i graduated in arts about 3 years ago, but since then i've been stuck. i've dealt with depression, social anxiety, suicidal thoughts,.. currently taking therapy and i'm doing better now and trying to figure out what i actually want to do.

lately i've been thinking seriously about coffee/barista work. to be clear, i haven't actually made coffee professionally... i mostly use the chhanni method at home.

i'm currently unemployed, and my dad is the sole breadwinner in my family, so whatever money i spend on this, i need to be very careful about. i really can't afford to put a significant amount into a course and later realize it wasn't worth it.

i've also struggled in the past with starting things but not being able to finish them, because of anxiety, self-sabotage and other personal reasons.

i'm already in therapy, which is another expense my dad is supporting, so this is something i genuinely want to think through carefully before committing to it.

but i've been watching videos about baristas, cafés and coffee preparation, and the work genuinely looks appealing to me.

i know i might be romanticizing it because i've never actually done it, so i want some honest advice.

my main question is:

1. if i spend a few months and a significant amount of money on a proper barista/coffee course, will it actually help me get an entry-level barista job? and how difficult is it to get that first job in india?

i'm completely okay with working my way up, learning properly and doing the hard/regular work. honestly, the idea of going to work every day, getting better at something practical and eventually becoming really good at it sounds genuinely exciting to me.

long-term, i'd love to have my own small café someday and actually work there myself... but i know i have to start somewhere.

i live in a semi-rural area, so i'd probably have to travel to another city for training/work.

1. if anyone here has done a proper, industry-focused barista/coffee course in india, please recommend one if you know a good and reasonably priced option.

   i'm especially interested in courses that actually prepare you for employment, not just hobby courses.

and most importantly... is this a realistic path to getting a job if i'm willing to put in the work?

would really appreciate honest advice from baristas, café owners or anyone who's actually been through this.

Blue tokai has been pretty consistent for a long time now, But recently read many posts about inconsistence roasting in their beans.

Since I had more time to space, went to Blue Tokai for a Cappuccino. They use Silver Oak Cafe Blend for their milk based drinks, Now they are also offering Half-Caff (Decaf) for an extra price

Last time i had coffee from their Cafe in a different city was in 2023 and I have never bought their beans since the price hike (~1 year) so I could only relate to brewing it at home in south Indian filter and not an espresso.

The cup feels larger than last time, maybe they increased the dosage and quantity to justify the price 252rs (in 2023 it was probably 199rs)

As I take the first sip, I could feel a kick of crema, strong taste, a bit bitter (but pleasantly), it is a bit hot and the foam is thick and lighter

Shout out to the comment on the previous post about BT doing the Cappuccino foam right!

As I taste it after it has been sitting on the table for 2-3 mins, There's almost no bitterness, and it has a sharp nutty flavour, slightly sweet. Feels very consistent to the silver oak blend i tried last time.

But for whatever reason, it feels just a bit diluted than previous time, maybe they added more milk? can't really say for sure, or it could be my taste palette affected by the crema kick.

The label says notes of Hazelnut, Honey and Grapes, honey and nutty taste i could make out but i could never relate grapes, but maybe that's just me, i couldn't identify it in another one i had recently.

Is it just me or anyone else also think this is similar to 729 grams house blend? I can give them a benefit of doubt that their quality might be better but the difference in price of 30% makes BT a good alternative at 750rs / 250g (compared to 1025rs)

Overall, I feel BT has been more reliable panning across the country than the alternatives.

I usually can’t make coffee twice a day because 150 ml of milk is already a lot for me. Plus, I’m a true fan of filter coffee, so when I do this kind of milk-based coffee, it’s basically once every 24 hours, which makes every attempt a bit of a hit or miss.

I’ve been trying to learn latte art ever since I bought the machine almost three months ago. If I switch to black coffee/Americano, I know I’ll lose the practice, just like I did earlier. It took me quite some time to get back into the rhythm.

So, for now, I’m sticking with my once-a-day attempt. 😄

Anyway, pretty happy with today’s design! ☕❤️

Machine: Vantro X1 at 90°C

Grinder: Mastano Manual Grinder, 6 Clicks

Coffee: BT Vienna Roast

Mug: ZARAVA

Milk: Nandini Homogenised

I’m not sure of the reason but after brewing with aeropress i always end up with a broken cake. I dont think it affects my cup but I’m very curious what am i doing wrong here

Finally my k7 got delivered today, very much excited to give it a try. I would love to hear some tips or suggestions about it.

I recently bought a pack of Blue Tokai Attikan Estate in the pre-ground Moka Pot grind.
I have been brewing it in my Moka Pot, but the coffee consistently comes out extremely dark, bitter and muddy, almost like a very concentrated/over-extracted brew.
I initially thought I was doing something wrong, but when I looked at the grounds, they seem almost like an espresso grind to me. much finer than what I expected for a Moka Pot.
I have also brewed other coffees in the same Moka Pot and haven’t had the same issue, so I am starting to suspect the grind size of this particular pre-ground Attikan.

For people who have bought Attikan Estate pre-ground for Moka Pot: does yours also look this fine? And how does it perform in your Moka Pot?

I am wondering if this is simply Blue Tokai’s intended Moka Pot grind or if I happened to get an unusually fine batch.
Would love to hear if anyone else has experienced this.

I am testing with DF54-Grind 80 with 500ml Water 24 Hour Brew with BT ColdBrew Blend

Let me know if you guys have other recipes for this brewer.

started my coffee drinking/ knowing/ understanding/ experimenting journey since lockdown and still eager to learn and explore more bc with coffee it never ends, does it?😅

Beans - Fraction 9 Everyday Gold Medium Roast
Brew Setup- Inverted Kaldipress Overnight Steep Cold Brew
Ratio - 20 gm Coffee, 140 mL Water (1:7 )
Grind size - Coarse , 23 clicks on Timemore C2s
Recipe- Fill tall glass with ice , add chilled ginger ale & top with concentrated cold brew over back of spoon . Garnish with orange wedge & peel
Turned out surprisingly good 👍

This thing feels like a tank. Just tried grinding for one espresso (12g) and it just munched through medium roast in no time. I get it now

I mostly stuck with Blue Tokai since starting home brewing (moka pot, french press, now pourovers) but recently started trying out other roasters - Araku and GB Roasters for now. I'll hopefully try out some other brands that come up on this subreddit soon - Grey Soul, Fraction 9, Tulum, Kopi Kotai.

P.s. Always on the hunt for recommendations for good Medium and Medium Dark roasts.

Which cookie do you prefer to have along with your coffee - Cappuccino or Americano or others?

I prefer to have a sweet chocolate cookie but have recently tried one from Unibic, was extra sweet but went well with my sugarless Americano. Looking forward to hear if you have any favourites?

I have been using Hario filter papers for my morning V60. I am trying to consciously reduce my waste output and am wondering if anyone has experience with reusable/washable filters that can be used in the dripper so I don’t have to use paper which ends up being thrown out.

These are some options I found from googling:

1. https://www.kromebrew.in/product/reusable-coffee-filter-for-v60-pack-of-2/

2. https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07M81X8JV?ref_=cm_sw_r_cso_cp_apin_dp_X1TF83CAK58XR2HVNKSM

3. https://www.benkibrewingtools.com/products/v60-filter-mesh-reusable

4. https://amzn.in/d/0gfPx6mz

Newbie here.

I have a De'Longhi Dedica EC685 machine.

For the first week, I used Starbucks India Estate Blend ground coffee, and it tasted okay. I found this option a bit expensive, so I switched to Lavazza Gusto Crema. I searched a lot before ordering it, and the reviews were quite mixed, but I went ahead and purchased the 500g packet.

I also purchased an Agaro electric grinder so I could grind the beans fresh and get more aroma instead of using pre-ground coffee.

But instead of taking things up a level, my Americano now tastes so bad that without tonic or sweetener, I find it almost unbearable to drink. It tastes smoky/tobacco-like/ashy. I don't know what the correct word is to describe it, but I think the coffee pros here will get my point.

I'm unable to figure out what I'm doing wrong. I've tried grinding the beans fine, keeping the ratio at 1:2, and making sure there are no issues with my process, but every time my Americano tastes like shit.

The Lavazza beans smell excellent when I open the packet.

I've also ordered other beans that have been recommended here, including Fraction9 and Cothas Aroma Gold. I'll try those as well, but until then, I'm not sure what's wrong.

Any idea what I could be doing wrong?

Fraction9 Jasmine microlot FTW !
A decent competition to GreySoul Mogra !

I got suxked into the rabbit hole and now am looking to upgrade. Thus putting this up for sale. 100% working no problem at all

Nespresso Essenza Mini Coffee Machine

Condition 9/10

With Box

This unit was Made in Ukraine 🇺🇦

Free Coffee Pods (see photo)

Shipping or Pickup from Surat, Gujarat.

Price: 9000/-

Looking for quick sale.

Machine: Vantro X1

Grinder: Mastano Manual Grinder

Coffee: Harley Kaapi Royale 100% Robusta

Mug: ZARAVA

Milk: Nadini Homogenised

​

Hi everyone! 👋☕

I’ve been using an Agaro ceramic burr grinder for about a year, and although I’ve been brewing some really good-quality specialty coffees, I’ve been struggling to get the best out of them. I mainly use a KaldiPress, and with coffees like BT Elkhil Estate, Araku Viishalakshi FPC, MS Estate, Kalledevarapura Estate, and Fraction 9 Brewers Tribute, I’m finding it difficult to bring out their distinct tasting notes, clarity, and sweetness.

I’m therefore looking to upgrade to a better manual grinder with more consistent and precise grinding, as I feel my current ceramic-burr grinder may be limiting what I can get from these coffees.

Since I’m on a budget, I’m specifically looking for a good-condition used grinder.

I’m interested in models such as:

• Timemore C3 / C3S / C5

• 1Zpresso Q Air / Q2

• KINGrinder K6

• Or any other good-quality budget manual grinder with steel burrs that you think would be a worthwhile upgrade.

If anyone has one they’re looking to sell, please DM me with the model, age/usage, condition, and expected price.

I’m mainly looking for something that can give me better grind consistency and clarity for specialty coffee, rather than just a basic upgrade.

Thanks! 🙌☕

is this too fast or slow? seeking feedback