Experienced Barista - Specialty Coffee Shop in River Forest

Experienced Barista – Specialty Coffee Shop in River ForestWe're not looking for someone who can just make coffee. We're looking for someone who cares about making it right.Black Fodder Coffee is a specialty coffee company in River Forest, IL. We run a café, cater private events across Chicagoland, and teach espresso and pour-over classes. We're family-owned, obsessively quality-driven, and building something we're genuinely proud of.We source from award-winning roasters — with plans to roast in-house soon. We dial in every morning. We pour latte art on every drink — not because the customer asked, but because that's the standard. If that sounds like your kind of place, keep reading.Job DescriptionWhat you'd actually doPull espresso, steam milk, and pour latte art all day — on a Slayer Steam, not a super-automaticBrew pourovers on a Kalita Wave, V60, and Aeropress with precision and careWork café shifts in our River Forest shop and/or catering events across ChicagolandMake every person who walks in feel genuinely welcome — not scripted, not forcedTalk to guests about coffee like you genuinely find it interesting (because you do)Keep the bar and café spotless — clean as you go, alwaysHandle equipment like it's yoursQualificationsWhat we're looking forAt least 1 year behind an espresso machine at a specialty shop (not a chain — you know the difference)Strong latte art — send us a few photos or link your InstagramYou actually know what extraction, dose, and yield mean, and you care about getting them rightExperience with hand brew methods (Kalita Wave, V60, Aeropress) is a plusYou have a real work ethic — you see what needs doing and you do it, without being askedYou're driven to get better — you ask for feedback, study your craft, and hold yourself to a standard most people wouldn't bother withKeeping things clean isn't a task for you — it's just how you operateRock-solid reliability — you show up on time, every time. If something comes up, you communicate early, not last minuteYou operate with integrity — honesty and doing the right thing aren't negotiableYou can lift 50 lbs (kegs, milk deliveries, event gear)Fluent in EnglishFood prep experience or troubleshooting skills are a bonus, not a requirementAdditional InformationWhat it's like hereBeautifully designed café with a Slayer Steam and full hand brew setupUnlimited espresso, filter, and tea on shift + one premium drink per shift40% off food and coffee beansReal training — we invest in your growth as a coffee professional, not just your ability to follow a recipeFlexible scheduling — some people work café only, some do events only, some do bothA small, tight team that genuinely gives a damnFamily-owned, founder-operated — no corporate layers, no nonsenseWalking distance from CTA (Blue and Green lines)If you read this and thought "finally, a coffee job that sounds like it's actually about coffee" — apply. We'd love to meet you.