It's hard to imagine a better situation: coffee-lovers get caffeine, students with disability get skills.
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No wonder Black Mountain School's student-staffed Six Degrees Cafe was hailed a win-win at its public launch on Tuesday.
![Black Mountain School year 11 student Michael Levi makes a coffee at new cafe Six Degrees. Photo: Emily Baker Black Mountain School year 11 student Michael Levi makes a coffee at new cafe Six Degrees. Photo: Emily Baker](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/2ee12e37-f808-494f-9e99-c8119a465073/r0_0_1999_1333_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The social enterprise was established to equip the specialist school's students with the skills to help them get a job later in life.
Making coffees ahead of Tuesday's celebration, year 11 student Michael Levi described a busy past year learning how to prepare drinks, clean the cafe and serve customers.
![Black Mountain School year 11 student Michael Levi makes a coffee at new cafe Six Degrees. Photo: Emily Baker Black Mountain School year 11 student Michael Levi makes a coffee at new cafe Six Degrees. Photo: Emily Baker](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/fd00645d-922b-4a2e-b9b4-d524c8e4fd0e/r0_0_1999_1333_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"I've learned how to make sure the coffees are really good, how to froth the milk and stuff like that," said the 16-year-old, who now hopes to work in a cafe once he finishes school.
"It's fun."
Principal Lara Coman said the launch of Six Degrees represented years of dedication from the school's staff, who aimed to demonstrate the skills and abilities of their students.
She said it was hoped the program would one day expand beyond the school's year 11 and 12 students to include more people with disability, eventually provide catering services and open longer hours.
"Not only are we building the skills students need to have employment post-school, but we're opening up to the community so that community people can come in and see the strengths of our students and say 'Well actually, I can see how I could have someone with disability work in my workplace' because they're great employees," she said.
Year 11 student Jake Russell - a chai and caramel latte devotee - said his favourite part of working at Six Degrees was making drinks.
"Making cappuccinos and hot chocolates, I love that," he said.
"It's a good cafe for me to get a job soon.
"I'd like to get a job and work at McDonald's."
Classmate Charlotte Bailey agreed: "I like working in the cafe because I'd like to get a job."
Black Mountain School executive teacher Stephanie Nott said watching the students involved in the program transform over the past year had been "amazing".
"When they first start out you see them and they're very nervous and they're unsure, and just to see that growth, the emotional growth as well as the physical skill set of growing into the job as well, it's really amazing," she said.
"Just seeing the look on their face and their body language changes and they walk taller."
Six Degrees Cafe, based at the school's O'Connor campus, is open to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 9am and 2pm.