Experienced Barista – Specialty Coffee Shop in River Forest

Black Fodder Coffee Co.; River Forest (IL); On-site; USD 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited espresso and tea during shifts

40% off food and coffee beans

Real training as a coffee professional

Flexible scheduling options

Job summary

Black Fodder Coffee Co. in River Forest, IL is seeking an Experienced Barista passionate about coffee. You will be responsible for expertly crafting espresso drinks and brewing pourovers, ensuring a welcoming environment while maintaining cleanliness.

This role requires a minimum of one year in a specialty shop, strong latte art skills, and a drive for excellence. Join a small, dedicated team in a beautifully designed café with a commitment to quality and growth.

Qualifications

• 1+ years of experience as a barista in a specialty coffee shop.
• Strong latte art skills with evidence required.
• Knowledge of coffee extraction processes.

Responsibilities

• Pull espresso shots and steam milk.
• Brew pourovers with precision and care.
• Maintain cleanliness in the bar and café.

Skills

Espresso machine operation

Latte art

Hand brew methods expertise

Reliability

Cleaning standards

Food prep experience

Job description

Experienced Barista – Specialty Coffee Shop in River Forest

Full-time

We'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.

What you'd actually do

• Pull espresso, steam milk, and pour latte art all day — on a Slayer Steam, not a super‑automatic
• Brew pourovers on a Kalita Wave, V60, and Aeropress with precision and care
• Make every person who walks in feel genuinely welcome — not scripted, not forced
• Talk to guests about coffee like you genuinely find it interesting (because you do)
• Keep the bar and café spotless — clean as you go, always
• Handle equipment like it's yours

What we're looking for

• At 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 Instagram
• You actually know what extraction, dose, and yield mean, and you care about getting them right
• Experience with hand brew methods (Kalita Wave, V60, Aeropress) is a plus
• You have a real work ethic — you see what needs doing and you do it, without being asked
• You're driven to get better — you ask for feedback, study your craft, and hold yourself to a standard most people wouldn't bother with
• Keeping things clean isn't a task for you — it's just how you operate
• Rock‑solid reliability — you show up on time, every time. If something comes up, you communicate early, not last minute
• You operate with integrity — honesty and doing the right thing aren't negotiable
• You can lift 50 lbs (kegs, milk deliveries, event gear)
• Food prep experience or troubleshooting skills are a bonus, not a requirement

What it's like here

• Beautifully designed café with a Slayer Steam and full hand brew setup
• Unlimited espresso, filter, and tea on shift + one premium drink per shift
• 40% off food and coffee beans
• Real training — we invest in your growth as a coffee professional, not just your ability to follow a recipe
• Flexible scheduling — some people work café only, some do events only, some do both
• A small, tight team that genuinely gives a damn
• Walking 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.