Recent recruit Simone Guerini Rocco, brings a lifetime of experience and a unique perspective to his role as barista trainer at Peros. Customers benefit enormously from his enthusiasm, knowledge and skills when they undergo training to help them deliver the perfect cup of coffee.
Simone is a third-generation Italian barista and has spent all his life involved in speciality coffee. His grandfather originally built and ran a coffee bar which still exists near Milan. Simone’s father also ran the bar and this is where Simone grew up,amongst coffee lovers and artisans, developing his own passion for coffee which he now passes on to his trainees.
Before coming to the UK Simone also worked with one of Italy’s specialist regional roasters where human beings, rather than technology, are still responsible for the quality of the coffee. For over two years he learned about green coffee, its origins and the roasting process. During this time he was also involved with the servicing and maintenance of a range of equipment including roasters, traditional espresso machines and grinders, learning skills that he can now readily pass on to others.
Simone is clear about what makes an excellent espresso-based coffee. “It’s not necessarily about the best equipment,” he says. “It’s all about the person – anyone with a passion for great coffee and who cares about what they are doing, will be able to create excellent results. With passion and care they will use their eyes and taste to continually improve their offering. When training I hope that my enthusiasm for coffee can help unlock the potential within people and encourage them to strive for the best results,” he adds.
Simone’s key role for Peros is to work with customers, developing their expertise in coffee making. The training can be on-site or off-site and tailored to specific requirements. Beginners will benefit from his experience as much as those refreshing their skills. The training can cover; the care, inspection and cleanliness of equipment; grinder techniques; preparation of perfect espresso; milk foaming; coffee recipes and preparation.
During his first few months working with Peros, Simone has also been involved with a number of interesting projects for Cafédirect. Fairtrade Fortnight saw Simone helping out at the Cafédirect Tastefair events around London, running barista master-classes for espresso enthusiasts.
