Doing What I Love

"Find a job doing something you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life."

Someone said that to me once. I don't know who said it or if they were quoting someone else or even if I just dreamed it, but it's a quote that has stuck with me for years. Consequently, however that quote came to be known by me, I find it to be true every time I go in to "work" at the coffee shop.

Here's the weird thing about it. I don't even like coffee. I don't drink it. I like the smell of it, but the thought of drinking a straight cup of joe has absolutely no appeal to me whatsoever. Espresso, now there's a different story. Mochas, to be exact...those are my favorite. I happen to believe I make the best. 

When I first started working at a coffee shop back in 2008, I had not brewed a pot of coffee in my entire life. It was always odd to people who would come in to order and they would say "I don't really like coffee" and I would tell them, from behind the counter, "neither do I." I got some pretty strange looks from people. But here's the thing about working at a coffee shop for me...I take high pride in what I make. When people pay good money for a drink, I want it to be the kind they sip, size up and can't help but smile. No words necessary. Instand bond between barista and customer.

One of my favorite parts of being a barista is getting to know the customers and their drinks. Every place I have worked, there is a distinct behavioral game that is played out every time a person decides to make their trek to their favorite shop. They order the same drinks, get the same pastries, sit at the same tables, pay by the same method. It ends up being somewhat of a mind game for me. 

Cindy likes her mocha to go, skinny and extra hot. 

I like it when she smiles. It matters to me when my customers smile.

The coin guy. He likes 2 small Americanos, triple shot.

He intimidates me sometimes, but he's very patient and kind. I like that.

Paul likes a scone with his dark roast.

He doesn't take his sunglasses off very often. 

Bill just likes a mug of coffee added with a smile and probably a great big hug.

He is one of them I look forward to seeing when I work. He's a flirty old man.

Jackie likes her amaretto latte in a mug but she's not picky about anything else. 

She has a crush on our boy barista. It's cute to see her fumble over her words and laugh.

I like that guy that comes in to get a double fudge mocha coffee cooler. 

I used to think he was a jerk. But he's just quiet and I found out he just went through a divorce.

The unnamed one...

Nothing makes her happy. She complains about everything. It's hard for me to smile for her.

Kathy just comes in for a Diet Coke.

She doesn't anymore. She has colon cancer and just had surgery. I miss her.

Doyle brings in his own cup for coffee.

He's a cute white-haired older man with a crooked gait, but has a smile that lightens my world. His fresh tattoo on his pale legs is interesting. Turns out each tattoo is something that was his wife's favorite. She passed away a few years ago...

George gets oatmeal with raisins, no brown sugar but cinnamon. 

He'll drink a ginger peach tea while he reads the paper alone.

I'm to the point at the coffee shop where I know most of the names of the regular customers, if not their faces and favorite drinks. I love being able to start short conversations with them to get to know them better and to find out more about their lives. I love the people I work with. Each has a unique personality and every one of them makes me laugh and smile. I LOVE working with them. I love working for my boss. Never before have I worked for someone who has such a heart for people, a love for serving them. It sets the tone for the rest of us who work there and it makes it so easy to want to go in to work. Not many people can say they get excited when they go in to work and see their boss's car in the parking lot and they get excited they're there....

It's not about the coffee for me. It's not about the paycheck. 

Being a barista is about the people, the relationship amongst all of us who come together for a short period of time each day. We have different backgrounds, different ages, religious views, political views and personalities. We like different drinks. We talk about different things. But that hot cup of joe gives us a commonality that simply makes it a place you want to be, somewhere you want to go. I can't think of anywhere else where this happens with such consistency and acceptance. Everyone fits in. No one is excluded. Work? Nah.....I'm just doing what I love.

And just for fun, I am adding a few pics below of some of the "coffee art" I've done when I make my mochas. Once fall rolls around, I'll be making and doing more of these... :)