Professional Summary
Detail-oriented barista with hands-on experience in high-volume specialty coffee preparation, espresso calibration, and register operations. Skilled in maintaining consistent drink standards, textbook sanitation, and welcoming customer service during peak morning rushes.
Experience
Prairie Wave Coffee Roasters
Chicago, IL
Barista
Feb 2025 – Present
- Calibrate espresso grinders and dial in seasonal single-origin espressos every morning to meet brew ratio and extraction standards.
- Steam milk for up to 140 espresso beverages per shift while adhering to latte art presentation guidelines and dietary milk options.
- Manage point-of-sale transactions and mobile pickup orders accurately using Square POS, maintaining positive customer interaction during rush hours.
- Clean and backflush commercial espresso machines, sanitize milk pitchers, and execute daily closing station breakdowns.
Halsted Corner Market & Deli
Chicago, IL
Cashier & Beverage Attendant
Sep 2022 – Jan 2025
- Operated commercial drip coffee brewers and batch grinders while restocking condiment stations and retail whole-bean bags.
- Handled cash and credit transactions at the front counter, greeting approximately 200 patrons daily in a fast-paced retail environment.
- Assisted with receiving weekly dairy and pantry inventory, rotating stock according to FIFO standards to eliminate waste.
Loomis Park Bookstore & Cafe
Chicago, IL
Customer Service Associate
Apr 2018 – Aug 2022
- Prepared manual pour-over coffees and cold brews according to established recipes while assisting retail bookstore visitors.
- Monitored display case temperatures and maintained spotless dining floor and counter surfaces following health department standards.
Education
City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College
Associate of Applied Science · Hospitality and Tourism Management · Chicago, IL · 3.6 GPA · Aug 2013 – May 2015
Completed coursework in food safety principles, customer relations, hospitality operations, and beverage inventory management.
Projects
Staff Coffee Cupping & Tasting Series
Mar 2026 – Jun 2026
- Organized weekly palate exercises and cupping flights of Central and South American coffees for cafe team members to improve flavor descriptor communication.
- Documented bean origin, processing method, and tasting notes on chalkboard signage to enhance guest engagement.
Skills
Espresso extraction
Milk steaming & texturing
Dialing-in grinders
Manual pour-over brewing
Square POS
Cash handling
Food safety & sanitation
Station breakdown & cleaning
Inventory rotation (FIFO)
Customer engagement
Languages
English
C2
Spanish
B1
Certifications
Barista Skills Foundation
Specialty Coffee Association · May 2024
Food Service Sanitation Manager Certification
Illinois Department of Public Health · Aug 2025
Community Involvement
Logan Square Community Table
Chicago, IL · Apr 2024 – Nov 2025
- Volunteer Beverage Server
- Brewed and served hot batch coffee and hot tea for community attendees during neighborhood clean-up mornings.
- Managed compostable waste collection bins and disassembled outdoor beverage service stations at event conclusion.