Coffee talk: LIC shop educates brewers and baristas

Coffee Project New York offers hands-on learning experiences. Photo via Facebook.

By Noah Singer

Coffee Project New York in LIC is offering a class designed to educate brewers, baristas and roasters about various aspects of the coffee industry. 

Chi Sum Ngai and Kaleena Teoh opened the coffee shop last month. The space doubles as a school that enables coffee lovers to learn about the journey from bean to cup, Spectrum News reports.

“We have the barista skill set. We have the brewers skill set … and then you have the green coffee module, where you learn how to grade green beans, roasting module, and finally, sensory,” Chi said. 

The owners designed their shop to encourage industry collaboration. 

“We had this idea of like, how come there is no space in New York City that can actually allow coffee professionals from different companies to come together without hesitating,” Chi said. 

Students who complete all of the shop’s classes receive a certification, which can be added to resumes. 

“[Potential employers] see that you’re passionate because you’re putting your time and energy into taking classes like this outside of your work area,” said Coffee Project student Alexandra Zepeda. 

Coffee Project New York’s education program is designed by the Specialty Coffee Association, a trade group. The curriculum can take over a year to complete.