Muhammad I.
Go-to Drink: Latte
Go-to Cafe: Brodies/Blend
Date Attended Workshop: August 2021

Why did you initially enrol on the barista training?

I have always found coffee culture intriguing, the way people tamp, extract the espresso and steam the milk looks really cool so I thought it would be an interesting avenue to venture!

I have always been a foodie but coffee is one thing that I never got to understand properly so the course was a golden opportunity to explore!

Tell us about your experience with Boss & Brew Academy.

I just graduated from university and was going through rejection from graduate jobs and most jobs that looked like something I could pull through were not interesting to me at all so I jokingly told myself and friends - “I might just take a gap year and just wing it through”.  

I am glad the course allowed me to meet different people and understand coffee deeper than just a drink. The history and process that come alongside are worth reflecting on. I also felt my self-esteem improved as I acquired a new skill and with what I learnt at university, I felt I could apply it into coffee entrepreneurship.

From the course too I made some really good friends and the fact that the program is gearing towards better inclusivity in the coffee scene reflects Cardiff more accurately as a multi-ethnic city!

What have you been doing since the workshop?

A friend I met through coffee owns a cafe so I am glad with the training I received from Boss & Brew Academy, I am able to help him out in the shop and understand the ins and outs of operating a coffee shop! I am currently working as a market analyst for an energy consultancy and the interpersonal and customer-centric skills I acquired from the training have greatly helped me to communicate effectively with people at work.

Describe Boss & Brew Academy in 3 words!

Exhilarating, eye-opening and caffeinating