Rico, Starbucks Barista

Still everything about Coffee, or rather the Starbucks. The difference is, this time I'll be talking about the Barista itself, not merely the coffee but a person. I believe everyone always has their own stories and their stories can sometimes inspire others in many kinds of ways when they are told; well, still depends on those who hear or read the stories 'cause everyone has their own interests and traits that may regulate the way they respect and response to things occur. But inspiration is inspiration, it cannot be denied that in one's journey there will always be at least one unique and special experience that's worth the share. In addition, I like the way people's stories inspire and influence my horizons; you'll see how much big world is by knowing others' stories.

Rico, just turned 26 on last November 17th, he has title "Coffee Master" in Starbucks and has been working in Starbucks for 2 years since November 24th 2010. If you happen to see his face, I dare to bet that you definitely will guess his age is about 22 for maximum number. I even wonder whether he has ever taken any water of youth.

After 3 days of training in one of Starbucks in Jakarta, he
started his career as Barista in Starbucks from Starbucks in Emporium Plaza, Pluit, Jakarta. He worked there for 9 months including to continue his 3 months training and afterward he was moved to Starbucks Pluit Junction for 6 months. Then he was placed in Starbucks Pluit Village for 3 months before he then was asked to work at Starbucks Solo Paragon to be one of supervisors for opening the store.

Before his story in Starbucks, there is a history when he once was a college student and one of us, the customers. He used to study in Universitas Bunda Mulia and he already started working when he was between his 3rd and 4th year in college. He once occupied himself as a salesman who supplied electronic devices to big companies (e.g. Indocement). In order to manage his time between school and job, he chose the night schedule for collegial time.

Actually he had tried to apply working in Starbucks since he had been in 3rd semester of his college, but never called. 3 times attempts to apply and no result. One day near to his decision to quit from his job as a salesman, he applied for the 4th time to be a Barista. Fortunately this 4th time, a week after his resignation from his career as a salesman, Starbucks called him to soon start the training.

Lesson learnt: once you have a willingness to do or to be something, never shall you give up. Keep Trying no matter how many times you've failed.

Rico (the guy), exhibiting one of coffee brewing methods.

Now let's be curious: out of many Coffee Shops, or out of many kinds of jobs, why did Rico choose Starbucks? Why did he decide to be a Barista?

In college, he studied Management specifically Marketing field. There were times when he had assignments to make papers and reports about Business field. He had the assignments in group, mostly he did the research via internet while his friends conducted the interview. His interest was then born. The source for assignments became the source for his future. Moreover he also ever had hung around either alone or together with friends in Starbucks Artha Gading. His opinion was built; Starbucks indeed offered not only beverages and foods, but lifestyle, atmosphere, and friendly gesture of service. He believed Starbucks provided a very good environment for labor, the Barista worked energetically and sociably, and most of all that other Coffee Shop didn't provide: education.

Education about coffee, skill of working not only to brew coffee but also to be cashier, to clean, to wash, and to master the knowledge about coffee, they all seemingly have made him dragged into the world of Starbucks. Honestly, It also happens to me. I love the way how now I'm more knowledgeable than myself before and more than most of my friends when it comes to coffee. I'm still learning but it makes me contented to gain more lessons. Frankly said, Starbucks apparently is the only Coffee Shop that requires its employees to be able to work many kinds of jobs in the store, and also to be knowledgeable about coffee. Not to mention, the Baristas are also required to be sociable towards the customers so that customers will feel welcome and comfortable.

Furthermore about the history of Starbucks that also has influenced his life, Starbucks indeed has image as a leader of Coffee Shop Retailer. Should you know readers, once upon a time there was no way coffee to be reckoned as a lifestyle. It was only popular amongst low socioeconomic class people, and a supplement for Arabic soldiers before they had to go into battlefield to enhance their energy. Most noblemen in the past preferred tea as their daily lifestyle. Coffee didn't have any place in their heart. But Starbucks has made a very great wave of change. It became the pioneer to introduce coffee as lifestyle and now we can see everywhere that coffee is also artistic, it can be mixed with many materials and be brewed by many methods in certain order that not only makes the taste of coffee itself still sustains but also various.

3 Phase of Coffee history:

1. Found in Arab regions, only popular amongst soldiers and never touched by noblemen and middle-high socioeconomic people.
2. Starbucks became the pioneer turning coffee into world's culture of lifestyle, coffee then became popular amongst elites.
3. Once coffee was only enjoyed as coffee itself, but now we can find many kinds of flavours and many varieties of names depend on where the beans were planted, brewed, and mixed with other materials.

So coffee lovers, be thankful to Starbucks because without its existence, you'd never be able to enjoy any kind of coffee you now love.
According to Rico (which also based on sources he has), Starbucks is actually not popular in Europe. In every avenue in Europe always has their own local coffee shop which are much more popular and attractive to the Europeans simply because Starbucks is expensive. Even some of them can have better quality of coffee beans rather compared to Starbucks'. However, Starbucks still maintains to sustain there because after all, the quality Starbucks provides is still categorized as great. That is basically the reason why those westerns when they visit Indonesia, they choose Starbucks as a place to hang out rather than other local Coffee Shops in Indonesia. Starbucks already has image internationally.

Starbucks promotes itself as the 3rd home for its customers; 1st is Home, 2nd is School or Office. All of those reasons are enough for Rico not only to decide working at Starbucks, but also to have stayed in his job for more than 2 years. However, he's not really a fan of the beverages in Starbucks; he likes the atmosphere utmostly.

Speaking of which, I believe that Rico owes a lot to his sister for his existence in Starbucks now. It was his sister who introduced Starbucks to him that finally he tried hanging out at. But Starbucks itself is a legend for him, not only as customer he did enjoy, but also when he was in his 3 days training he felt excited. Now he has met so many people that influence his life because of Starbucks, he is a coffee master, he enjoys life, and he makes good money. 26 but feels like productive 20 he seems for me. I bet when he returns to Jakarta on next February, he'll be more an inspiration for people and he'll gain more great experiences. Let's see what he'll be after his piece of life being a Barista.

I hope you, readers, enjoy the story about Rico above. Most of all, I wish you inspired the same as I have been. And after the inspiration, I hope I can be as successful as him reaching my dream and interests, mostly enjoying my life through my labor just like Rico has.

Anyway, I'll be trying to also have posts about other Baristas in this Starbucks Solo. More importantly the Black Apron ones, because they will soon return to where they belong on February. Time is limited.

See you readers, and XOXO.