Find & Apply For Barista Jobs in River Forest, Illinois

Experienced Barista - Specialty Coffee Shop in River Forest Black Fodder Coffee River Forest, IL Job Details Part-time $24 - $28 an hour 9 hours ago Benefits Paid training Paid time off Employee discount Flexible schedule Paid sick time Qualifications Recipe adherence Espresso machines Café experience Professional ethics Barista experience English Coffee shop experience Food preparation Food preparation equipment operation Full Job Description 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. If that sounds like your kind of place, keep reading. 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 Work café shifts in our River Forest shop and/or catering events across Chicagoland 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 — we'll ask for a few photos of your pours 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 operate with integrity — honesty and doing the right thing aren't negotiable You're punctual, reliable, and you communicate clearly — if you're running late, you text ahead, not after You can lift 50 lbs (kegs, milk deliveries, event gear) Fluent in English 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 Free coffee and tea on shift + up to 2 crafted drinks 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 Family-owned, founder-operated — no corporate layers, no nonsense 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.

Pay:

$24.00 - $28.00 per hour

Benefits:

Employee discount Flexible schedule Paid sick time Paid time off Paid training Application Question(s): Describe your experience with espresso — how do you ensure consistency in extraction, dose, and yield? How would you describe your experience with hand brew methods (V60, Kalita Wave, AeroPress, Chemex)? Are there any shifts you're consistently unavailable to work? What are your latte art skills? Describe what you pour consistently (hearts, tulips, rosettas) — we'll ask for a few photos of your pours later.

Experience:

Barista:

1 year (Required)

Work Location:

In person