Memorandum

March 31, 2022

To: Professor Catherine Chaney

From: Everett Marcian
Subject: Progress report on the manual “Coffee Beverage Preparation Guide”

This report details the progress I have made on my manual "Coffee Beverage Preparation
Manual" from February 21st to March 31st, 2022. This manual targets new baristas who have the
basics down but need help memorizing coffee beverage basics. The manual will explain how to
brew espresso and steam milk, how to make different coffee beverages, and how to clean the
machinery. Progress has been smooth so far, with no major roadblocks or setbacks.

My progress from February 21st to March 31st, 2022

I initially thought up three ideas for my training manual based on my interests and work
experience: "How to Use Microworks' Wine Software," "How to Deliver a Wine Tasting," and
"Coffee Beverage Preparation Guide."

Picking a Topic
My class used discussion forums and peer feedback to choose topics. My post received four
responses. There was no consensus as to which topic would work best or which topics needed
tweaking, and everyone had a different answer. I eventually decided that the coffee preparation
guide would be the easiest to write as I could draw from my own direct experience and collect
graphics easily. Researching Microworks' Wine Software would be too difficult or expensive. A
wine tasting guide might not be robust as I cannot legally drink alcohol.

Having my Topic Approved

To my knowledge, there was no dedicated approval process, but the professor has not
discouraged me from writing about my chosen topic. I based my training manual proposal
assignments around a coffee beverage preparation guide and the feedback I received did not
mention choosing a different topic. I assume that my topic has approval because of this.
Assembling and Incorporating the Research Material
I started researching my topic while I wrote my first manual proposal assignment. I found and
bookmarked pages about espresso brewing, milk steaming, different coffee beverages, and
espresso machine maintenance. I have also evaluated the techniques and recipes I researched to
verify that they worked. Researching the brewing process was not hard, as there are many
resources for this online. Maintenance processes were easy to research as well, as owner's
manuals include them in detail.

Problems with Assembling and Incorporating Research Material

The main problem I had was verifying that certain brewing techniques worked. I got my
information from articles and recipe books, and each source had slightly different advice. I
followed different guides and recipes to determine which worked best, which was a lengthy
process. I followed each guide several times to judge their consistency, and I had to stretch this
over several weeks to avoid wasting coffee or consuming excessive caffeine. Aside from this,
there were no serious issues.

Beginning the Manual

After researching and testing recipes, I started writing the manual on March 25th. I took
photographs of the espresso brewing and milk steaming processes and uploaded them to Google
Drive before I began. So far I have written a rough draft of chapter 1, which consists of seven
pages. This page length may change after I assemble the complete rough draft.

Progress Expected During the Next Two Weeks

During the next two weeks, I will:
• Write chapters 2 and 3
• Write front matter
• Write end matter
• Create a draft outline
• Assemble a rough draft
Writing Chapter 3
I will write chapter 3 next, as I expect it to be shorter than chapter 2. This chapter will involve
the maintenance of the espresso machine and coffee grinder. Tasks detailed in these chapters will
include cleaning the interior and exterior parts of the espresso machine, removing sediment from
the espresso machine, and disassembling and cleaning the coffee grinder.

Writing Chapter 2
Chapter 2 will compile coffee beverage recipes and will likely contain the most content. I plan to
collect or create diagrams that show the ratios of espresso to milk in each beverage. There will
also be tables that translate these ratios into ounce measurements. Formatting this chapter will
likely take up the bulk of the work.

Writing Front and End Matter

I will write the front matter after I have written all three chapters. This will help guide
introductions logically. Creating the table of contents last means that I will not have to add to it
every time I write a new section. I will also need to choose or create a cover page that reflects the
manual's design elements. The end matter should be simple. I can use OWL's APA Citation
Generator to create proper citations for my references.

Creating the Draft Outline

I will have to create an outline of the manual by Sunday, April 10th. This should be easy, as I
will have written most of my manual's first draft by then. If my manual remains unfinished while
I write the outline, I can use the outline to guide the rest of my writing.

Assembling the Rough Draft

After writing each section of my manual, I will review them for spelling/grammar mistakes and
inconsistencies and correct them. I will also make sure I use the active voice throughout the
entire manual. The Grammarly app will help with this process. I may also have a family member
review my manual and report any issues.
 Date Tasks
March 28th-31st Begin/finish writing chapter 3
April 1st-April 3rd Begin/finish writing chapter 2
April 4th-6th Write the front and end matter
April 7th-10th Write the rough draft outline
April 13th-17th Assemble and submit a rough draft
April 25th-May 1st Complete the peer review process
May 2nd-14th Finalize and submit the training manual.
Figure 1: Completion Schedule

Conclusion
I am happy with the progress I have made so far. I have fallen slightly behind my schedule
writing chapter 3, but I am confident that I can get myself back on track. Having a schedule will
help me budget my time and think ahead. I am confident that I can turn everything in on time. If
you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at Emarci01@my.blueridgectc.edu and I
will be happy to address them.