Barista Of The Week… Julian Beresford

Barista Of The Week…Julian Beresford
Barista at Excelsior Jones, 139a Queen Street, Ashfield, NSW

The Coffee Guide (TCG): What coffee do you use at work?
Julian: We use a custom blend, roasted by 5 Senses.

TCG: If you weren’t a barista what would you be?
Julian: I would most likely be looking for a job in the film industry.

TCG: How do you have your coffee at home? How do you make it and how do you take it?
Julian: I very rarely make coffee at home. I work most days of the week, so I have all the best equipment in front of me. Or I’ll go to a cafe and let someone else make it for me. It’s nice having a coffee made for you once in a while.

TCG: What’s the best thing about your job- the one thing that you really love aside from the coffee?
Julian: It’s great having a chat with customers. You meet many interesting and friendly people during the day, which makes it worthwhile coming to work.

TCG: What is your favourite music? (For work or for play)
Julian: I nice bit of down-tempo or dub. Or just having a massive play list on random, so you don’t go insane on those quiet days.

TCG: What’s your favourite food?
Julian: It would have to be Pasta or just Italian in general. It’s simple, down to earth cooking, no messing around.

TCG: Tell us what your best (or first) coffee experience was.
Julian: My first coffee experience was when I was young making cappuccino with my dad on his home machine. Little did I know I would eventually make a living from it.

TCG: If you’re not drinking coffee, what is your drink of choice?
Julian: A nice cuppa tea. I’m English, so that explains itself.

TCG: What made you become a barista?
Julian: I guess it just happened. But I’m glad it did.

TCG: What’s the largest amount of coffees you have made in a day?
Julian: I can’t remember the exact amount, but it was a lot. I couldn’t remember my own name at the end of the day. It was on Christmas Eve.

TCG: Where do all the old baristas go?
Julian: I think they are taken to a giant hanger out west somewhere and retired.

TCG: Who would make a better coffee, King Kong or Godzilla?
Julian: King Kong, without a doubt. In my experience giant lizards are terrible at making coffee, they always burn the milk.

TCG: Where has your coffee making taken you?
Julian: My coffee making has brought me here! One of the best places in the world for great coffee.

TCG: If you could make coffee for one other person of your choice (anyone- past or present), who would it be and what coffee would you make them?
Julian: I would make Robert Di Nero a cappuccino and then tell him, “I’m sorry we don’t accept American Express.”

TCG: As a barista, what’s your next big plan?
Julian: My next big plan would be to open my own cafe, but not for another few years. I still have so much to learn.

TCG: What did you do on your last day off?
Julian: Absolutely nothing! It was fantastic.

TCG: In a good cup of coffee, how much of it is due to the barista and how much is due to the beans?
Julian: I’d say it’s about 50/50. If the beans are badly roasted it doesn’t matter how good the barista is, the coffee would still taste bad. Or visa versa. So, one needs the other.

TCG: What is your favourite kind of tea?
Julian: English Breakfast of course.

TCG: What is your favourite alternate brewing method?
Julian: I’m partial to an Aeropress. Works wonders.

TCG: What ever happened to the Clover?
Julian: Collecting dust somewhere. We used to have a Clover at a cafe I worked before. The results we got were good, but I think there are much better ways of brewing filters other than the Clover. This is why you don’t see it as much, although I did enjoy using it.