Any coffee snob coders on here that think they would enjoy a part-time barista job??? I would be up to try it out, especially at a small business or cafe that takes care in the quality of their coffee.
Good luck, my wife actually tried that after she left a PM job at Microsoft. No one would hire her because they figured she was just biding time until the next high-paying software gig, and would leave shortly after being hired.
Leave the barista jobs for people that need them to survive. It's one of the few jobs that takes less than a year of training and pays decent (with tips) for all the people struggling to make ends meet in the new economy.
Developers can do a couple hours of freelancing and make what a barista makes in a full shift.
I spent a year as a Starbucks barista, starting in late 1999, and it was a wonderful job. I think the machines they work on are more automated now, which is great for consistent quality, but I loved the skill building and quality impact I could have by being passionate. It was great to give people the thing that made them happier (that first cuppa the day), and the tips were okay. I really enjoyed many of my coworkers and we socialized outside of work a lot. The side benefit is that when you start work at 5a and your manager needs to limit you to no overtime, you get a lot of daylight for hiking and golf!
Awesome, sounds similar to a friend of mine that worked around that time. I have heard they still use the more "complicated" machines at their original spot in Seattle to keep that taste.
I am no coffee snob, but if you get the chance, I can only recommend volunteering in a cafe, it is busy at times but it is fun and it is for a good cause.
I was thinking specifically about cafes run by non-profit organisations, the one I was helping did run an animal sanctuary, I think that was a good cause.
Worked as a Barista for a small Mom and Pop shop. I enjoyed my time there for various reasons, but it is not intellectually stimulating work (maybe if I had worked for a roaster instead?) and while you can dick around all day inventing new drinks, you're still just dicking around with some variations of coffee, tea, sugar, sugar substitutes, dairy or dairy substitutes. Maybe some soda water or dark chocolate (low to no dairy or sugar variety) to mix things up a bit.