Local company explores the art of coffee making

NEW YORK CITY--Part-classroom, part-office, TampTamp barista training features three espresso machines and contemporary metal tables in a small basement in Greenwich Village.

They are serious about a good cup of coffee.

"Coffee preparation isn't easy. We like to make it look easy, but still value the work that goes into it," said Neil Oney, vice president of TampTamp. Tamp is the term used for physically packing espresso before making a drink.

Along with Anne Nylander, Oney founded TampTamp in June 2008. TampTamp trains future coffee baristas looking to break into the coffee industry.

According to Oney, TampTamp is the only coffee barista training program on the East Coast and one of the only independent coffee training companies in the U.S.  TampTamp offers classes twice a month — one in New York City and one in Boston, Mass. Each class is limited to five students.

Oney said TampTamp's mission is to make the art of coffee making look like an easy task.

"The baristas fundamental class is four classes. This first is Brewing and Agriculture. The second class is Espresso Theory and Maintenance. Next is Hands on Espresso and the last class is Milk Steaming and Latte," Oney said.

Each class is three hours and held over two consecutive days.

Sarah Leslie, a previous TampTamp student, said she enjoyed working with Oney and Nylander. Leslie said the duo were excellent teachers and knew how to make a good cup of coffee.

Leslie said she feels like most of her classmates have been successful and improved the barista skills by taking the class.

"I can think of at least two people that have advanced their careers," she said. "Everyone has increased their skill level and done well."


Leslie said she enjoyed being in a classroom setting with such a small group of students. She said the atmosphere and class structure helped her learn in the classroom.

"It helped with my espresso training," she said. "It was exciting. It was a lot of work, but I had fun."

Anne Goodnow, a summer 2008 graduate of the TampTamp barista training, said she took two seminars with Oney and Nylander.
"Neil and Anne really have a perspective that no one else has," Goodnow said. "They have inexpensive seminars that are full of helpful information."

Goodnow said the TampTamp group has a good amount of tactical references that people can use for contacts and resources.


"They really understand particular niche of what we are doing — making coffee," she said. "They are really good at it and have a depth of knowledge and integrity. They just have so much to offer."

While Oney explained his previous coffee making experiences, he effortlessly turned coffee beans and milk into a mug of delicate heart shaped latte art.


Oney said in the days ahead, he and Nylander plan to improve their facilities and upgrade their equipment.

"We're hoping within the next few months to open our own lab somewhere in the city," Oney said. "We would offer more classes, but we want to limit our classes because we find that having smaller classes gives you more hands on time."

 

April Windham to me show details 10:09 AM (3 hours ago)

The Times Observer would like to thank Dawn Fotopulos of www.BestSmallBizHelp.com for this story idea.