You wake up sleepy, ready or not so much for a new day of work, you follow your morning routine and head with determined steps to your favorite cafe. The thought of an aromatic coffee is about the only thing that convinces you to go further, and the steaming cup is the indulgence you always look for so eagerly.
From behind the counter you are greeted by the same friendly face that you know too well, always with a smile on his face and eager to prepare your caffeinated fuel. It's him, your barista friend, the one with whom you exchange a few words every morning, who reveals the secrets of coffee and tells you a joke on gloomy days. It's as if you love seeing it more, and when you take your first sip of coffee, it's as if you'd take it with you to your home or office, so that it always prepares your enchanted liqueur.
What you may not have known is that the feeling is mutual. Your barista friend is just as excited to see you, and his positive energy is largely thanks to you. His day also starts with a cup of coffee, often before sunrise, after which he makes sure everything is perfect by the time you walk through his door. Every day in the life of a barista shares the same technical parameters, but also the same zest for life and joy of interaction.
Robert Kis is the barista at the Olivo Coffee.You.Go Kiosk, of the Olivo Coffee Bakery, since October 2017, an experience that changed not only his perception of coffee, but also his life. He learned what specialty coffee means, to be more responsible and to enjoy every guest that crosses his threshold. In addition to his passion for coffee, Robert is also a journalism student, so together with his colleagues, he chose to document a day in the life of a barista.
"At the beginning of the day, the first task is the supply. We thus ensure that you can choose the product you want from our menu. Then comes the most important thing, namely the preparation of the recipe for the two types of coffee we are going to serve that day: the blend and a single origin coffee. So far, all fine and dandy, and the relaxed atmosphere sets us up for the day.
The recipe for the two types of coffee changes constantly throughout the day, so we periodically test one espresso at a time to make sure the quality is maintained. At the end of the day, after everyone leaves satisfied and with a smile on their face, we stay to prepare the bar for the following day: we empty and clean the grinders and the espresso machine, we ensure the cleanliness of the kiosk, after which we turn off the light."
The technical details may not be the most exciting, but they are essential for your espresso or cappuccino to be as you expect every time. After these are in optimal parameters, comes the really fun part: the conversation with the barista on duty! Apart from small pleasantries and curiosities over coffee, perhaps many things remain unsaid due to limited time. Good luck with the pages of the Newspaper and the power of Robert's pen! He chatted with his colleagues, who couldn't wait to describe their life as a barista and pass on their words of appreciation. Yes, you, dear reader!
"I really like knowing that I get to work in the morning, prepare everything, drink a coffee and wait for the first guest, which for me is the "first dose of caffeine" of the day, which does not come from a cup." This is how Andrei Lazăr, the barista at Olivo since October 2017, feels. "The complexity and diversity of our coffee, together with the positive energy of the team, which we also transmit to the guests, give me many moments and small soulful rewards."
"In the morning I rush to get to work as quickly as possible, to bring the coffee to Olivo Bakery standards and to keep it the same throughout the day. Then, together with the first guests, we discover the notes that the origin of that day offers. For me, the Kiosk is like a second home, where I meet friends, and most importantly, I give people a boost of positive energy." These are the words of Alex Șuteu, the barista at the Prăjitoria Olivo kiosk for two years. "The pleasure I come to work with is due to the quality coffee we have the honor to work with and, very importantly, the wonderful people who come to the kiosk with a smile."
For three years now, Iulian has dedicated his life to coffee and leaves a piece of his soul in every cup. When I asked him what a day in the life of a barista means to him, the answer was not long in coming. "I have never had a job that I enjoyed so much, I always had a hard time waking up in the morning, but since I work with coffee, I can't wait for my day to start. Every time I arrive at work, I motivate myself to be better than the last time, to make people feel better, so I start by preparing the recipe, with which I welcome the first guests. With the guests who cross our threshold every day, I have various conversations, I get to know their preferences in terms of coffee, aspects of their personal lives and details of that day, which I try to make better for them. I don't even feel time passing, I live every day to the fullest!"
Mihai Medeșan has been working as a barista at Olivo for a year and a half. He is a passionate, interested man, eager to learn, but also one who can cheer you up regardless of the day you had. "For me, a day in the life of a barista is a very beautiful one, because I get to see that the work and effort I put in are recognized not only by my colleagues, but also by the guests, whose faces I read the gratitude on their faces. I admit that before Olivo I was not a coffee lover, but after I started tasting what is called a proper espresso, I started to learn and entered the world of specialty coffee, which conquered me irrevocably. I love to work, I love to document this subject and test new recipes.”
For Robert, "the first part of the day is the most exciting, because most of the guests are in a hurry to get to work, and I have to prepare their coffee in the shortest time, while keeping the quality constant. Although the days go by fast, it is a pleasure to have a conversation with each of our guests. I'm glad that I have colleagues from whom I can learn and guests who are passionate about specialty coffee".
Preparing a proper espresso can seem like a piece of cake, and the barista job a real game. Although it is often not quite like that, the passion for this job makes everything flow naturally. The beauty of a day in the life of a barista is amplified by the joy of human interaction and it would be nothing without the positive energy of the people who cross his threshold.
Robert Kis & Patricia Padureanu