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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

#31

Post by almostgotcaught »

amarant wrote: post #28
komali2 wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

Russia seems poised to invade Europe in the near future. If they do, and succeed, Rome could become part of the new Soviet Union(which Putin has explicitly said he wants to bring back) Once that happens, it's likely to lead to poverty. At least that's what happened in the last USSR

> Russia seems poised to invade Europe in the near future. If they do, and succeed

Is this a joke? There is literally no chance this ever happens.

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

#32

Post by 8f2ab37a-ed6c »

Incipient wrote: post #17
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'.

The Italian morning caffè ritual is already extremely fast: the barista works at the speed of light and the coffee you get is pretty standard, but in exchange you get a moment to rub shoulders "al banco" with others like you about to go into work, or elders just getting out of the house, a mother taking her kid to school, a policeman taking a break. You say hi to the same few people you've been seeing at the establishment for years. It's familiar and heartwarming.

It's a sprinkling of human connection as you start your day. A small homage to the tradition of coffee culture. Your grandparents did it, your parents did it, you did it, your kids will do it, etc. You rejoice in knowing that, as everything else changes around you, maybe this one minuscule secular ritual will stand the test of time and provide a symbolic sense of continuity with the past.

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

#33

Post by tokioyoyo »

sho_hn wrote: post #27
siavosh wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m obviously out of touch. What do these starbucks people do exactly.

Order the special drink of the week/month and pose with it on socials. Think your Pumpkin Spice Latte season.

I have a feeling that most people imagine this. But this doesn’t sound like on the ground reality for me? Here in Tokyo, most people I’ve seen just grab brewed coffee or the usual espresso drinks and go on with their lives. When I lives in Toronto/Vancouver, that’s what I experienced over there as well. Used to frequent one down the street as it was the cheapest brewed available coffee, and the regulars would always order their normal cups to go.

It’s interesting to see these type of generalizations that I never experience in life. I’m not saying there’s no truth to it, as girls in my circles often talk about “oh, it’s PSL season, I wanna go!”. But it’s hard to believe that all of their customers go for the special drinks.

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

#34

Post by wat10000 »

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 can’t imagine I’d ever stop programming as long as I’m mentally and physically capable of it. That doesn’t mean I’d work until I drop, because I can always do hobby projects for myself instead. Being a hobby barista probably doesn’t work quite the same way.

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

#35

Post by hippo22 »

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 used to feel the same way, but, then I find it weird that the barista has to be there. I get the sense that some people use them almost like a free therapist since they have a captive audience.

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

#36

Post by sho_hn »

tokioyoyo wrote: post #33
sho_hn wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Order the special drink of the week/month and pose with it on socials. Think your Pumpkin Spice Latte season.

I have a feeling that most people imagine this. But this doesn’t sound like on the ground reality for me? Here in Tokyo, most people I’ve seen just grab brewed coffee or the usual espresso drinks and go on with their lives. When I lives in Toronto/Vancouver, that’s what I experienced over there as well. Used to frequent one down the street as it was the cheapest brewed available coffee, and the regulars would always…

I've never seen this either. I'm just interpreting what I think OP meant.

I used to live in Seoul, and new special food or drink items definitely would cause fad waves and would appear on Instagram feeds (Seoul is notorious for this), but I doubt it was the major parts of Starbucks' business.

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

#38

Post by pezezin »

oersted wrote: post #11
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. Exce…

I am also Spanish, living in Japan, and our bars is one the things I miss the most. Seriously, you don't realize how amazing Spanish bars are until you don't have them.

Here I just stop by a konbini, grab a can coffee and a plastic-wrapped sandwich, and off I go. There is no social nexus, and no neighbourhood for that matter. It's depressing.

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

#39

Post by jimbokun »

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.

At that point just make your coffee at home.

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

#40

Post by jimbokun »

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!

Working for a larger soul sucking corporation that long would be spiritually crushing.

But serving your community coffee every day seems like a great way to stay involved in your community doing something useful.

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