Professionally active in coffee since 2015

SCA Barista Skills Intermediate

Workshops and explanations by me

Guidance at your level and with your equipment

Who is Geert-Jan the Barista Man?

My name is Geert-Jan van der Molen and I have been working professionally in the world of specialty coffee since 2015. I started as a barista at Brandmeesters in Amsterdam and progressed to assistant manager and shop manager. During those years, I worked daily with espresso, milk drinks, coffee beans, grinders, and espresso machines, and I also provided workshops and training.

Now I'm behind De Barista Shop, primarily helping people who want to make better coffee at home but find that owning a nice espresso machine doesn't automatically make everything clear.

My starting point is that understanding is more valuable than a collection of isolated tricks. That's why I always try to discover where you are first. After that, we look at what knowledge, practice, or practical step will help you further. This can be in person during a barista workshopor independently via Espresso Under Control.

Persoonlijke begeleiding bij koffiezetten tijdens een privé barista workshop aan huis op de eigen espressomachine.

You don't have to be an experienced barista yet to get to know your espresso machine

An espresso machine offers many possibilities, but also many choices. Especially in the beginning, it can be difficult to determine why your espresso tastes good today and suddenly sour, bitter, or watery tomorrow. This is precisely where good guidance begins for me.

  • You're changing everything at once

    A different grind setting, more coffee, harder tamping, and then different beans: before you know it, you won't remember which adjustment made a difference. I'll help you separate the steps and observe what happens in a targeted way.

  • Online advice doesn't always suit your situation

    A setting that works well for someone else may not suit your machine, grinder or coffee beans. That’s why I prefer to look at the combination you actually use to make coffee.

  • More accessories do not automatically give more control

    Scales, tampers, or distributors can be very useful, but only if you understand why you're using them. First, we determine what you want to improve; then it becomes much clearer which tools are suitable for that.
Check out the barista workshops
Geert-Jan van der Molen geeft privé barista coaching aan huis en serveert een latte tijdens een persoonlijke espresso workshop met professionele espressomachine.

What can you expect from me?

I am a barista, trainer, and coffee coach, and I have been working professionally with coffee since November 2015. My work revolves around practical knowledge transfer: together, we examine what you do, why the result changes, and what the next logical step is. I personally conduct the workshops, create the online explanations, and am directly approachable if you have any doubts about anything.

For whom my way of coaching works well

Especially for home baristas who work with a semi-automatic espresso machine and coffee grinder and want to understand more than just a fixed recipe.

You might have just bought your first machine, or you might have been making espresso for a while and notice that your results keep varying. Maybe your espresso is reasonably good, but frothing milk causes frustration. Or you have already bought several tools and want to know which ones actually make a difference.

I also guide companies and hospitality teams who want to improve their coffee technique, workflow, or knowledge.

My background in brief

  • Professionally active in specialty coffee since November 2015
  • Started as a barista at Brandmeesters Espresso Bar in Amsterdam
  • Promoted to assistant manager and shop manager
  • Experience with espresso, milk drinks, coffee beans, grinders, machines and accessories
  • Experience with private workshops and business training
  • SCA Coffee Skills Program — Barista Skills Intermediate
  • Responsible for workshops, online explanations and much of the direct contact within De Barista Shop
  • More about interviews and publications can be found at De Barista Shop in the media

The best moment is when it clicks

Social interaction is a big part of why I enjoy this work. Everyone starts at a different point. One person might have unboxed their first espresso machine yesterday, while another has been trying for months to understand why the same coffee always tastes different.

I find it interesting to first discover what someone already knows and where the confusion lies. Then, I try to make the explanation as concise and practical as possible, so you can see, measure, and taste it for yourself.

The most rewarding moment often comes a little later: an espresso that finally hits the mark, milk that suddenly has the right texture, or a cappuccino that someone is visibly proud of. Not just because of that one cup, but because understanding has been achieved.

When you understand what you're doing, you usually feel more motivated to practice further, try other coffee beans, and get to know your machine better.

For me, a good workshop is successful when you can continue independently afterward.

Geert-Jan de Baristaman geeft meerdere deelnemers uitleg met een zak Aficionado koffiebonen tijdens een barista workshop aan huis op de eigen Ascaso-espressomachine.

Here's how you can continue learning with me

You don't have to learn in one fixed way. Sometimes personal guidance makes the most sense; sometimes you want to quietly observe and practice at home first. And tools only become truly interesting once you know what you want to improve.

Check out the barista workshops

1. Work with me on your own coffee

During a barista workshopwe can directly examine the equipment, beans, and working methods you use every day. You'll pull espresso yourself, adjust your coffee grinder, and taste the effect of a change.

For milk-based drinks, we work in the same way: not just demonstrating, but allowing you to feel for yourself when milk becomes too airy, too hot, or just right in texture.

I always try to tailor the amount of theory to what you need to better understand the next action. Workshops are possible at home, in Amsterdam, and for business teams on location. For assignments, I prefer the Randstad area; other locations in the Netherlands are possible in consultation.

2. Learn at your own pace with Espresso Under Control

Not everyone immediately needs a personal workshop. That's why I've built Espresso Under Controlfrom topics that repeatedly come up in my workshops.

You will learn, among other things, about coffee beans, flavor profiles, roasting, freshness, extraction, maintenance, and the structure of coffee beverages. The aim is not for you to memorize as much coffee theory as possible. For each topic, you'll receive a manageable explanation that you can then apply at home.

Do you want to experience how I explain things first? Then start with the free introductory module of Espresso Under Control.

3. Then choose tools that solve a problem

What to do at step 3?
Geert-Jan van der Molen geeft privé barista coaching aan huis en serveert een latte tijdens een persoonlijke espresso workshop met professionele espressomachine.

How I try to guide you

I'll pick up where you are now

You don't need to know any coffee terms before we start. I first look at what you already do, what equipment you use, and what questions you have yourself. This allows us to start the conversation and exercises at your level.

Thuisbarista volgt een online barista cursus en oefent op de eigen halfautomatische espressomachine.

How I try to guide you

You learn to recognize cause and effect

I would rather you understand why a grind setting, dose, or espresso yield is adjusted than simply adopt one setting from me. This will allow you to react much more independently later when other beans or circumstances change your espresso.

Barista-workshop aan huis in Lierop over wisselende espresso, bonenkeuze en een DeLonghi La Specialista Opera espressomachine

How I try to guide you

Learning should be fun

Coffee doesn't have to become an endless technical puzzle. When you notice that you can finally make a good cappuccino or explain why an espresso tastes better, pleasure and curiosity to practice further usually arise naturally again.

Check out the barista workshops
Deelnemers kijken toe terwijl Geert-Jan de Baristaman uitlegt hoe je cappuccino maakt op een professionele espressomachine tijdens een zakelijke barista workshop.

Choose the learning method that suits you best right now

"Wat bieden wij?"

Start with the question you're currently grappling with

If you've just bought an espresso machine, you probably have different questions than someone who has been working with the same machine for a year.

Maybe you mainly want to learn how to adjust your coffee grinder. Maybe your espresso tastes inconsistent. Maybe you can't froth milk yet, or you're unsure which coffee beans to buy.

So you don't need to decide which complete program you need first. Start with the area you're currently struggling with.

For personal feedback, a workshop makes sense. If you want to review information at your leisure and practice on your own, the online modules are a better fit. And if, after that explanation, you realize you're missing a measurement or work tool, you can then specifically look for tools.

Why I prefer to explain before selling

Here's why you should get this offer:
Deelnemers oefenen samen met hun eigen espressomachine tijdens een privé barista workshop in de keuken thuis.

You can also start for free

If you first want to experience whether my way of explaining suits you, start with the free introduction to Espresso Under Control. If you want me to personally review your setup with you, check out the current workshop possibilities and choose the format that suits your equipment and needs.

Start module 1 for free

You start with a short video and a practical PDF, and then you decide whether you want to learn more.

Personal workshops with practical guidance

Online video modules with PDF summaries

Explanation about beans, extraction, milk and maintenance

Curated Selection of Barista Essentials Tools
  • Online barista module introductie espresso onder controle video en pdf koffietraining
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De Barista Shop

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Do you want to know about my experience, how I approach workshops, or how you can get started independently with my instructions? Below you will find the most important answers.

Frequently asked questions about me and my way of working

How did you become a barista and trainer?

In November 2015, I started my professional career as a barista at Brandmeesters Espresso Bar in Amsterdam. I later advanced to Assistant Manager and Shop Manager.

During those years, I worked daily with espresso, milk drinks, coffee beans, grinders, machines, and accessories. I also gave barista workshops, latte art training, and coaching to corporate teams.

In 2022, I started my own company, Geertjandebaristaman. De Barista Shop followed in August 2023 and has since increasingly focused on workshops, online knowledge, and practical guidance for home baristas.

Do you have an official barista certification?

Yes, I successfully completed the required assessments for theSCA Coffee Skills Program — Barista Skills Intermediatefrom the Specialty Coffee Association. The course date on my certificate is August 20, 2023.

For me, this certification supplements my practical experience. Most of my daily explanations come from years of working with coffee machines, grinders, coffee beans, and especially with people who all start at different levels.

Can I, as a complete beginner, also come to you?

We're here to make things easy for you! Your first step to getting the right size is checking out our size chart. It's got all the info you need to measure yourself and find your perfect fit. We also provide extra details on each product page, like the model's size and fit descriptions. If you're still not sure, our team is always happy to help. Just send us a message!

Why are Barista Essentials products available at The Barista Shop?

Some tools align well with topics discussed during workshops and online explanations. Consider weighing, tamping, frothing milk, storing beans, or neatly organizing your workspace.

That's why I'm showing a selection of Barista Essentials tools for home baristas. This is an affiliate partnership. If you click through from The Barista Shop, you are actually purchasing the product from Barista Essentials, and they handle the payment and shipping. When you buy through my referral, I receive a commission.

My starting point remains that a tool only becomes interesting when you know what to use it for.

Where do you give barista workshops?

I provide private workshops at home, workshops in Amsterdam, and training sessions for companies and hospitality teams on location.

My preference for on-site workshops is in the Randstad area, but other locations in the Netherlands are possible in consultation.

Do you want to discuss first if your machine, location, or request is suitable? Then you can contact me directly.

I have another question...

You can contact Geert-Jan the Barista here

I also literally carry coffee

De Barista Shop started in August 2023 from a much more creative idea than many people might now expect: I wanted to make and sell clothes with coffee prints.

Creativity has always been a part of me, and for me, coffee is not just something technical. It's also about atmosphere, recognition, humor, and something you can express yourself through. That's why I design and create the coffee prints on my mugs, T-shirts, sweaters, and hoodies myself.

What started with the desire to literally wear my love for coffee visibly, then evolved further. Workshops became more important, personal guidance grew, and eventually, Espresso Onder Controle (Espresso Under Control) also emerged as a way to transfer my knowledge online.

Clothing is therefore no longer the core of what I do with De Barista Shop, but it is still part of the story and my creative side.

If you want to see that side, you can find my designs at the coffee hoodies with custom coffee prints.

If you mainly want to learn how to make better coffee, then you'd logically start with my barista workshopsor with Espresso Onder Controle.

Check out the barista workshopsLearn online with Espresso Under Control

Others also view

☕ Geert-Jan the Barista Man

My name is Geert-Jan van der Molen, better known as Geert-Jan the Baristaman. Since 2015, I've been working professionally with coffee, helping people gain more control over espresso, milk, coffee beans, and their own equipment.

What appeals to me most isn't just making a good espresso. I find it especially rewarding to discover where someone is in their journey, connect with them there, and notice when individual actions suddenly become logical.

That's why, for me, De Barista Shop is primarily about knowledge transfer. You can work with me personally during a barista workshop, continue learning independently with Espresso Under Control, and then specifically determine which tools truly add value to your coffee routine.