Christie Hwang

Level 1 - Completed in One Month

• Pulled espresso shots and crafted classic drinks like cappuccinos and americanos to enhance customer experience.
• Learned the full extraction sequence (purging the group head, dosing, tamping, fixing under- and over-extraction by adjusting grind size and dose)
• Set up espresso machines before service and followed cafe procedures for closing down, including backflushing and daily cleaning.
• Studied how processing methods and bean grading affect flavor, and how grinders and machine boilers affect the shot

Level 2 - Completed in One Month

• Trained on milk-based drinks like lattes, with a focus on steaming milk into smooth microfoam.
• Learned the stretching and rolling steps of steaming.
• Practiced precise ratios and measurements for each drink to ensure consistent quality and flavor.

Latte Art Class - Completed in One Month

• Learned pour control (how height and flow rate shape the pattern and where to drop the stream in the cup).
  - Learned how to pour a heart, double heart, triple heart, layered heart, wiggled heart, tulip, rosetta, rosetta heart, and swan.

Business

• Took coursework on cafe startups and business ownership, including what it takes to open and run a cafe.

Exams

• Passed both the practical and written exams at every level.

• Led hands-on baking and cooking activities for children, including multi-tier cake construction and gingerbread houses made entirely from scratch.
• Prepared meals and snacks for children and volunteers, tailoring recipes for large groups to ensure everyone was well-fed.
• Instructed kids and volunteers in baking techniques, customizing tasks to match each child's age and skill level for optimal learning.

• Founded and led student-run nonprofit supporting marginalized and orphaned children through creative programs, field trips, and mentorship.
• Directed fundraising campaigns securing essential resources for food, shelter, clothing, and school supplies.
• Expanded organization internationally by establishing a U.S.-based branch in Washington, D.C.
• Managed orphanage operations, coordinating staff and scheduling volunteers to ensure smooth daily activities.
• Volunteered weekly on-site, building consistent, trusting relationships with children.

• Managed the newspaper's Instagram and YouTube accounts, producing multimedia content that brought in readers beyond the written articles.
• Created and produced the account's most viral reels and YouTube videos, including a recurring office sitcom series.
• Created "Foodie Diaries," a video series where our group visited hidden-gem restaurants, rated the food, and showed behind-the-scenes footage of their kitchens.
• Helped small local restaurants gain attention by featuring their dishes and the people who make them.