Coming from the small town of Lake Tekapo, Ranee Verbo, the lead barista at Loretta, knew more sheep than people. After a brief stint at the University of Christchurch, Verbo realised her passions lay in the coffee industry.
Through her job at a cafe inside Ballantynes, Verbo launched her hospitality career, ten years later still having the same love she started with.
The unpredictability of day-to-day hospitality life attracted Verbo, making her jump behind the coffee machine.
Latte art made by Verbo
“Back then, I was still using a manual tamper and a manual coffee machine!” said Verbo.
“Thank goodness I’m blessed with a puck press and an automatic coffee machine now.”
Despite hard work, Verbo didn’t feel proud of the coffee she was sending out, which pushed her to get proper training so she could perfect each step.
From the extraction to the silky milk to the correct teaspoon placement, Verbo wanted to make everything perfect.
The most rewarding part of her job, however, is how her coffee can bring guests together.
“I’d like to think of coffee as not just a cup of coffee but the experience and memories customers have while drinking it,” said Verbo.
For Verbo, the defining feature of a great coffee is the perfection of the extraction. She believes you are setting yourself up for failure if an espresso shot is under or over-extracted.
Loretta is known for its rich cold-brewed coffee and tea, where cold water slowly extracts a simple and clean flavour from the beans or leaves.
“The number of people I meet while behind the coffee machine is rewarding. I’ve become friends with some of my regulars, and it’s nice that I am able to build connections while doing something I love,” expressed Verbo.
Living in Wellington, the coffee capital of New Zealand, Verbo loves to roam around the city in her spare time, trying out the plethora of cafes and restaurants. She has also recently gotten back into reading, finding it a perfect way to unwind.
Verbo encouraged community members to visit Loretta on Cuba Street, Wellington, if they wanted a delicious cup of coffee made by the ‘hostess with the mostess’.
To read more about local baristas, click here.
