Can You Enjoy Specialty Coffee on the Kriti Ruby?

A barista journey that begins on an oil chemical tanker and ends with the perfect sip of espresso.

For many people, coffee is more than just a beverage—it’s a ritual, a routine, and a moment of comfort. But imagine brewing a quality cup of coffee in an unusual setting… aboard a large ship, far from land, like the Kriti Ruby. The Kriti Ruby is not just any tanker—it’s a symbol of resilience at sea. But little did anyone expect that it would also become a symbol of specialty coffee appreciation, proving that even on the high seas, excellence in coffee can thrive.

In this article, we explore whether the culture of specialty coffee can exist aboard an oil chemical tanker and what lessons our school, Barista Academy, can offer to bring this experience even to the most demanding environments. We will also share the unique experience of our founder, Panagiotis Nikas, who was invited aboard the Kriti Ruby for a hands-on barista workshop, transforming the crew into skilled coffee artisans.

What is “Specialty Coffee”?

Specialty coffee refers to coffee of the highest quality, characterized by its unique flavor, origin, careful processing, and expert preparation:

• Origin: Grown in regions with ideal climates and soil conditions.
• Selective Harvesting: Only the best beans are chosen and graded before they reach the barista’s counter.
• Freshness: Roasted and consumed within weeks for optimal aroma and taste.
• Professional Brewing: Attention to detail with timing, temperature, grind size, and equipment.

At Barista Academy, we teach all these elements through comprehensive training:

• Theory and practice, including TDS and extraction yield measurements.
• Hands-on sessions with espresso machines, grinders, and manual brewing methods.
• Sensory training through cupping sessions.

The result is a complete barista who can prepare perfect coffee anywhere—even at sea.

The Other Side of Coffee: On Board the Kriti Ruby

The Kriti Ruby is a Greek oil chemical tanker, operating across the Mediterranean and beyond. Its crew spends weeks away from land, and coffee plays an important role aboard.

Habit and Psychological Value

Coffee provides a daily ritual that boosts morale, strengthens camaraderie, and offers moments of calm amid demanding routines. A well-brewed espresso on deck brings comfort far from the familiar shores.

Practical Brewing Challenges

• Stability: Keeping machines level on a moving vessel.
• Humidity and Temperature: Affect both beans and brewing consistency.
• Storage: Maintaining bean freshness in maritime conditions.
• Limited Equipment: Compact and robust machines with water reservoirs preferred.

How “Specialty” Can It Be?

Even aboard the Kriti Ruby, specialty coffee can thrive with creativity:

• Vacuum-sealed beans from trusted Greek roasters.
• Compact grinders and espresso setups.
• Simplified processes with capsule systems where needed.

Challenges & Solutions

• High humidity → Protective packaging with desiccants.
• Limited space → Small, secure espresso stations.
• Ship movement → Stable bases and careful machine positioning.

Even in the harshest environments, specialty coffee is possible.

The Story: Panagiotis Nikas Meets the Kriti Ruby Crew

During one of his Mediterranean travels, Panagiotis Nikas received an unexpected invitation from the captain of the Kriti Ruby. The crew had heard of Barista Academy and wanted him to deliver a specialty coffee workshop aboard the ship.

Stepping onto the deck, Panagiotis felt the crew’s curiosity and enthusiasm. The galley was transformed into a mini coffee lab with an espresso machine, grinders, scales, and freshly roasted beans. It was a challenging environment, but Panagiotis embraced the opportunity.

The workshop included:

• Bean selection and grinding techniques
• Espresso extraction precision
• Milk frothing for cappuccinos
• Latte art fundamentals

The crew’s engagement was remarkable. Their eagerness and quick learning surprised even Panagiotis, who later said this was one of his most fulfilling teaching experiences.

The “Kriti Ruby Convictions”

During this unique workshop, something extraordinary happened: the crew’s passion and skill rapidly blossomed. As a result, the Kriti Ruby convictions became clear: the crew was now metaphorically convicted to drink only the best coffee—every day!

The transformation was so complete that even visiting officers remarked on the exceptional coffee quality aboard the Kriti Ruby. The legacy lives on: thanks to Panagiotis’s training, the Kriti Ruby convictions are now part of the crew’s daily life—”sentenced” to outstanding coffee, brewed with care, precision, and passion.

Panagiotis now recommends all baristas he trains to be ready for unusual environments. The Kriti Ruby experience demonstrated that dedication and adaptability make it possible to achieve coffee perfection anywhere.

Today, the Kriti Ruby is not just a tanker—it’s a floating coffee workshop. The crew is happily “doomed” to drink exceptional coffee forever.

What We Teach at Baristacademy.gr: Practical Examples

At Baristacademy.gr, we prepare baristas to perform in real-world and challenging conditions:

• Off-site workshops: Camping, remote huts, and mobile setups.
• Simulated tough environments: High humidity, temperature extremes, and time pressures.
• Handling materials: Recognizing bean freshness, organizing supplies, efficient packaging.
• Community focus: Baristas delivering not just coffee, but an experience, anywhere.

These skills reflect what Panagiotis applied aboard the Kriti Ruby.

Lessons for Baristas from Life at Sea

Logistics & Precision

Just like a tanker carefully transports cargo, baristas ensure precise, consistent coffee preparation.

Flexibility & Adaptation

Baristas must adjust to space constraints, conserve water, and use creative solutions, similar to seafarers.

Example from Training

In one workshop, students successfully prepared cold brew in non-ideal conditions by adjusting ratios and brew times, using thermoses creatively.

Teamwork & Community

A ship’s crew shares and supports each other—the same values we instill in our baristas.

Quality at All Times

Attention to cleanliness, water filtration, and machine maintenance matters both at sea and in a café.

Bonus Tips: Brewing Great Coffee at Sea

• Choose vacuum-sealed beans.
• Use desiccant packs to fight humidity.
• Secure grinder and machine placement.
• Calibrate equipment daily.
• Clean machines thoroughly, even at sea.
• Carry spare parts (gaskets, seals).
• Store beans away from engine heat.
• Train crew members as backup baristas.
• Use simple timers for consistency.
• Prioritize quality over speed.

All these tips proved invaluable during the Kriti Ruby workshop, ensuring ongoing excellence.

Conclusion

Just as the Kriti Ruby transports precious cargo across vast seas, a skilled barista delivers crafted coffee with care and passion. Panagiotis’s journey aboard the Kriti Ruby showed that specialty coffee isn’t just a luxury—it can thrive anywhere.

Through what we now call the Kriti Ruby convictions, the crew is happily “convicted” to exceptional coffee—every day. Baristacademy.gr empowers future baristas not only with technical skill but with adaptability, creativity, and the confidence to deliver quality coffee even hundreds of miles from shore.

The Kriti Ruby stands as a unique example: a tanker transformed into a symbol of coffee excellence at sea.