The real daily life of a barista: Why do I use the Dress Steamer every day?
Every day, I arrive at the store around five o'clock in the morning.
The first step is not to froth the milk, nor to turn on the music, but to start the boiler of the coffee machine. The steam gradually builds up pressure, and the machine begins to operate rhythmically. For baristas, steam is the most familiar element - it determines the fineness of the milk foam and also affects the taste of a latte.
But very few people know that my reliance on "steam" goes beyond just the coffee machine.
Before going out, I also turn on my dress steamer.
It's not for the sake of a sense of ceremony; it's for convenience.
Why do baristas pay so much attention to their clothes?
Many people think that working in a coffee shop is very flexible, but that's not the case at all.
We encounter a large number of guests every day. The bar counter is brightly lit and the movements are frequent. The condition of the clothes can be easily determined at a glance.
I usually dress quite simply:
- Pure cotton shirt
- Linen apron
- Black trousers
- Sometimes it's a dress.
These materials have one thing in common - they tend to wrinkle easily.
Especially linen, it wrinkles up quickly when you sit on it.
If you go to work wearing wrinkled clothes, you will look completely exhausted.
Previously, I used an iron. To be honest, it was too troublesome.
To lay the boards, there needs to be preheating and repeated pressing.
The morning shift simply doesn't have enough time.
Later, I started using the dress steamer, and my life became much more organized.
Why do I prefer to use the Dress Steamer?
1. Speed
I didn't have time in the morning to do things slowly.
Hang up the clothes, turn on the steam, and it will produce steam in about half a minute.
Steam down from the shoulders and along the body. It will be done in a few minutes.
No need for an ironing board, and no worries about the wrong temperature setting.
For people working on a shift system, this kind of efficiency is really crucial.
2. More gentle on fabrics
The uniforms of baristas are mostly made of cotton and linen.
If the iron is used for a long time, it will become shiny, especially for dark-colored clothes.
Steam "relaxes the fibers", not "flattens them".
The clothes after being processed look more natural and won't be stiff and flat like pieces of paper.
Some of my actual experiences that I have accumulated
These are the ones used in daily operations, not parameters.
The steam output must be stable.
Some machines were very powerful at the beginning, but after a while they became weaker and even started spraying water.
The clothes will leave water marks, which is very annoying.
Steady and continuous steam is more important than the so-called "high power".
I quite agree with the concept of Nesugar, which emphasizes lightweight and stable structural design.
It's not about adding more functions, but about making the usage process smooth.
Don't be too heavy.
When ironing the dress, hold the machine by hand.
It's true that one's hands can get sore after doing too much.
Be gentler, keep your center of gravity stable. The difference in actual use is quite significant.
Don't fill the water too full.
Many people spray water because the container is too full.
After preheating, first let it spray for a few seconds without hitting anything, then direct it towards the clothes for steaming. Generally, no water droplets will form.
How do I steam different types of clothes?
Cotton shirt
Hang it up. From top to bottom.
Stop for a moment at the neckline and cuffs.
Wait for one minute after steaming before putting it on. The fabric will be more comfortable then.
Flax
Don't strive for being completely without wrinkles.
Linen inherently has a natural wrinkling property.
Steam it by region and gently flatten it with your hands.
Apron
The apron often has creases.
I will focus on steaming the shoulder area and the waist region.
After steaming the fabric, it becomes softer and looks much cleaner.
Business trips or training are really convenient.
When participating in coffee competitions or training sessions, I always bring a handheld dress steamer.
It is common for the hotel ironing board to be difficult to use.
The steam machine doesn't need an ironing board. It can handle both shirts and suits.
It doesn't take up any space when placed in the suitcase.
To be honest
It is not a necessity.
If you:
- How often do you wear formal clothes in a year?
- All the clothes have been sent for dry cleaning.
- Usually, I don't pay much attention to the condition of my clothes.
That might not be necessary.
But if you:
- Regular commuting to work
- Need to meet with the client
- Like me, facing guests every day
- Wear more cotton and linen.
That handy dress steamer will make life much easier.
For me, its meaning is very simple.
Coffee demands stability.
The taste should be the same every day, and the milk foam should be smooth and fine.
The condition of the clothes follows the same logic.
When I stand neatly behind the bar, I feel much more confident.
My movements become more fluid and my speech becomes more composed.
Steam makes the milk smooth in the coffee machine.
Steam makes the wrinkles on the clothes soft.
All of this is about getting the situation "in order".
This is not the standard of a refined lifestyle. It's merely the modest dignity and efficiency that an ordinary barista, who has been standing behind the counter for a long time, reserves for himself.
The moment I turned on the steam in the morning, I knew -
Today, I was able to perform steadily again.
