Catering & Event Barista — Black Fodder Coffee

Company DescriptionWe'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.Job DescriptionWhat you'd actually doSet up and break down our mobile espresso bar at events across Chicagoland — corporate offices, private parties, weddings, and morePull espresso and steam milk on a professional machine under event conditions — fast, clean, consistentPour latte art on every drink — not because you have to, but because that's the standardRepresent Black Fodder Coffee directly to clients and their guests — warm, confident, professionalKeep your setup spotless throughout the event — clean as you go, alwaysCoordinate with the event lead on timing, flow, and guest volumeHandle load-in and load-out of equipment — you're not just the barista, you're part of the crewQualificationsWhat we're looking forAt 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 InstagramYou work well under pressure and stay calm when the line backs upYou can set up and manage a bar independently — we brief you in, but you own it from thereYou're punctual, reliable, and communicate clearly — if something changes, you tell us before it becomes a problemYou operate with integrity — honesty and doing the right thing aren't negotiableYou can lift 50 lbs and move equipment efficiently (cases, coolers, espresso gear)Reliable transportation to event locations across Chicagoland — this is a mustFluent in EnglishAdditional InformationWhat it's likeEvent-based scheduling — work fits around your life, not the other way aroundMost events are mornings and weekdays, some evenings and weekendsFlexible hours — great as a primary gig or a strong side incomeYou'll work a variety of Chicagoland venues — no two events the sameCoffee and drinks provided at every event40% off food and beans when you visit the caféReal training — we make sure you know our standards before you represent us soloSmall team, direct communication — no corporate layers, no nonsenseCatering-only or café + events — we'll build a schedule that works for both of usIf 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.