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

• 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

What we're looking for

• 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

• What it's like
• Event-based scheduling — work fits around your life, not the other way around
• Most events are mornings and weekdays, some evenings and weekends
• Flexible hours — great as a primary gig or a strong side income
• You'll work a variety of Chicagoland venues — no two events the same
• Coffee and drinks provided at every event
• 40% off food and beans when you visit the café
• Real training — we make sure you know our standards before you represent us solo
• Small team, direct communication — no corporate layers, no nonsense
• Catering-only or café + events — we'll build a schedule that works for both of us

If 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.