Barista of the Month - Henry, Cafe 1871 - April 2025

At Paradox Coffee Roasters, our café partners are part of our extended family. We love celebrating them! Each month, we highlight a Barista of the Month from our partners across the country, sharing insights into their routines, what they love about their work, and tips for home baristas. Meet Henry from Café 1871 in Clare Valley, South Australia, who is our May Barista of the Month!

What’s your name and where do you work?

My name is Henry, I work at Café 1871 in Clare Valley, South Australia!

What inspired you to become a barista?

I thought my first coffee trainer was a really cool guy and I wanted to be like him!

How do you start your day before a shift?

Cold shower, yoga, and a giant bowl of oats! And a coffee, of course ;)

What’s your favourite part of working at the café?

Becoming a part of customers’ daily routines. Also, seeing their smile when the coffee hits the spot is always nice!

Do you have any tips for perfecting latte art?

Learning my milk ratios improved my latte art a stack. It pushes you to get the right amount of foam, makes you more consistent, and also saves on wasted milk. WIN WIN WIN!

What’s your favourite blend or origin, and why?

The best single origin I’ve had was the Mexico Santuario. First, it’s different—it was the first Mexican coffee I’ve tried. Second, it’s amazing for batch brew, which is my preferred way to consume coffee!

What’s a fun fact most people don’t know about you?

My name originated from a dad joke: I was the eighth child, so Dad called me “Henry the Eighth” while I was in Mum’s tummy—and I guess it stuck!

Visit Henry at @cafe.1871 and say a big hello!