The Pursuit of Practice

The willingness to improve must come with the acceptance that practice is the only way forward.

- Imile de Villiers

Have you ever wondered what makes your favourite local coffee spot better than the rest? Chances are it has something to do with a focus on training and solid practice. These aren't revolutionary ideas, but the simple things matter when it comes to ensuring a consistently delicious cup. Imile de Villiers, who has extensive barista training experience, enlightens us on the benefits of practice, both at home and in the cafe space.

Mohammad Ali famously said "I hated every minute of training, but I said, "Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion." I am no boxer, and I have two chipped teeth to prove it, but boxing (very) recreationally showed me how fit and how good the professionals really are. While the particulars of any professional athlete's exercise routines might be secret, the fact that exercise and practice is a necessary part of that routine is not even up for debate.

When was the last time you worked on your coffee skills at home? I can tell you right now that this impacts on your consistency. Because you can bet your last few beans that the coffee in your hopper has changed from the time you bought it. This probably means you should have adjusted your grinder or how much coffee you're using in your brew, to get the optimal results. Intentionally noting the steps that get you there, are a part of the 'practice makes perfect' adage.

Now in the cafe setting, practice might seem like a crazy idea for a hard-working barista - I mean, if you steam 50L of milk and make 300 espressos everyday, what else do you need to practice? And yet, the cafes that are consistently winners and nominees at the Coffee Magazine Awards, are the ones who consistently offer staff training.

"But steaming milk is like riding a bike, once you can do it, you can do it!" I hear you saying.