The Caffè Ernani men: Andrea

Andrea, roaster of Caffè Ernani.

Certificates:

• Roasting and Green coffee seminar at AICAF
• Advanced espresso sommelier at AICAF
• Brewing at AICAF

Hi Andrea! First of all, thank you for taking the time. I already know you, but I like to be able to introduce, and also humanize, those who work behind the Ernani Brand!

Let’s start right away: first tell me about your previous professional and educational experiences at Caffè Ernani!

Hi Martina!
Of course it seems right to me to be able to present those who work behind the scenes, so as to make us more concrete and show what we do every day!
Well, I start by telling you that I graduated from the scientific high school of Applied Sciences.
Already here you can understand how much I was and am more interested in the practice of things. I like to study and understand their structure, how they work, why, but then finally being able to apply them and see them with my own eyes.
I am more concrete than abstract!
As soon as I graduated I moved to Ferrara for a year, to devote myself to a career as a professional basketball player.

We have here with us therefore a real sportsman!
Tell me a little about basketball!

Basketball is my greatest passion and for some time it is also my job. So yes, I’m a sportsman!
I started playing at 4 in Desio, a great club for all the youth teams and with them I immediately started to grow with a certain mentality: dedication, commitment and perseverance.
I participated in national finals with Desio for several years, up to becoming Serie B captain at the age of 18.
At 19 I then moved to Ferrara to finally enter A2 and then to Pavia, back to B.
In 2020 I went home after the lockdown, and at Desio I was able to put into practice everything I had learned from the upper division, training non-stop, with the aim of climbing back to A2.

How did you experience the lockdown, used to always being on the move and training twice a day?

It wasn’t easy! But I think as for everyone …
I still trained a lot at home, even if it’s not quite the same, focusing on strengthening, gym and diet.
But the lockdown made me discover coffee, so the positive side was there!

Right, you anticipated me, so let’s talk now about how you found out, how did you get into coffee?

During the lockdown, as already mentioned, I discovered the world of coffee, reading books and watching videos. I then deepened everything with some courses, both at AICAF, both at SCA, and at the Ernani Academy itself.
Once I studied, I decided I wanted to enter this world.
But how?
The bartender definitely not! I am shy and introverted and would not feel comfortable, I prefer the work behind the scenes.

But you play basketball! You’re used to being watched by an entire building!

Yes, true, but it is not the same thing. When I’m focused on the pitch, nothing else exists, just me and my teammates are there!
In any case, I wanted to be an active part of the final product, doing practical and manual work, because I would never have been able to sit at a desk for a whole day.
So the desire to become a roaster took shape!
Thanks to Ernani I was therefore able to grow, study and improve, with the support of Paolo, the head roaster.
And I also found that the task I like most of all is experimentation. Being able to continuously work on new coffee and processing methods, to always bring out the best from each bean.
And luckily in Ernani there is a lot of experimentation! So it’s perfect!

Now let’s get personal: what do you do in your spare time? Do you have hobbies or passions?

I have several hobbies outside of work.
Well obviously basketball. Although it is my other job, I feel I can insert it into “my other passions”. As already said I have been playing with it since I was 4 years old and I will continue as long as my body will hold up!
Then I like to go hiking in the mountains, when I don’t have matches on the weekend, ride a bike, try new sports or watch them on television.
I like them all or almost!
I also like animals and as soon as I move to live alone I know that I will set up a zoo at home for as many cats and dogs as I want.
Finally, I also like to cook!

Wow, in short, keep busy!
Doubt that arises in me: is it not difficult to be able to follow two jobs?

Yes, of course it is difficult, during the day I work, even if with reduced hours, and in the evening I have to train, leaving out the days when I train twice: morning and evening. The weekend I do not rest, because I have training and / or a game.
But strangely, since I started working I have practically always been the MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the weekly game, so if I continue like this, that’s fine by me!

Come on, we’re almost done! Only the last “ritual questions” are missing:

• what do you like most about Ernani?

• what would you change instead?

• why did you choose Ernani?

• what goal do you have?

Surely the thing I like most about Ernani is that he always tries to improve. None of us believe we have arrived, although we have already made a huge leap from the beginning to now, with training and continuous study.
We are always experimenting and, sorry for the term, it’s cool!
I don’t like the organization on some processes, but that’s right, we are relatively new and we are starting the streamlining and reorganization process.
I chose Ernani for these reasons just described, but also because it is a reality close to me, which I had already known for some time.
I’m to grow and learn as much as possible from this world and especially about roasting, in order to give the customer the best possible experience.

I’m sure you will make it! If you have a clear goal in your mind and put effort into it, you will reach it, so good luck!

Thanks for everything Andrea, see you next time!

Martina Mazzoleni