Th e simpler the equipment, the
less that can go wrong, Clark says. His baristas work on a Rancilio "Epoca." It has no bells or whistles, but it's strong and reliable. "You can have a line out the door,
and the steam keeps cranking," he says. "It's a real workhorse." Th e downside is, a lot of training is
needed to run the machine. "Th ey have to know what they're doing," he says. So he trains his baristas thoroughly, having them make every menu item numerous times, so they can get to know the equipment. "Th en we'll personally brew bad ones,"
he says. "We'll over-extract, under-extract, we'll tamp it too lightly, too heavily, so they know what to look for." Th is also results in better drinks,
since each barista is more personally involved in the product, he says: "If you make it too automated, they lose sight of what they're trying to accomplish."
The Coffee Hag Mankato, Minn.
Sometimes, making your baristas' job easier is the culmination of all the little things, says Jenn Melby, owner of Th e Coff ee Hag in Mankato, Minn. Her shop sits in a 1,600-square-
foot space in the city's Old Town. Th e neighborhood is a hip place, full of hodgepodge independent businesses—a wine bar is next door, and a photo studio
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and tattoo shop are on the other side. Th e students from nearby Minnesota
State University, Mankato campus, along with tourists and locals there to enjoy the nearby Minnesota River, keep the shop busy year-round. So Melby pays attention to details to keep things running smoothly. "I want my baristas to have an easier time," she says. She's included a few items in her
shop that make things easier. Having a good, solid tamper on the bar is a must, she says. She used to have a plastic one, which came with her grinder. "Th ey were working really hard to
press it" into the portafi lter, Melby says. Th en she bought a much heavier one, made of metal with a wooden handle. Her baristas were relieved when the new tamper arrived. "Th ey all instantly fell in love with it," Melby says. She also has a cup scrubber that saves a lot of time. One end attaches
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