yeah cuz before this, I had to wear my own White shirt. So thanks to some of my senior colleagues who told me what to expect from the training and all. I went home and read the history of coffee beans from the website-believe it or not..hahaha...kia su mah!
So, this training was quite fun and confusing especially when it comes to learning up the exact measurements needed to make this and that drink.

June and me at the training room. We are the noobs from our outlet. haha.. She was there for 2 weeks plus already while it was my 6th day at Coffee Beans.. haha..

So,in a nutshell, YEAH!! I passed the barista training...!! so i earned my maroon shirt. (which puts RM 49 to waste cuz i purposely bought the white shirt for this work and only wore it for a week plus..LOL..)
So, yeah i finally know the difference of an Americano, Macchiato, Espresso, Cappuchino, Chai Latte, Cafe Latte, Tea Latte and can make all Coffee Beans' Ice Blended varieties etc etc etc...
BUT knowing all the steps doesnt mean Im a pro la.. The perfection of coffee making comes with alot of practice!!..and i believe as of today, my 6th day as a part timer and 1st day as an official part time barista-im no close to perfection yet. haha

And also, im happy that i have a tad more knowledge and understanding about coffee that i had last time in my diploma years. This is because, in my diploma years we had to learn some basic knowledge about espressos and other coffees and i didnt understand a thing about what i was learning. I just had to accept the facts as it is and memorize them for exams. But now, at least i understand ABIT more lah on what i was reading. =) Im still not an avid fan of coffee tho.. I still prefer tea =)

So, ive got 2 maroon shirts, a cap, my name tag, apron and my learning journal.

And also, because i scored full marks for my training quizzes, I got a free packet of House Blend coffee powder from the trainer.. (I bet u didnt expect that huh?? *wink)
Of course i was not the only one la.. 4 out of 14 got em free coffee powder =)

*BELOW PART OF MY BLOG ENTRY IS NOT ENDORSED BY COFFEE BEANS* (Its my own personal opinion la)
So, I have to admit, I always thought that Starbucks was a better company, the more original one. But boy was I wrong.
Just some facts for ya:
-Coffee Beans was actually here in Malaysia first. Starbucks entered later
-Coffee Beans is famous for their Ice Blended drinks and its a trademark. So if u go to Starbucks or Gloria Jeans, their ice blended drinks are not called as such-something else la

So, actually before I worked in CB, I always bought drinks from Starbucks, rarely from CB. And in Starbucks i always go for their Java Chip.. yumm....(Of course not always la... pokai eh.. like i think max 2-3 times a year oni la..hahahaha) But anyways, since I join CB, ive tasted all their ice blended drinks and i can honestly say, their drinks taste way better.. The taste is richer and creamier.

Next time u go to CB, try their Ice Blended Hazelnut/Ice Blended Caramel Blended-it puts ol' Java Chip to shame!! hahaha...

Me signing off oh-in-style!!