Baristas, current, former, and to be:
I used to barista in my early 20s in 3rd wave coffee. I had the best coworkers, the best shops, and steered clear of the big egos. My milk texture was on point, my rosettas crisp, and the music bumping.
I have since moved into the office peon life. It is boring, dreadful, and everyone has a stick up their ass (which in turn makes me feel like I have to have one up mine). I am a goofy, type b, queer who really can’t play the professional office game.
I want to get back into cafes. But I’m old. Other olds, do you ever feel like you don’t belong in coffee? Like it’s a young person’s gig? Maybe I want to relive glory days, but the ambience and cadence of the barista life (the rush! the lulls! the regulars with weird orders!) just felt so much better than this 9-5 office nightmare.
Pictured: a tulip from 2018!
by xaviii3r