Meet… Jo.

Meet Joanne Sarah Berry. She may have been born in Somerset hospital and have grown up in Hout Bay, but Origin had to go a lot further to get her back to Cape Town where she now leads Origin’s barista school.

Jo’s story in coffee began with a friend who showed her how to make moka pots and how to recognise good coffee. Working in London in 2007, her taste for coffee began to develop and she found herself  no longer satisfied with the average cup. She and another friend then began to dream about starting a coffee shop, and so enrolled at the London School of Coffee in a course that taught the ins and outs of the business. The barista side of the course there was very brief, but as Jo spent time in various coffee shops in London, watching with fascination as baristas went about their work and in awe of the intricacy of their actions, it began to interest her more an more.

Jo worked part-time for a while at a coffee shop in Covent Garden, and then came back to South Africa, where she soon became involved at Origin at the time we were launching our coffee for the opening of the new One & Only. She learnt much at Origin as she also worked in the downstairs cafe, but as 2009 progressed Jo was back in London and soon began working at Dose, one of the innovative new generation cafes in London.

This would seem to be the end of Jo’s story at Origin, but fortunately for us, it isn’t. It’s such a struggle to find passionate coffee people in Cape Town that we were determined to woo her back to us. And the story ends happily ever after with Jo on a plane back to Africa where she began, to be our new barista trainer.

“Training has taught me so much more about coffee – it’s so far from being straightforward!”

Jo teaches the professional barista course, the home barista course and the coffee appreciation course here at Origin’s barista school on the middle floor. It is here that she entrusts her passion for coffee to those willing to learn. It’s easy to book a course with her – just call her or email training@originroasting.co.za. Coffee is Jo’s baby- it really is her passion- and you can be sure that she will challenge you to be the best barista you can be.

“Seeing people get excited about coffee is incredibly rewarding. I love watching as they are grabbed by its intricacies and as they discover their own potential to make great coffee”

The courses at Origin are constantly being developed, as Jo works to provide coffee-lovers with the knowledge and ever-changing skills they desire. She is committed to sharing her understanding and empowering others to recognise good coffee, make it themselves and know how to look after the equipment required in its making.

“Being around people and seeing them grow is important to me. They also challenge me and teach me to be a better barista.”

Joanne placed first in this year’s Cape Town regional barista championships, and hers is a name definitely to be watched in next year’s competitions.

“I hope to see more of our baristas getting involved in the competition, as it not only brings personal growth, but helps lift the standard of coffee in South Africa as a whole.”

She also believes that competing allows for the growth and experimentation that keeps a trainer relevant and she really valued getting feedback from seasoned coffee specialists.

Jo rules the second floor of Origin with her tamper and a flip of her brown locks. She is both friendly and inviting and would love to chat if you are interested in attending any courses or if you just want to know more about what she does.