The Student Experience In Pinwheel

Hayes T. - 7th

Hayes T. and Joe working in the shop.

Something that makes Pinwheel unique is that we make all of our own syrups and sauces, and making them is really fun! As of now, I’ve gotten to help make smooth caramel sauce and rich mocha. Both of these delicious sauces were made in a giant pot, which reminds me of the pot my mom uses to make warm soups in the winter. To make caramel, we combine water, sugar, tons of butter, and some milk. We let the caramel cook and melt in the giant pot, and then we let it cool and put it into containers. I got to try a little bit of the extra sauce, and the flavor was amazing! 

I also got to help out with making mocha syrup! It’s a similar process to the caramel, but with more water, a little bit less sugar, and a lot of cocoa powder. We put some hot water in the giant pot to start off. Then, we slowly started to whisk in the cocoa powder and sugar. The mixture slowly started to get thicker, and the whole room started smelling like chocolate. For a final touch, we added in some vanilla, and then we let it cool. We poured the delicious sauce in containers, which got pretty messy. Before I left, I got to make my own Mocha drink with the leftover sauce, which was perfect for the cold day!

I love coming in every couple of days to make lattes, learn how to steam milk, watch all of the amazing baristas make cool coffee art, and talk to customers.

I’ve never even thought about working in a coffee shop, but after getting to work in Pinwheel for a little bit each week, I have changed my mind. I love coming in every couple of days to make lattes, learn how to steam milk, watch all of the amazing baristas make cool coffee art, and talk to customers. 

One of my first and favorite days working at Pinwheel was when I got to sample some of our homemade recipes, including our delicious chai. I got to try the amazing blend of spicy and sweet, like cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne, and more. I tried pieces of peppercorn and sweet but tangy pieces of candied ginger. Pinwheel’s chai is the perfect mix in a drink of creamy and comforting, tangy but refreshing. Getting to try a chai deconstructed was interesting and fun!