YOU cannot say Aaron D’Altera lacks confidence — an attitude that’s seen the Altona North barista become a great coffee maker.
“I bet I’m Victoria’s best blind one,” he says. “If you have one of my coffees, you probably won’t want anyone else’s.”
An infection then a stroke left Mr D’Altera with 10 per cent vision and a permanently closed left hand. But he has followed the line of work he aspired to, making coffees by touch at Yooralla’s UCAN Cafe at Altona North library.
Last Friday, he competed in Lavazza’s barista state finals, taking on Brighton, Beaconsfield, Fitzroy North and Knox competitors.
Mr D’Altera said that, unlike his busier competitors, he was lucky to make five coffees a day. But he said the UCAN job had changed his life from feeling “lost and depressed.”
“I feel good, I feel really happy. I’ve got a feeling that I’ve got a purpose.”
UCAN is open from 8.30am-4pm, Monday-Friday.
