Barista | Landscaper

DANIEL MUDYIWA BARISTA

DOLCE BAKERY

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO BECOME A BARISTA? I wouldn’t say I chose to be a Barista; it came about because of limited opportunities after I finished my studies. But I grew to love it and I have zero regrets about what I do.

WHAT TRAINING DID YOU UNDERGO? I did a short barista training course at Origin Coffee in Cape Town.

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY The day usually starts with a morning rush, as customers stop by to quickly pick up our breakfast and bagel special before they head off to work. We also get orders from Uber Eats and OrderIn throughout the day. In the afternoon, we mostly get orders for our main menu meals, but as they say, coffee knows no weather, so it is a favourite in the afternoon too.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST? Making good coffee, pushing sales and offering the best service every day. Seeing customers happy is what brings joy to me. Being a barista has given me lots of friends – my motto is: “Beyond coffee towards making everyone family at the bakery”.

WHAT DON’T YOU LIKE? Working under pressure gives me a whole lot of stress and I make more mistakes. So, I’ve trained myself to multitask and work fast and smart. When I’m working under pressure, sometimes my temper gets tested, but I always manage my anger – thankfully, a skill I acquired back in Varsity.

WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER? Being mentioned by various clients and them making referrals to their families and relatives to come to Dolce and request their coffees to be specifically made by me.

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE GOALS? I’d like to start a business that involves working with people and growing to be a giant in the service industry through providing high quality products and services.

IS THERE A TYPE OF PERSONALITY BEST SUITED TO BEING A BARISTA? Yes, you need to be punctual, patient, calm and more of an extrovert than an introvert – you’ll be dealing with people and you have to entertain them while they’re waiting for their coffee. My goal is for people to come to the bakery because they enjoy talking to me, not just to get good coffee. I see that as an important factor; there are plenty of places that sell good coffee, but who’s making the coffee? It’s important to be unique in terms of how you treat your clients and interact with them.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE STARTING OUT? Being a barista is something that people take lightly, but it’s one of the best and most interesting jobs for learning about people and the world. To those starting this journey, you have to stay focused and never be afraid of failing, because making mistakes and finding solutions to correct them is what makes people successful.

YOUR JOB IN FOUR WORDS Making coffee brings family!

MARK KRETZMANN LANDSCAPER

OWNER AT LIVINGSCAPES

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE LANDSCAPING? I’ve had an affinity with and appreciation of nature from a young age. That and the creative aspect involved in design work is what drew me to the profession. In a way, choosing landscaping created a balance between working with nature, while still having all the cultural and social benefits offered by city living. Though, that aspect means less to me these days.

WHAT TRAINING DID YOU UNDERGO? I did a National Diploma in Horticulture at Cape Tech and a Bachelor of Science, majoring in botany and environmental science, at UCT.

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY Meeting with the staff in the morning; ensuring that the correct tools and materials are loaded for a particular project. I spend a few hours on site(s) to make sure that everyone knows their tasks for the day. The rest of the day is taken up with sourcing materials, either physically or via email, design work, and meetings regarding upcoming projects. I return to site later in the day to review productivity and make any adjustments needed.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST? The potential to design with plants. Using nature’s own colours, textures, shapes, fragrances and seasonal variations is inspiring. I’m still like a child in a sweet shop every time I visit a nursery. The creative aspect of design is also rewarding, when translated from theory to practical installation.

WHAT DON’T YOU LIKE? Standing in dog poo! Seriously though, it’s demanding at times, but I think that relates more to the responsibilities that come with owning a business, rather than the profession itself.

HURDLES YOU’VE OVERCOME? To be assertive when the occasion demands – both with staff and clients – although I always do my best to keep a client happy within the allocated budget. The management aspect is a role I didn’t foresee.

WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT? Working for some top clients over the years, where the design concept has dictated the budget, rather than the norm of designing within a budget. A landscaper’s dream situation. I’ve had some memorable experiences: working on two game farms, and spending 18 months working in the Seychelles.

FUTURE GOALS? To design full time and outsource the installation aspect. As far as installations go, I’d like to shift the focus more to natural restoration and rehabilitation work.

IS EXPERIENCE AS IMPORTANT AS FORMAL TRAINING? There are a number of self-taught landscapers who have been very successful. A Diploma in Horticulture, however, gives a good grounding.

IS THERE A TYPE OF PERSONALITY BEST SUITED? People who like to be outdoors! People skills are important, for managing staff and maintaining good communication with clients. The ability to think practically is also important, both on the design and installation level.