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Italy's longest-serving barista reflects on six decades behind the counter

reuters.com

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Re: Italy's longest-serving barista reflects on six decades behind the counter

#11

Post by oersted »

bix6 wrote: post #9

I was thinking about robotic baristas the other day and how you might save on costs but you give up so much; If I’m going out for coffee I prefer places where I know the baristas so I get to feel like a part of my community.

> robotic baristas

Coffee vending machines? That’s what’s inside the box, it’s nothing new really… There are very high quality ones too. It’s not a particularly skilled job for a human to do, besides the customer service aspect of course, perhaps I am ignorant in that regard.

Indeed, coming from Spain, I don’t really see the lady as a barista, she is the classic bartender that listens to you and knows everybody. Except the bar is open throughout the day, is family friendly, sells all kinds besides alcohol (breakfast, coffee, tobacco, lunch, dinner, newspapers, lottery tickets, snacks and sweets…), and generally acts as the social nexus of the neighborhood. These old school small bars are everywhere in southern EU. Within that context it is less surprising that she would stay working there as long as she physically could.

Re: Italy's longest-serving barista reflects on six decades behind the counter

#12

Post by kulahan »

bix6 wrote: post #9

I was thinking about robotic baristas the other day and how you might save on costs but you give up so much; If I’m going out for coffee I prefer places where I know the baristas so I get to feel like a part of my community.

There are a couple stores around me run by small families, and honestly sometimes I feel like I'm halfway to being part of their family when I visit. They recognize me, greet me by name, and start firing up my order right away. Or they ask me how I'm doing and I do the same, but it goes deeper than "good, you?" - I'm learning currently about how one dude is trying a year living together with his ex again. I'm praying for 'em every day pretty much. We share recipes, stores, etc.

We will rue every decision we make to remove humans from interactions imo.

Re: Italy's longest-serving barista reflects on six decades behind the counter

#13

Post by komali2 »

bell-cot wrote: post #5

Between the lines you can hear the eulogy for a healthy economy and dense social network which have, now, mostly rotted away.

> I tell my granddaughters: work, save, don’t depend on anyone. The world is getting harder.

This woman lived through fascist Italy and everything that came after, and then says this about the way the world is going.

Re: Italy's longest-serving barista reflects on six decades behind the counter

#14

Post by bamboozled »

bix6 wrote: post #9

I was thinking about robotic baristas the other day and how you might save on costs but you give up so much; If I’m going out for coffee I prefer places where I know the baristas so I get to feel like a part of my community.

This is right, coffee is a lot about people and interaction. It's about being around people.

Re: Italy's longest-serving barista reflects on six decades behind the counter

#15

Post by swatcoder »

brendoelfrendo wrote: post #6

I always think that I would hate to work into my old age, but it's different for some. I can't speak to what Anna's financial situation is like, but the way she talks about her work as part of the community and a way to stay active and independent makes me think that she's content, and that's great. She certainly seems like she's doing well for 101!

For most people, it proves very disorienting to not be doing something constructive for others, and in a capitalist world, where everything easily becomes transactional and people get a little isolated from deeper community and family, it's kind of organic for that drive to be fulfilled by continuing to work in old age. Lots of people do it by choice.

If you feel like you might be on that road, the smart trick is to start thinking early about what kind of work you might want to take up during that stage and plant the seeds for it early.

Some people don't have a lot of choice to prepare, and just end up falling into being barista because the job is there and they find they enjoy it. But the other barista at that same cafe might be the owner who bought it as their own "retirement", filling shifts when they want to, while giving the neighborhood a place to gather.

Re: Italy's longest-serving barista reflects on six decades behind the counter

#16

Post by amarant »

komali2 wrote: post #13
bell-cot wrote: post #5

Between the lines you can hear the eulogy for a healthy economy and dense social network which have, now, mostly rotted away.

> I tell my granddaughters: work, save, don’t depend on anyone. The world is getting harder. This woman lived through fascist Italy and everything that came after, and then says this about the way the world is going.

Reading the writing on the wall perhaps.

In Soviet Russia, Rome is a poor city I guess

Re: Italy's longest-serving barista reflects on six decades behind the counter

#17

Post by Incipient »

bix6 wrote: post #9

I was thinking about robotic baristas the other day and how you might save on costs but you give up so much; If I’m going out for coffee I prefer places where I know the baristas so I get to feel like a part of my community.

I feel like there are definitely two types of people that are after coffee - the morning commute people that need caffeine, and just want it fast. They'd not notice a machine doing it for them (and a lot of them would have a machine at home!)

The other group is like you and I, where we like engaging with the community.

I suppose three - the Starbucks crew that do it for 'likes'.

Re: Italy's longest-serving barista reflects on six decades behind the counter

#18

Post by komali2 »

amarant wrote: post #16
komali2 wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I tell my granddaughters: work, save, don’t depend on anyone. The world is getting harder. This woman lived through fascist Italy and everything that came after, and then says this about the way the world is going.

Reading the writing on the wall perhaps. In Soviet Russia, Rome is a poor city I guess

Sorry, I don't quite understand what this means, can you help?

Re: Italy's longest-serving barista reflects on six decades behind the counter

#19

Post by socalgal2 »

swatcoder wrote: post #15
brendoelfrendo wrote: post #6

I always think that I would hate to work into my old age, but it's different for some. I can't speak to what Anna's financial situation is like, but the way she talks about her work as part of the community and a way to stay active and independent makes me think that she's content, and that's great. She certainly seems like she's doing well for 101!

For most people, it proves very disorienting to not be doing something constructive for others, and in a capitalist world, where everything easily becomes transactional and people get a little isolated from deeper community and family, it's kind of organic for that drive to be fulfilled by continuing to work in old age. Lots of people do it by choice. If you feel like you might be on that road, the smart trick is to…

>and in a capitalist world, where everything easily becomes transactional and people get a little isolated from deeper community and family,

What does this have to do with capitalism?

Re: Italy's longest-serving barista reflects on six decades behind the counter

#20

Post by jacquesm »

brendoelfrendo wrote: post #6

I always think that I would hate to work into my old age, but it's different for some. I can't speak to what Anna's financial situation is like, but the way she talks about her work as part of the community and a way to stay active and independent makes me think that she's content, and that's great. She certainly seems like she's doing well for 101!

I have an uncle that is extremely old and until a year and a half ago he was still working. But he needed a car for his job and he decided that he's going to get rid of the car before he ends someone else's life and so he had to give up his job too. He's a super nice character, has a great sense of humor and in general is probably one of the most fun and optimistic people that I know. He'd be working still if not for the car and I know that the loss of the job and a chunk of his independence is hard for him. But he does not let it get him down for long, just finds new things to do (he's currently studying bridge like his life depends on it).
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