According to the Jewish sages that in order for a student to learn, he has to humble himself to his teacher. Doing menial tasks for the benefit of the teacher is part of the learning process. In the old tradition of a Jewish teacher-student relationship, the student does what he can for the teacher. If it is necessary to sort coffee beans for the teacher, the student is obliged to do it.
This obligation is not bestowed by the teacher to the student, but rather the student necessitates himself to do this because this is essential for imbibing the teacher's wisdom.
I heard a rav who used to wash his teacher's clothes and even provided food for his teacher. In return, the student is influenced by the teacher's way of thinking, way of life, his holiness, his knowledge, and most especially his wisdom.
If the student looks at himself as greater than the teacher, he cannot become a student. Not because the teacher rejects him, but rather because of his disposition of pride puts him in a place where he cannot learn from the teacher.
The student has to be awed by the teacher. He has to look at the teacher as if he has all the qualities he wants to have. He has to look at the teacher as if he has what the student is craving for.
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