Our featured barista brings years of dedication to her coffee craft. Chelsea Williams, Yonah Coffee Company – Helen GA, creates a coffee experience to remember.
Barista Begins with Coffee
Let’s face it, it takes a great barista to make a great cup of coffee. You simply don’t get one without the other. It is this very fact that has spurred us on to feature the fantastic baristas we’ve come to know through our coverage of The Coffee Critics. Chelsea Williams, is no doubt, a coffee barista to watch.
She greeted me with “I like your T-Shirt.” I was wearing a black tee with graphic white “E.T. – The Extra-Terrestrial” movie scene depicting E.T. and the young Drew Barrymore. I returned the compliment with “I like yours too.” She had on a black “T.Rex – Electric Warrior” tee with a vintage vibe. It went uphill from there…
COFFEE BARISTA TO WATCH
Address: 8650 N Main St, Helen, GA 30545
website: https://www.yonahcoffeeco.com/
Chelsea Williams is a coffee barista to watch, and the first to be featured in our Barista Spotlight. Well deserved, as Chelsea is an eight year veteran barista. Everything seems to come second nature to her. She thrives whether there is a queue out the door, or just one customer standing in front of her – a consummate professional. Though Chelsea is currently crafting her specialty brews at Yonah Coffee Company in Helen, Georgia; her years of experience were honed in a variety of coffee houses.
Chelsea’s Standard of Excellence
Chelsea started her budding career with none other than Starbucks. There, she recalls being time-tested by a certain manager who would throw out a shot if not made right, and she’d have to start all over again. She credits her time there with attaining all of the basics. “When I make a cappuccino it’s got to be up to my standard,” she remarks while reminiscing. My thought is thank god, because cappuccino is my all-time favorite!
A CAPPUCINNO TO FOLLOW
Chelsea hands me a cappuccino with luxurious foam. Foam, being another critical element of a well-crafted cappuccino. I sip and savor, first the silky-smooth foamed milk, and then comes the rich, intense espresso flavor. I’m in heaven! What can I say, but this is not so easy to find. More often than not, something is off, and you come away not fully satisfied.
So now, I need to know more. From Starbucks, Chelsea went onto Truett McConnell University, running their on-campus coffee house and re-working it from the ground up. From college coffee she transitioned to Farmhouse Coffee in downtown Cleveland, Georgia. “It was my birthday on my first day at Farmhouse,” Chelsea recalls, “and a group of my regulars from McConnell came in with presents.” She’d obviously created a loyal following that sought out her exceptional coffee no matter where she was located. Undoubtedly, Chelsea is a coffee barista to watch!
‘Coffee Talk’ & Coffee House Music
We exchanged thoughts about these various coffee entities while listening to “Bang A Gong” [the British OG “Get It On”]. Our ‘coffee talk’ shifted fluidly from discussion of favorite coffee classifications, to the ‘Crazy Lattes’ she loves to concoct, and favorite Rock groups. We also covered Helen’s best restaurants, key area hikes and ziplining (Helen is in the midst of the gorgeous Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, which is exactly what attracts most people to the area).
CRAZY LATTES ANYONE?
Chelsea then mentions her love of making ‘Crazy Lattes.’ I ask which was her favorite to make? “An Iced Snickerdoodle Latte” she states with a grin from ear to ear, “I’ll make you one!” OMG, it tasted like home-made Snickerdoodle cookies straight out of the oven, but magically blended with the espresso, oat milk and ice!
It’s not often I have two coffees in one sitting, but here I could not resist. Chelsea has all the makings of a stellar barista. Not only is she outstandingly gifted with coffee, an artist really, but her passion and dedication are expressed in all the coffee drinks she creates. She is a true coffee artisan, and I found myself wondering if she’d participated in any competitions? “People can get snobby with it,” she states “it’s not really my style, I just love the art of it.”
You can’t ask for more than that can you? In a world where artisan methods are mainly a thing of the past, finding some as accomplished in her craft as Chelsea William is truly a thing of beauty. Keep your eye on this one, she’s definitely a coffee barista to watch!
Chelsea’s Favorite Helen Haunts
Below you will find some of Chelsea’s favorite haunts in the area of Helen, GA.
Best Places to EAT in Helen:
- Cowboys & Angels – Awarding winning steaks and burgers.
- Bodensee – Amazing German cuisine.
- Betty’s Country Store – Best Brats & Ruben Sandwich w/chip and a cookie for $10
Top Helen Outdoor Adventures:
- Area Hikes – Dukes Creek Falls (beginner level) or Raven Cliff Falls (intermediate level)
- Top Ziplining – Screaming Eagle Zipline
Helen’s Best Coffee:
- Yonah Coffee Company – “Hands down, of course!”
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