Amilka Lee
When I embarked on my coffee journey, I didn’t know that I’d find my path.
Coffee found me at a moment of disillusionment with an occupation that I love: that of the hospitality professional. Much like the tale of the woodcutter and his axe, burdened by the break-neck speed of work and entrepreneurship, I forgot to sharpen the tool of my trade. No matter how hard I worked, I never reached my destination. And, in the end, I forgot why I was doing it in the first place.
My love for the trade slowly started to fade, until coffee rekindled my passion. First, as a barista, a job that allowed me to travel in search of experience. Later, I began to feel the need to share what I had learned, followed by a thirst for mastery of the artisanal craft of coffee roasting that allowed me to comprehend my vision of the world and my life’s purpose.
Amilka Lee
When I embarked on my coffee journey, I didn’t know that I’d find my path.
Coffee found me at a moment of disillusionment with an occupation that I love: that of the hospitality professional. Much like the tale of the woodcutter and his axe, burdened by the break-neck speed of work and entrepreneurship, I forgot to sharpen the tool of my trade. No matter how hard I worked, I never reached my destination. And, in the end, I forgot why I was doing it in the first place.
My love for the trade slowly started to fade, until coffee rekindled my passion. First, as a barista, a job that allowed me to travel in search of experience. Later, I began to feel the need to share what I had learned, followed by a thirst for mastery of the artisanal craft of coffee roasting that allowed me to comprehend my vision of the world and my life’s purpose.
Amilka Lee
When I embarked on my coffee journey, I didn’t know that I’d find my path.
Coffee found me at a moment of disillusionment with an occupation that I love: that of the hospitality professional. Much like the tale of the woodcutter and his axe, burdened by the break-neck speed of work and entrepreneurship, I forgot to sharpen the tool of my trade. No matter how hard I worked, I never reached my destination. And, in the end, I forgot why I was doing it in the first place.
My love for the trade slowly started to fade, until coffee rekindled my passion. First, as a barista, a job that allowed me to travel in search of experience. Later, I began to feel the need to share what I had learned, followed by a thirst for mastery of the artisanal craft of coffee roasting that allowed me to comprehend my vision of the world and my life’s purpose.
The more I learn about coffee the less I know
After 30 years in the hospitality industry, all I know is that I know nothing. It is this very truth that urges me to keep searching, learning, and experimenting with the hopes of becoming a little wiser each day.
Professional standards, a knowledge of the trade, and extensive experience allow me to give the best of myself, be it as a coffee expert, seasoned barista or authorized SCA trainer.
Professional standards and integrity that reflect our respect for ourselves and our work through training. Knowledge and a never-ending search for self-actualization, both as a professional and as a human being. Experience that enables me to offer the best possible service to clients and apprentices alike.
Inspire and be inspired
In my training role, I rely on the teachings of the Eastern philosophy of Taoism, where mind, body and soul are one.
Every apprentice who enters my classroom is moved, often unbeknownst to them, by a powerful force: their passion. It is this very force that helps us keep growing, always reaching for the next level.
As a Master Sensei, my mission is to polish the diamond in the rough that each apprentice carries within, feeding that passion for coffee savoir-faire, and taking them beyond their comfort zone.
There is no finish line...
What began by chance has become not only my career, but my life’s purpose. There is no longer a finish line, only a path to follow.