Career in coffee
<p>From left to right, Leisa Spence, Desi Freeman and Tarah Johnson prepare coffee drinks for customers Wednesday at Big Blue Coffee Company at Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene. As the manager of Big Blue, Freeman is the only barista guild level one certified barista in Idaho, which is a certification given Specialty Coffee Association of America.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Kootenai Health's Big Blue Coffee Co. is serious about coffee and the baristas who pull the shots.
Desi Freeman, the supervisor of the coffee stands at Kootenai Health, is one of only four baristas in Idaho with a certification in the coffee craft by the Specialty Coffee Association of America.
The SCAA is one of the top guilds in the nation for education and training people in the specialty coffee field.
Freeman takes coffee and coffee drinkers very seriously. She insists that her staff has the same passion for java and people.
"Desi has done a wonderful job of building a team that's as excited about coffee and personalizing the experience," said Eli Khoury, senior guest relations associate at Kootenai Health. "They look not just at the product but the experience they are creating for hospital workers who are in very high need of energy and support."
Freeman said she started in the coffee world about eight years ago, but wants to spread her proper coffee education to others.
Big Blue barista Tarah Johnson has completed SCAA certification classes, and will soon take the test. She said when she attended classes for her certification, she was surprised at the information she already knew from training with Freeman.
Doma Coffee Roasting Co. supplies Freeman's beans. Rebecca Hurlen Patano, Doma co-owner, said her company is honored to roast for Big Blue.
"We have worked with them since the beginning at all three locations," Patano said. "We help with equipment, layout of the stand and barista training."
Patano said Doma requires all baristas to be trained at its facility before they can serve its product. She said her company follows the guidelines set forth by the SCAA.
April Valentine, of Post Falls, said she enjoys Big Blue's personalized service.
"If they weren't here it would make my day extremely difficult; I depend on them," Valentine said. "The thing is, they know me and they will get to know you. I don't have to ask for my coffee a special way; they know how I like it."
Khoury said he even makes coffee runs to Kootenai Health on his days off because he can't find Big Blue's famous Banocha - a mocha with drizzled banana puree added - anywhere else, adding they are delicious and worth the weekend visit to the hospital.
Freeman attributes her unique drink ideas and customer service approach to her training through SCAA.
"Specialty coffee in this area had went kind of dead," Freeman said. "I am taking it seriously and training baristas in the true art specialty coffees. It's a win-win for everybody."
Whether it's patients, staff, or visitors, Freeman is hoping to make an impact in their world with the drinks she serves.
"Our motto at Kootenai Health is 'One patient at a time,'" Khoury said. "That's what these baristas do. They have done a great job of honing in on that culture."