Catering & Event Barista — Black Fodder Coffee

Black Fodder Coffee Co.; River Forest (IL); On-site; USD 27,552 - 33,062; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

40% off food and beans at café

Coffee and drinks provided at every event

Real training before working solo

Job summary

Black Fodder Coffee Co. is looking for a part-time Catering & Event Barista in River Forest, IL. You will set up and operate a mobile espresso bar at various events, ensuring quality drinks and excellent service.

The ideal candidate has at least 1 year of experience with espresso machines, excellent latte art skills, and reliable transportation. Enjoy flexible hours and the chance to work at diverse Chicagoland venues. Join a team passionate about quality coffee.

Qualifications

• At least 1 year behind an espresso machine at a specialty shop.
• Reliable transportation to event locations across Chicagoland.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs and move equipment efficiently.

Responsibilities

• Set up and break down mobile espresso bar at events.
• Pull espresso and steam milk under event conditions.
• Represent Black Fodder Coffee directly to clients.

Skills

Latte art skills

Ability to work under pressure

Communication skills

Team coordination

Job description

Catering & Event Barista — Black Fodder Coffee

• Part‑time
• Compensation: USD 20 ‑ 24 hourly

We're not looking for someone who can just make coffee. We're looking for someone who can make it right — anywhere.

Black Fodder Coffee is a specialty coffee company in River Forest, IL. We run a café, roast our own beans (coming soon), and cater private events across Chicagoland—corporate offices, weddings, brand activations, and everything in between.

We're family‑owned, obsessively quality‑driven, and building something we're genuinely proud of. At events, we show up with a full mobile espresso bar and hold the same standard we hold in the café—dialed‑in shots, real latte art, genuine hospitality.

If that sounds like your kind of work, keep reading.

What you'd actually do

• Set up and break down our mobile espresso bar at events across Chicagoland—corporate offices, private parties, weddings, and more
• Pull espresso and steam milk on a professional machine under event conditions—fast, clean, consistent
• Pour latte art on every drink—not because you have to, but because that's the standard
• Represent Black Fodder Coffee directly to clients and their guests—warm, confident, professional
• Keep your setup spotless throughout the event—clean as you go, always
• Coordinate with the event lead on timing, flow, and guest volume
• Handle load‑in and load‑out of equipment—you're not just the barista, you're part of the crew

What we're looking for

• At least 1 year behind an espresso machine at a specialty shop (not a chain— you know the difference)
• Latte art skills—send us a few photos or link your Instagram
• You work well under pressure and stay calm when the line backs up
• You can set up and manage a bar independently— we brief you in, but you own it from there
• You're punctual, reliable, and communicate clearly—if something changes, you tell us before it becomes a problem
• You operate with integrity—honesty and doing the right thing aren’t negotiable
• You can lift 50 lbs and move equipment efficiently (cases, coolers, espresso gear)
• Reliable transportation to event locations across Chicagoland— this is a must

What it's like

• Event‑based scheduling—work fits around your life, not the other way around
• Most events are mornings and weekdays, some evenings and weekends
• Flexible hours—great as a primary gig or a strong side income
• You'll work a variety of Chicagoland venues—no two events the same
• Coffee and drinks provided at every event
• 40 % off food and beans when you visit the café
• Real training—we make sure you know our standards before you represent us solo
• Catering‑only or café + events— we'll build a schedule that works for both of us

If the idea of running a coffee bar at a rooftop event in the Loop or a corporate office in the West Loop sounds more exciting than a fixed café shift—this is the job. Apply. We'd love to meet you.

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