This past Saturday, April 30th, I was the barista for the opening event and final review of the Rapid type mobile coffee kiosk, at the California College of the Arts, Architecture department. The House of Air cafe manager, Ashley Bird, and I had consulted with the Rapid type team during the design phase of the and we had talked about the basic needs of coffee service and working baristas. I was really impressed with this project and the team and totally in love with the idea of a fancy, futuristic, mobile coffee kiosk (or grotto, as we came to call it). And the more I saw of the design and as the actual structure was built, the more excited I became.

So I was totally on board when they asked me to be the barista for their review event. There was some discussion on what to serve and how much to do. What was finally decided was that I would serve only hand-prepared, slow-drip coffee, from 9:30 AM to whenever the review ended. I was a little nervous leading up the event, as I really had no idea as to how functional the actual space would be, and to how many people I would be serving coffee.

But in the early morning light, backlit by the wall of glass at the end of the CCA main “nave,” the grotto glowed, I stepped into the space, and felt very much at home. There was storage for everything, even our slightly odd conglomeration of electric water pots. Matt and Rich, the metal-working Rapid type team members, finished welding the brilliant, custom designed, individual drip bars to hold the Beehouse ceramic drippers, and we were good to go!

We served Ritual, Bicycle Coffee Co., Philz, and Four Barrel coffee and everyone was really excited! It was busy, but not the overwhelming hoard of voracious, sleep-deprived art students I had feared. Overall, the space was wonderful to work in. Lots of people asked how it was, and I told everyone, “It’s great. Simply great.” In terms of functionality and flow, there was lots of storage, everything was within reach, plenty of counter space (impressive in such a small area), and I especially enjoyed the wide, curving, steel front counter/window that allowed for easy interaction with customers. I really liked how the counter was one continuous piece, and jutted out to make the milk and sugar area, and still allowed for interaction between barista and customers on that side. And it didn’t feel cramped when there were one or two extra folks in there with me helping out! I would be really curious and excited to work in the kiosk with all the extras we couldn’t get for this first event – generator, fridge, sink, espresso machine… I think it would would work well!

My favorite comment from a customer was that from their perspective, I was working in a work of art, and it made me look like a work of art! Basically, the space and I were very integrated.

Working as a barista has often reminded me of my time in Japan and the tea ceremony training I was so lucky to be apart of. Serving a warm beverage to another person is a simple act. The Japanese tea ceremony transforms that act into art, meditation – an aesthetic ritual. The practice was developed over many centuries. Coffee service isn’t in the same arena, but maybe we’re getting there. Certainly many people (especially in the Bay Area) take their coffee very seriously. Where the beans come from, the roasting process, the grind, how it’s brewed, and served, are all elements that are being re-examined, re-assessed, and renovated by many coffee companys. My training with Blue Bottle Coffee in Oakland, and my work at the cafe in House of Air, has introduced me to this world. As a “young” barista, I’m aware I’m only at the tip of the iceberg of knowledge, but I appreciate it and want to learn more.

Working in the Rapid type coffee kiosk, I felt like I was a part of a process that might be bringing coffee service closer to the realm of art. This is only my interpretation, of course. But was amazing to see the realms of architecture, construction, mobile structures, coffee, and art overlapping and interacting.

I was honored to be apart of it, Rapid type! And everyone was so helpful and supportive the day of the event! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Here’s a great post by the Rapid type team about the days leading up to the event. There’s also a video from the event! And, finally, the pictures from my camera:

P.S. Just in case you didn’t see it before, here’s the Rapid type apron I made just for this event!