Catering & Event Barista — Black Fodder Coffee

We'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.

What you'd actually do

Responsibilities

Set up and break down our mobile espresso bar at events across Chicagoland — corporate offices, private parties, weddings, and more; Pull espresso and steam milk on a professional machine under event conditions — fast, clean, consistent; Pour latte art on every drink — not because you have to, but because that's the standard; Represent Black Fodder Coffee directly to clients and their guests — warm, confident, professional; Keep your setup spotless throughout the event — clean as you go, always; Coordinate with the event lead on timing, flow, and guest volume; Handle load-in and load-out of equipment — you're not just the barista, you're part of the crew

Requirements

At 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 Instagram; You work well under pressure and stay calm when the line backs up; You can set up and manage a bar independently — we brief you in, but you own it from there; You're punctual, reliable, and communicate clearly — if something changes, you tell us before it becomes a problem; You operate with integrity — honesty and doing the right thing aren't negotiable; You can lift 50 lbs and move equipment efficiently (cases, coolers, espresso gear); Reliable transportation to event locations across Chicagoland — this is a must; Fluent in English