Ben Gleeson
Principal & Head Trainer
Ben is a fully certified Barista trainer. He comes with years of experience behind an espresso machine and was personally trained by some of the best in the business.
-Greg Cavanough
Ben made his mark working behind the coffee machine, as well as managing one of Sydney's top cafes.
Coming from a family with a strong teaching heritage, Ben’s attentions quickly turned to coffee training. Not happy to just be ‘a good barista who happens to train people’, Ben decided to employee the services of a World class trainer / communicator to better understand how people learn and how to train more effectively.
-Ben Gleeson
Since then, Ben has been Invited to work overseas as a trainer, and was recently asked to run seminars for New Zealand’s top coffee trainers titled ‘Effective Training Techniques’. You can find notes from this seminar in the articles section.
-Trina Reidy Coffee Fest,
New Zealand
Last year Ben was invited to participate as a judge for the inaugural Golden Bean National roasting competition in Port Macquarie, working with some of the countries best coffee connoisseurs ‘it was an honour to be invited, an experience I’ll remember for a very long time’.
Bens training classes are passionate and inspiring, and need to be seen to be fully appreciated.
Martin McGregor
Web Design & Columnist
Martin is a coffee critic, writer and fully qualified barista. Strengthened by time working in a number of cafe's and restaurants as well as a personal pursuit for tasting unique and quality coffee from around the world, Martin has formed a perspective of quality coffee that has been shaped by some of the best in the business. Armed with this, Martins critiques and advice are almost as much in demand as the coffees he produces.
"Writing about the good and the bad of the coffee we serve in Australia is my way of communicating to drinkers the reality of how great coffee should be, well over and beyond a bitter wake-up aid"
-Martin McGregor
As one of the very first Barista Academy graduates, Martin has continued in his passion for coffee and matured as a barista. He is only more and more passionate about great coffee and minimising the availability of poor coffee.
"Martins comments to our Barista's are more valuable than years and years of work behind an espresso machine."
-Dave Millard, Coffee Chain owner
Martin has been instrumental in promoting new techniques which undermine long established misconceptions about espresso coffee.
Chris Gleeson
Trainer & Technical Support
Chris is dynamic personality in our industry. He is a fully qualified barista, an exceptional trainer and it would be fair to say he knows his way around an espresso machine.
"If I can train our students to be technically sound, I can start to focus on more pressing issues – like my back swing on the golf course!"
-Chris Gleeson
Chris is currently working exclusively with ECM Australia; where he and his peers are at the forefront of machine concepts and design. Although, Chris has also agreed to head up our technical division at the academy. Chris’ enthusiasm and passion for our industry and the people in it is second to none.
-Brenton Herbert, Cafe Owner
As well as Chris' technical knowledge, his experience makes him a very welcome addition to our team.
Other Academy Staff :
Jemima Gleeson
Marketing Manager
Paul Verhoef
Media