Barista Battle Scars

Besides the obvious effects of working at a job where you're on your feet for eight hours, such as tired feet and legs, and a sore back, there are some other daily ailments that a barista will encounter. Coffee splatter burns, paper cuts, cupboard door finger slams, wet floor slips, bonked heads, and muscle strains are a few the things that happen every now and again.
The next descriptions are two of the current conditions I've been generous enough to share with you. Don't worry, they're not too graphic!

The Espresso Finger

This condition isn't painful, it's just more of an aesthetically unpleasing part of the job. As so many baristas know, the massaging of the espresso in the portafilter leaves this black-brown 'skuz' in the cracks and wrinkles of your finger. It isn't easily removed either. This photo was taken about two days after my shift ended, espresso still ingrained like the hands of a weathered mechanic.

Burns

This is probably the most common thing that can happen, considering all of the hot liquids we deal with. Come to think of it, I'm surprised this doesn't happen more. It's amazing what a splash of 200 degree water or hot steam can do to your epidermis even if it only touches you for one second. This particular picture was taken the day after my skin touched a hot steam wand just after it had been turned off. It doesn't take much to end up with a very sore bubble on your skin. Ouch!

Accidents are inevitable, but if you remember where your hot spots are, painful things like this can be avoided!

Short And Sweet

Customer - "Can I get a grande soy matcha latte?"

Me - "We actually don't have those."

Customer - "Well you know... I just want like a London Fog but made with matcha powder."

Me - "Yes I fully understand. But I'm telling you we don't have that."



Long blank stare from customer to me.



Customer - (sigh) "K."



Customer exits door right, angrily.

The Fruits of Our Labour

It's Labour day long weekend in one of the busiest coffee shops in Vancouver. I don't know if this is the best time to submit the first post to this blog! Due to the volume of people coming through our store in this time period, things might come out sounding a bit negative, when in reality, working in coffee is actually not bad at all. Sure, having a lineup out the door all day, drinks stretching all the way down the bar, and working with six other people as high strung as myself can really raise the tensions in the room. For the most part though, we are successful at satisfying a LOT of people every single day. And in turn, we can be satisfied knowing we worked very hard all summer while visitors and vacationers had us grind, brew, stream and pour for them! HA! I think every barista in the Northern hemisphere is ready to let autumn in, summer out and be done with the mayhem for another year.

So with the beginning of this blog comes the end of summer, the end of blended coffees, and the end of packed patios. Soon we'll make way for mochas by fireplaces, early sunsets, and eggnog lattes. Until then, keep checking back for more stories, satires and sagas of the daily lives of baristas!


Tamp, taste, and tell on!