Something I've been curious about: Coffee Instructor Certification

I want to brew delicious coffee.
This thought has been in the back of my mind for many years...

I'm not sure if I should call it a bridal gift, but
I had been using a coffee maker with a built-in mill for a long time. Since I get along quite well with home appliances, I used that one for over 25 years.
Two years ago, I started working part-time at a stylish café where I had to serve hand-drip coffee to customers. I quickly scoured YouTube and other sources to gain knowledge (though it was questionable) and provided it to customers.
Thinking about it now, those beans in the first place...
It wasn't beans, but rather pre-ground coffee that we stocked at the shop, and I won't dare say where it was from or what kind of beans they were.

Even with such coffee that I wasn't particular about, when I brewed and served it carefully, I would sometimes hear customers from the dining area say, 'Delicious!', and I would give a fist pump.

This 'sometimes' is what has become my eternal challenge...

Since then, I've started brewing hand-drip coffee at home. I can't afford expensive beans, but I buy ones that catch my interest and brew them.
I've also gathered some tools to a certain extent.
Since I don't have a mill at home, I have them ground for me, bring them home, transfer them to an aluminum bag with an air valve, and store them in the refrigerator while I use them.

I want a mill...
When I look them up, I get confused, and I haven't been able to decide, which brings me to now.

Something that I, such a person, have been curious about

Coffee Instructor Certification

Around the beginning of this year, after having lunch at a wonderful Italian restaurant run by a female chef, I found a cute coffee shop while walking.
After returning home, I was looking at the shop's website and Instagram and found the Coffee Instructor Certification.

It looks interesting.

The Coffee Instructor Certification seems to be one of the projects conducted by the All Japan Coffee Association. It seems to start from Level 3, then progress to Level 2, Level 1, and then Appraiser.

The Level 3 course I took the other day is an introductory level that anyone interested in coffee can take, and you receive a certificate just by attending the seminar. It is a certification with a very wide entrance.

It is held nationwide, so if you are interested,

Even after I decided I wanted to take the course, days kept passing where it conflicted with my part-time shifts and plans, and it took about half a year before I was able to sign up.
It was being held at that cute coffee shop, so I was really looking forward to it.

There was another reason for my excitement besides the seminar; you get souvenirs when you take the course.
As you can see in the photo, I received three types of drip bag coffee and a coffee ticket.
The cute baked goods on the right are Komodo (Komodo dragon?) cookies. I thought they were cute when I saw them on Instagram, and when I was leaving the shop, I found them next to the register, felt happy, and took them home with me. I paid for them properly (lol).

The seminar was held with about 10 people, and when I arrived, everyone was already seated.
When I sat down, the day's materials and several types of coffee beans were set out for each person.

The content of the seminar, including production areas, bean types, extraction methods, grind size, water temperature, and components, was very easy to understand even for a complete amateur like me, and it was very interesting.
The margins of the materials were filled with my scribbles, overflowing with the desire to write down everything I heard before going home.
We were able to taste coffee actually brewed from Arabica and Canephora beans.

The difference was clear. People's tastes vary, and opinions were divided when asked which one they preferred.

At the end of the seminar, they provided a Q&A corner, and hands went up one after another, with almost everyone asking questions.
I also raised my hand.

Compared to the wonderful questions everyone else asked, I asked a really trivial question.

'I actually don't have a coffee mill. I've been wanting one but I'm so indecisive that I haven't been able to buy one. So, first of all, which do you recommend, an electric mill or a manual mill?'

My amateurishness was showing too much (lol).

They answered even my questions very kindly.

First, they told me that a manual mill requires more strength than I thought. That makes sense!
As for electric ones, they explained that among the many types, the ones with blades that spin around easily produce off-flavors.
They recommended the type where the ground beans fall into a container below.

I had been longing for a cool-looking manual mill...

I didn't take in anything they said after that (lol).

I want to grind it by hand...

As a result, I still haven't been able to buy a mill (crying).

The first floor of the building where I took the seminar is a coffee shop, and I wanted to use my coffee tickets to have a cup there, but I was pressed for time and went home that day.

After that, I tried to coordinate with a friend to use the two tickets before they expired, but we couldn't find a time that worked, and on the day I decided to just go by myself, the tickets went missing in my house for some reason!
When I gave up after not being able to find them, they turned up the next day...
Finally, today, my friend and I were able to coordinate our schedules and go again.

When we arrived, there was a line outside, and we were able to enter after waiting for a while. The breakfast service time had passed while we were waiting in line, but they told us it was fine and we were able to order from the breakfast menu without any issues.
I am grateful to such a kind shop.

I had theON Coffee, my friend had theCafé au Lait, and thisPetit Yama (toast) is cute.
One egg and one Ogura butter each."Ogutama"

Delicious. Everything is delicious. Happiness.

And this table!
Under the glass top, it is completely filled with roasted coffee beans.

In contrast to me, who was delighted and said, "Wow, amazing!"
my friend, who has a mild case of trypophobia, was a bit put off.

On this day, a marche was being held on the second floor where I had listened to the coffee instructor talk, so I took a peek on my way out.

After that, I visited Ito Coffee's main store next door and had them grind some beans I was curious about.

I'm looking forward to brewing them at home.

A few days after the seminar, my certificate arrived.

Now, about Level 2.
I'm very interested, but I'm just a housewife, do I need it?
But, in this era of the 100-year life! Perhaps, at some point, the day might come when I run a cafe.
If that happens (what would have to happen?!), I'd love to have the knowledge for Level 2.

I thought about it over and over in my head, but for now, I haven't done anything.

Apparently there is a textbook, so if I feel like it, maybe I'll buy it and study at my own pace?

The exam seems to be held twice a year in eight locations across the country, so it's easy to take.

I don't really have the time, and I'm anxious about whether I can actually read, understand, and memorize the text at this point in my life.
Just as I was thinking I should take my time to consider it...

The other day

To my surprise,

it was decided that the place where I work part-time will be closing.

A bit shaken...

A premonition that I might have some time on my hands?

No, no, calm down for a second, me!

Don't rush, don't rush.

You never know what will happen in life.

I'll try to stay as positive as possible and look forward, and first, I'll get through the end-of-year holidays!

Even though I try to live each day carefully and with intention, right now I'm just lying on the sofa in my pajamas, writing on Note with my smartphone!

That's the reality (lol).

Thank you for reading.
December is already upon us!
Is everyone starting to feel the rush?
This year is going to be over before we know it...

See you in the next article.