I am a COFFEE GEEK
PROFILE
. He is active in many fields, including barista, writer, music promoter, and model. Known as a coffee enthusiast, he will open "MIA MIA" at Higashi-Nagasaki Station near Ikebukuro in 2020.
In 2021, he will open "I AM TOKYO," a general store and gallery, also in Higashi-Nagasaki.
TOKYO", a general store and gallery, in the same Higashi-Nagasaki area in 2021.
Instagram:@vja
Role of the Professional Barista.
-The one you wore is a color called Caramel Latte.
It's perfect for me! It's a nice color. I don't think I would notice if I spilled a little coffee on them while wearing them to the store (laughs), and I think that would be part of their charm. . I like subdued colors that I can wear every day as much as possible. I also like the classic look. I like the classic look of coffee shops, too, so I guess I share that feeling.
-There are many types of coffee, but what is Vaughn's personal favorite?
I love espresso , I drink it every day. The first thing that turns me on in the morning is a double espresso. . It has a really punchy flavor, and it really gets to me. Espresso has recently started to use a variety of beans, and there are so many different tastes. But my personal favorite is the old-fashioned deep roast.
-Specialty coffee is a true geek, isn't it, in terms of coffee bean variety and refinement?
. It is interesting to find the taste and aroma that I like. . However, there is still a lot of room for growth for specialty coffee in Japan. It is a waste that many coffee shops lump specialty coffees together by country, without subdividing them by variety or other criteria. I think that in the next 10 years, coffee will be created like wine or craft beer, and people will be surprised. For that, we need professional baristas.
-What is the role of the barista at MIA MIA?
First of all, I try to have daily conversations with my clients. . because if we know each other, we may be able to help someone else someday, and they may be able to help themselves. I want the baristas who stand in the store every day to be that kind of person . If they are interested in coffee, they will talk a lot about what they know, and if they are John Lennon (referring to a regular customer), the conversation will go deeper.
-He said he values the connection that comes from the coffee.
And I would like people to find their own taste by buying beans from professionals and brewing them at home. It's interesting because even if you use the same beans, the taste changes depending on the amount of beans, the grind, the temperature of the hot water, and the brewing time.