The Barista Experience

Step into the shoes of an Offshore barista for a hands-on, behind-the-scenes introduction to specialty coffee. Ever wonder what really goes into your favorite cup? Spend a day behind the bar and find out. You’ll follow coffee’s journey from green bean to roasted bean to a perfectly pulled shot of espresso, then finish by steaming and pouring your own milk. No experience needed, just curiosity and a love of good coffee. What You’ll Do • Tour Offshore’s commercial roasting facility. See where the beans we serve are roasted, up close. • Trace coffee from seed to cup. Learn where coffee comes from and how roasting shapes what a barista works with every day. • Get hands-on with puck prep. Dose, distribute, and tamp like a pro. • Taste espresso the way baristas do. Join a guided tasting and learn to pick out what’s in your cup. • Steam milk and learn to pour. Practice on the machine and see how silky microfoam is made. What You’ll Learn • How to use a timed grinder and an espresso machine with confidence • How espresso brewing works, and the fundamentals of espresso theory • How to prepare a puck for a consistent, balanced shot • How to follow a recipe and make adjustments to stay on spec when a shot runs fast or slow • How to taste espresso and describe what you’re experiencing • The rhythm of a real barista workflow • How to steam quality microfoam and the fundamentals of milk pouring What You’ll Take Home • A take-home manual and workbook to guide your practice at home • A 12 oz retail bag of Offshore espresso to put your new skills to work • An Offshore notebook for logging your shots, dialing in, and tracking your progress Why You’ll Love It • Learn from the pros. Your class is led by Offshore’s Director of Coffee, a Q-Grader certified coffee professional, and our Education Coordinator. • Hands-on experience on professional machines. You’ll spend your time at the grinder and machine with a 3:1 student-instructor ratio. • A look behind the scenes. Most people never see a commercial roastery up close. • Skills that will grow as you learn. You’ll leave knowing why your shot tastes the way it does and how to improve it at home. • Great for everyone. It works as a date idea, a night out with friends, a gift for the coffee lover in your life, or a first step toward a career behind the bar. Good to Know • Who it’s for: Beginners and curious home brewers welcome. No experience required. • Wear: Clothes that might become stained (coffee is messy!) and comfortable shoes (we’ll be standing for extended periods of time). • Duration: 3 hours • Location: 101 Stavbro Lane, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724 • We are located between "Auto Image" and "Power Monkey." We are suite E. You'll find our front door in front of the two car charging parking stations. Spots are limited so everyone gets time on the machines; the class is capped at six participants.