Espresso stand is a new beginning
April 6, 2009
By Chantelle Lusebrink
Mason Peters, an eighth-grader, pours an espresso shot while teacher Gail Oseran watches over the process. By Chantelle Lusebrink
Milk, vanilla, chocolate and espresso beans combined provide great pleasure, and much needed energy, to teachers at Pine Lake Middle School.
But what students are learning between the grinding of beans is what’s really important, said Gail Oseran, a special needs and culinary teacher.
“They’re learning to work together, politely as a team,” she said. “Each person has a job to do and each job is important for the overall product of a well-run coffee bar. Those are all skills they are going to need throughout their life as our kids leave here and go into the workforce. “These are students who have had so much done for them. This is an opportunity for them to do something for someone else,” she added.
Her students have set up a popular espresso bar, Steamed Lightning.
Last year, she submitted a grant application to the Washington Educator’s Association and the PTSA. The money she was awarded helped purchase an espresso machine from Starbucks and necessary supplies to start the business, which she runs with 12 students in her first-period communication lab class.
For $1.50, or $2 for two shots of espresso, teachers can keep up with their caffeine habit, and Oseran’s students, who have varying degrees of special educational needs, learn basic food and product handling and business skills.
Each Friday, students spend their time grinding, pouring and steaming their way through first period. On average, the espresso bar receives about 12 beverage orders during the morning.
“Teachers e-mail Mrs. Oseran with their order from our menu. Then, one person writes on the cup and one person puts either chocolate or vanilla into the cup,” said eighth-grader Amy Wiesinger. “Then, there are two people who make it, one on the machine and one who puts in the milk or cream. There are also two people running the orders to teachers.”
“It’s pretty easy work,” said Mason Peters, another eighth-grader. “I’m usually the one to start the coffee and steam the milk, then I pass it on to Amy to pour the milk into the drink when I’m done.”
“The tricky thing he does is he has to pour it directly into the cup, or the shot goes bad and we can’t use it,” Amy said.
When the students take the orders to the teachers, Oseran has a script to help them let the teachers know their coffee order has arrived and stimulate friendly conversation to stir up repeat business.
“I’ve never had coffee, but I like making coffee,” said Peter Daynes, a sixth-grader who helps with delivery. “I like working with a group and giving people their coffee.”
Right now, the students are restricted to making only about 15 beverage orders, because they have one espresso machine, Oseran said. However, she has plans to expand the business if she receives additional grant money to purchase a second one.
“I love working with Mrs. Oseran,” said Laura McAdams, an educational assistant in her class. “She finds a way to work with unique kids in unique ways.
“They’ve really taken to learning this task and have grown a lot,” she added. “It’s a big effort to teach kids to work together, and this class is doing that and then some.”
When sixth-grader Nick Dominguez delivered teacher Karin Daar’s latte, she was grateful for the piping hot cup.
“It’s a nice Friday treat,” she said. “It’s creative and fun to support what Mrs. Oseran is doing in her communication lab class.”
Although great at delivering, Nick said he doesn’t plan to stay in the position long, as he’s eyeing the barista position, which will be open by the end of the year when Mason moves to ninth grade.
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