barista skills test Flashcards
What does organic mean, in the context of coffee? Describe some details about the organic program regarding cash
flow and structure.
Organic coffee is grown and processed without the use of chemicals or pesticides, from seed to cup. Organic
certifications are given by private organizations, that in return for a fee, certify the coffee organic, which guarantees
the farmer a “higher than market price” for the coffee they produce.
What are the 4 primary variables that you have control over when extracting espresso?
- Dose
- Output
- Grind
- Time
Why does whole bean coffee stay fresher than ground coffee?
Coffee degrades as it is exposed to oxygen. Ground coffee has more surface space than whole bean coffee and therefore
degrades faster.
How would you handle the order of a “Caramel Macchiato?”
Note to the guest that we have a drink similar known as a Caramel Con Panna. The drink contains half caramel and
vanilla, similar to the caramel macchiato. As a note, the Con Panna is also our recipe for creating “white chocolate.”
What is a “frappuccino” and what do you do when a guest orders one?
A frappuccino is a sweet, blended coffee beverage that Starbucks serves. When a guest requests one at Kaldi’s, we can
offer them one of our Frozen Toddies.
How often do we rotate our brewed drip coffee?
Every 1.5 hours.
What is a lighter bodied coffee we roast and offer at Kaldi’s?
Many of the single origins we offer are lighter bodied. Origins that tend to produce lighter bodied coffees (though not
always) are Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Colombia.
What is a heavier bodied coffee we roast and offer at Kaldi’s?
Some of the single origins we offer are heavier bodied. Examples include (but are not limited to and not
always) Ethiopian Naturals, Sumatran coffees and Brazils. Other heavier bodied coffees include blends like Caf Kaldi
and Espresso 700.
What year and by whom was Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Company founded?
Kaldi’s was founded in 1994 by Howard Lerner and Suzanne Langlois.
Who are the current owners of Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Company
The current owners of Kaldi’s are the Zimmer family. Tricia, Tyler, Josh, and Don.
Where in St. Louis does Kaldi’s roast its coffee?
3983 Gratiot Street, St. Louis, MO, 63110
What are the locations of the 10 St. Louis Kaldis or 2 Kaldi’s Kansas City cafes?
- Chesterfield 5. Farrell 9. Euclid
- Columbia 6. Kayak’s 10. Trulaske
- Crescent 7. Kirkwood
- DeMun 8. MCC
Generally, how do we roast our single origin coffees and why?
We roast our single origin coffees light enough to preserve the enzymatic flavors inherent to the beans, though
long enough to caramelize the sugars, all in an effort to provide the best balance of acidity, sweetness, and bitterness
in the cup.
What is our standard water to coffee ratio when brewing coffee?
1 g of coffee to 16 g of water
How does Kaldi’s recommend storing whole bean coffee?
In a cool, light-tight, air-tight container/environment.
How does roasting coffee until it is dark and oily affect the flavor?
Flavors exhibited by coffees roasted this long will include (but are not limited to): burnt caramel, carbon, smoky, dark
chocolate, bakers chocolate.
Many people think dark roasted coffee is “stronger”. What would you say to a guest who inquires about this?
Dark roasted coffee may contain some more intense flavors than light roasted coffee (generally not better), but
in terms of caffeine the difference between light and dark roasted coffees is negligible. Generally when a guest says
strong they are talking about the intensity of the flavor.
At what temperature does Kaldi’s brew its coffee?
Between 195 and 205 degrees.
List two coffees we carry in each of the following categories: Blend, SO, Decaf
Blend: Espresso 700 and Cafe Kaldi
Single Origin: List two current single origin offerings
Decaf (list one): Decaf Cafe Kaldi
