Brewing My Canadian Adventure: Getting into the most premium coffee shop!

  Brewing My Canadian Adventure: Getting into the most premium coffee shop!

Introduction

Three months ago, I embarked on a turning point of my life in Canada, leaving behind the familiar comforts of my home country. With a head full of dreams and a heart full of excitement, I had no idea where this roller-coaster would take me but was sure about it being my adventure of a lifetime! Little did I know, within just two weeks of my arrival, an opportunity would come knocking – a chance to work at the world-renowned premium coffee haven, Starbucks in Safeway, King Edward Mall in Vancouver 🤩.
Before moving forward, see this little trailer of my experience as a barista!

A Barista's Journey Begins

I'll never forget the day I walked into Starbucks for my job interview. One of my friends suggested me to carry my CV along the way while I was just planning to do some grocery shopping. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, and the warm, inviting atmosphere instantly made me feel at home while casually entering the store of Safeway. The interview went well, and soon I found myself donning the iconic green apron as a Starbucks barista in spite of the job scarcity in the city. I was more than overwhelmed with everything, specially the Barista Passport in hand! 🥺

Learning the Art of Coffee

As a newcomer, I was eager to immerse myself in Canadian culture, and what better way to do that than through the freshly brewed premium coffee? Over the course of a few weeks, I delved deep into the universe of coffee, learning the intricate details of espresso, pour-over, and cold brew. The modern equipment and machines might seems a little complicated initially, but this is what differentiates this store to serve you faster one by one. Plotted as number 1 in the following picture is the machine which brews the coffee while 2 is the grinder used before that. This is mostly used from drip coffees (Dark or just Pike coffees).

Coffee beans on the other hand are placed in 3, and the buttons in front of it decides whether it will pour Blonde, Espresso, Blonde or just Restratto shots. 4 in the picture is just the steamer which makes the magic of foam and makes it hotter.

My colleagues became my mentors, patiently teaching me the art of crafting the perfect cup of joe for almost all the struggles I faced in different phases. I finally came to know the difference between Latte (comes with less foams and more coffee) and Cappuccino (comparatively more foams). I quickly became friends with everyone in the field and started making fun and drinks in teams.

Capturing the Moments

Along this journey, I couldn't resist capturing some of these coffee moments. From the mesmerizing swirls of steamed milk in a cappuccino to the beautiful latte art that graced the cups, I began to document my experiences through photographs. These snapshots not only remind me of my journey but also showcase the artistry that goes into every cup at Starbucks. I made this small video on my brief experience at Starbucks! 

Another thing you all should know is the size of the cups in the following picture. The hot cups (pic 1) comes in the shapes of Kids, Small, Grande and Vente and the Cold cups follow the pattern of Small, Grande, Vente and Trenta. If you don't specify your orders accordingly, it will automatically be a Grande cup for you by default. Picture 2 shows a unique strategy that they follow for cleaning things. The right basin is for washing anything manually, and the left one is for sanitizing those. Middle one is the show-stopper, which cleans any glass or container instantly when you place them upside down. 

Exploring Coffee Culture

One of the most rewarding aspects of my newfound career is the opportunity to interact with people from all walks of life. Coffee shops are hubs of conversation and connection, and I've had the privilege of meeting incredible individuals, each with their unique coffee preferences. Canadians take their coffee seriously, and I'm learning to appreciate the diversity in taste and brewing methods. The best part is that I enjoyed standing at the cash, taking orders from them with smile and making a joke with them which would make a dull day fun even for a few moments with the sip of the drinks. They sure loved my humor more than the coffee. 😛

My Favorite Coffee Recipes

Through my time at Starbucks, I've had the chance to master some of the most beloved coffee recipes. You have to remember that most of the drinks come in either hot or cold form. Some of them are widely categorized with names like Refreshers (frozen or Iced with water/ lemonade), Frappuccino, Hot Tea or coffee (or even the iced one!) along with some delicious food to have by side:

Refreshers: Whether you're having a bad day or sweating after a busy, sunny day, you can always (almost) safely choose among the few refreshers with variations in taste and ingredients or real fruits. It can enhance and refresh your mood for the rest of the day, reason why they are named liked that. Some of my most favorites comes with strawberry (Frozen Strawberry Acai Lemonade) or dragon fruit (Mango Dragonfruit Refresher) with the recipes below:

Frappuccino: If you're tired with the plain bland taste of the refreshers and looking for something more exciting, go with the other cold options with the combination of appropriate coffee and set your mood accordingly with the burst of chocolates and crumbles (Mocha Cookie Crumble followed by Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino) and few of the recipes below:

Other Drinks: Among the other drinks, whether Iced or hot, plain coffee with water (Americano) or Tea, I used to love almost everything due to the supremacy in their blends with difference in each sip, like as some of the most popular recipes of Caramel Macchiato, Hot Chocolate, Flat white, Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, London Fog, Royal English Breakfast Tea Latte etc below: 

Conclusion: A Coffee-Fueled Adventure

My journey from an amateur newcomer to Starbucks barista has been nothing short of incredible. I've not only learned the art of coffee-making but also discovered the warmth and hospitality of Canadians. Coffee has become the bridge that connects me to this beautiful country, its people, and its culture.

As I continue my adventure in Canada, I look forward to exploring more coffee recipes, perfecting latte art, and creating memories that I'll cherish for a lifetime. For obvious reasons, I couldn't share all those recipes as some of those are confidential and through it all, I'll be sipping on a cup of Starbucks coffee, reminding myself that every brew tells a story.

Join me in raising a cup to new beginnings, diverse friendships, and the magic of coffee – a journey that's just getting started. Let me know if you want to know the secrets of getting recruited in Starbucks, or just a couple more recipes 🤫! See this video to have an idea on my overall experience at Starbucks! Cheers to Canadian coffee culture, and may your coffee always be brewed with love 💖.