Guild of Baristas

Sarah Jane Ross

Jeweller to the Guild of Baristas

Members

baristas, coffee-makers, cappucino pullers

Patron Saint

Achille Gaggia

The Barista is regarded as the most important element in the making of a good coffee. You soon come to know who pulls a good coffee and who lacks the technique. I am not ashamed to say that this has resulted in me memorising the staffing patterns of my local to arrive at ideal coffee moments. The art of the Barista is a combination of passion and science. A good coffee consists of a finely balanced combination of ingredients. The correct coarseness of grind, cup and water temperature and pressure, packing technique and of course quality of beans. It is only when these conditions are right do you find the delicious tan crema produced on the top of a coffee. The crema patterns I received in my daily coffee become a diagnostic-like message by which I began to gauge the day’s potential, but were also indicative of a good brew. I began photographing my morning coffee before I embarked on this project. It is these images I have translated into brooches. Unrecognisable to the outsider but indicative to those who place value on the perfect cup. Hopefully they may ease the fear of the coffee lover when asked ‘Would you like a cup of coffee?’

Brooches for baristas:

machiato, ristretto

latte, cappucino

doppio, espresso