Brewing Skills and Confidence: Graduation day for Jesuit Community College's Barista and Café Operations students

“The more I came to class, the more I never wanted it to end.”

That’s how Michael, one of Jesuit Community College’s newest graduates, described his experience in the Barista and Café Operations course — a three-month program designed to give young people hands-on skills in hospitality, food safety and café service.

Held at the Visy Cares Hub in Sunshine, the course brought together a diverse group of students who showed up three days a week for 12 weeks to learn everything from how to operate an espresso machine and serve customers to planning menus, budgeting, shopping and safe food handling.

And when it came time for their graduation, the students took the lead — raising money by selling coffees in the Hub, shopping for ingredients, preparing the menu, and cooking everything for the celebration themselves.

Steven, who was in charge of making all pizzas from scratch, said the course didn’t come easy at first — but now he feels more confident in his skills and abilities.

“I found it really hard at first to remember all the coffees,” he said, “if you steam the milk too long it becomes a cappuccino not a latte. But now I remember them after a lot of practice.”

Gail, another graduate of the program, said that the course allowed her to learn how to be more independent and do things by herself.

“Doing this class has just showed me that I actually had it in me all along. Now I am trying to find a job and use the skills I’ve learned here.”

Gail beamed as she prepared complementary coffees for the graduation attendees.

Throughout the course, students gained not only skills and certificates — but confidence, friendships, and real-world experience in running a service from start to finish.

Juliette, the course trainer, said watching the group come together over the term has been one of the most rewarding parts.

“It’s a course with people from all walks of life,” she said, “I feel really proud — it’s been such a beautiful time.”