Interview with Kelso, a hospo pro turned coffee machine technician

Hey Kels! Can you tell me a bit about your hospitality journey leading up to where you are today?

I pretty much started working in hospitality straight out of high school. I went to university for a little bit, but I had already had a taste of hospo and I was like, nah, this is way better than trying to learn things. I’ve always had a lot of very passionate people teaching me stuff, which always just made me excited to be working in hospitality.

Did you start off as a barista, or do you sort of work your way up?

I worked my way up. There were a lot of rules around who could use the coffee machine at certain places. Each new place that I started working was always a little bit of a step up the quality of the coffee and the passion of the people teaching me about the coffee. It's been a pretty steady progression, to finally end up working at Axil.

Would you say that getting the job at Axil was a dream come true?

Definitely. It all started when I was working at couple of cafes in Geelong that were using Axil coffee. I got to do the training up in Melbourne because we were wholesale accounts, and I was just so excited to be a part of it. It was something that felt out of my reach, I’d think “I'd love to apply, but as if they would hire me”. And then I finally just did, and they hired me! I got to learn so much from such passionate people. I was very, very excited to be a part of it.

And at what point while we still working as a barista, did you start to become interested in becoming a coffee machine technician?

It was when I was still working in Geelong. I remember the first time like someone came in to service the machine. I didn’t even know that there were people who did that. Like, that's a job? I guess that it made sense, I had just never thought about it. I started chatting with this guy because I was so intrigued by the process. He was talking me through everything and letting me change the seals and stuff. It was at that point that I decided I really wanted to learn more about coffee first, and then I'll get into the tech stuff. So, I guess when I started with Axil, I always knew that eventually I would get into a tech role. Every time Brewtech came in to do a service, I was asking questions, just trying and wedge my way in.

And what skills do you think have been most transferable from working with coffee as a barista to working as a technician?

I think, just feeling comfortable with all facets a coffee machine. I already had some knowledge of programming and troubleshooting from being a barista. Knowing how to get into the menu and having a vague idea of how a coffee machine should work, knowing what goes in what comes out. I think also the customer service aspect of it has carried over. It's really nice going into cafes now and having a chat with the barista.

I'm sure they’re happy to see you too! How long has it been now since you started with Brewtech?

It's been nine months since I started!

Is there anything that surprised you in your time being a tech?

I think I've surprised myself a little bit. I wasn't sure if I would have the right kind of brain for it. The problem-solving aspect made me a bit nervous to begin with but having like the support of everyone in this environment has been the perfect way to build those kinds of skills. I didn't think that these were skills that you can really build. I thought you were just naturally born as a problem solver, or you weren’t. But I’ve been surprised that I’ve been able to learn that.

If there was a TAFE course that you could do to learn the skills that you've been taught here at Brewtech, would you have taken that?

Definitely. I was desperate to find any kind of route to get into being a tech. Because it did seem a bit overwhelming to begin with. It's kind of hard knowing how to get into the industry when you just kind of have to know someone who knows someone.

What benefits do you think that would be if there were course?

I think if the course could contain the restricted electrical license, and have it be more applicable to coffee machines, that would be awesome. I did my restricted electrical license years ago to try and get into the industry, but it was on such a grander scale, focusing on massive transformer buildings and stuff. I think if we learnt about electricity in relation to how it works in a coffee machine, it would have made so much more sense. Oh and learning how to use different tools, there were so many tools that I had never used before starting at Brewtech. I knew how to use a screwdriver, and that was pretty much it. I also think replicating a practical learning environment, like it is here, would be important.

What has been the biggest lesson that you've learned from your training here at Brewtech? Either the easy way or the hard way?

To not ever take shortcuts, because it always ends up taking way longer. I’ve also learnt that it’s okay to ask for help, because everyone at Brewtech is so happy to help. It's a really safe environment to do it in. I always ask, and always just do it right.

You recently won the Rising Star Award at La Marzocco and Brewtech’s Awards and Recognition night. What did that mean to you?

It was pretty overwhelming. This has been such a dream job for me and I've been so happy and so excited to be part of the team. I’ve also been pretty nervous about if I'm doing a good job or not, or if I'm learning things quickly enough. To receive that award and be like, “Oh my god, everyone thinks that I'm doing a good job? That's great.” That was very exciting.

And what is next for you within your role?

I feel like everyone's kind of got like a specialty, so I guess I want to find what my thing is. Something I can be confident that I know everything about. I kind of want that to be Mazzer grinders because that's what I started working on when I was first employed at Brewtech.

Cool! Lastly, what is your attitude towards making coffee nowadays?

I think it's such a novelty for me. Whenever I manage to do a bit of latte art, I'm like, “Yes. Still got it!” I think working as a tech has given me a greater appreciation when other people make me a coffee, it’s a special thing.

Thanks so much for chatting today.

No worries!