Since I started working as a barista at a local coffee shop I realized an important part of the Tea experience in how a drink is made. As a server it's not only my responsibility to prepare a drink but to do so with the final product in mind. I want it to be perfect, or at least, the best it can be. I want that customer on the other side of the counter to sip and enjoy it to the fullest refreshment. I prepare coffee, tea, and juice orders with the best outcome of both drink and customer in mind.
The interesting part about tea/coffee lovers is that we tend to seek perfection, balance. Tea tastes best when the ratio of tea to water is perfect. It is most satisfying when there is balance. Balance is key to the drink lover's overall experience. Of course there are times I feel rushed, eager to get to the next customer in line and I forgo the best outcome for the sake of speed. But I believe the Tea experience goes hand-in-hand with the Community experience in that the passion that goes into one may end up in the other. I see people at the coffee shop receive the most out tea/coffee/juice as I put my best into it. This idea brings harmonious beauty to the picture I have in my head of a tea community. The best of the Tea experience equals the best of Community.
