Barista school for street kids is an option in Portland, Oregon thanks to youth-oriented non-profit, p:ear, and coffee roaster, Caffé Vita. Their pilot program provides barista training to homeless young people. The hope is that with training and experience, the program graduates will be more able to find work.
The eight-week training teaches the art and science of making and serving lattes, cappuccinos and macchiatos. In addition to the basics of cupping and tasting, students learn about worldwide coffee-growing and all of the intricacies of brewing and assembling a tasty coffee drink.
What's Driving This Trend
- Youth Empowerment
- The trend of offering training and employment opportunities to homeless youth to empower them for better futures.
- Barista Training Programs
- The trend of creating specialized training programs that focus on teaching the art and science of coffee making to meet the growing demand for skilled baristas.
- Social Impact Initiatives
- The trend of businesses partnering with non-profit organizations to create programs that have a positive social impact by providing job opportunities for disadvantaged youth.
Who This Affects Most
- Non-profit Organizations
- Non-profit organizations can create similar training programs to empower homeless youth and provide them with valuable skills for employment.
- Coffee and Roasting Industry
- The coffee and roasting industry can invest in vocational training programs to meet the demand for skilled baristas and support social impact initiatives.
- Social Services
- Social services organizations can collaborate with businesses to create job training programs that help homeless youth gain employment and stability in their lives.
