what espresso taught me: reflections of a former barista

As a former barista, I do not pretend to be in the least bit a professional, but during my 2 month adventures in the coffee world, I learned many lessons. The lesson I reflect on today: espresso taught me the value of time.

Due to the shortage of espresso funerals/ceremonies, most people are not aware that a shot of espresso dies after 10 seconds. That is to say, once a shot has been pulled, it goes from a creamy brown color to a dark brown color....and at the point it becomes bitter. When I first started working as a barista, I found it hard to balance steaming milk, pumping syrups, rinsing pitchers, making other iced beverages, etc. during the about 15 seconds it takes to pull a shot of espresso. As time went on (and like I say, I was never a pro) I began to understand better just how long 15 seconds was. Now, for most of us, we sit down to accomplish a task and think 15 minutes is not enough to do most things, much less 15 seconds, but you learn just how fast you can do things when you are limited in time.

Currently, I am reading a book called Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung. It reflects on finding God's will and other useful information. Today I read a chapter titled 'Our Magic 8-ball God'...a spin on a previous quote DeYoung had, "God is not a Magic 8-Ball we shake up and peer into whenever we have a decision to make. He is a good God who gives us brains, shows us the way of obedience, and invites us to take risks for Him. We know God has a plan for out lives. That's wonderful. The problem is we think He's going to tell us the wonderful plan before it unfolds. We feel like we can know--and need to kn0w--what God wants every step of the way. But such preoccupation with finding God's will, as well intentioned as the desire may be, is more folly than freedom. The better way is the biblical way: Seek first the kingdom of God, and then trust He will take care of our needs, even before we know what they are and where we're going."

...so now you're like, umm what does this have to do with espresso? Remember...we're thinking about time here. Follow me...back to the chapter.

DeYoung goes on to say, "We want to know what tomorrow will bring instead of being content with simple obedience on the journey. And so we obsess about the future and we get anxious, because anxiety, after all, is simply living out the future before it gets here...Worry about the future is not simply a character tic, it is the sin of unbelief, an indication that our hearts are not resting in the promises of God."

So, now let's talk God's timing: in our past, in our present, and (what most of us are concerned about) in our future. Working with espresso took training, and I had to come to comprehend through trial and error what all I could do in the 15 seconds a shot pulled. It was silly to stand and watch the shot pull and most of the time ended with unhappy customers or a back-up on drinks...so that wasn't an option. I had to learn to multitask. So how long is 15 seconds?

What I am learning with age and experience (neither of which do I have an abundance) that sometimes we get overwhelmed by juggling--"God, how can I get ALL this done in that amount of time?"....it's never enough time. We also get overwhelmed by waiting--"God, why is this happening/why aren't you speaking or moving/why have I had to wait this long?"...it's always too much time. Weird balance huh? In the doing, we don't have enough time; in the waiting, we have too much. So here's what I gather mathematically from that...in your waiting, be doing [something productive for God] and in your overwhelming of doing, be waiting [for God's provision to carry your load, for the target to be hit, for His help and guidance]. Balance is key.

Do not limit yourself to less than you can handle in life. Remember Psalm 121: 5-6, "The Lord watches over you--the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night." Kevin DeYoung spoke toward anxiety--not knowing what is coming, but trying to live in it before you get there. You cannot hand out an espresso-based drink (i.e. latte, americano, caffe mocha, etc.) until the shot pulls...so you use your time wisely. You cannot get to tomorrow's successes/struggles until today's events have taken course....so use your time wisely. You only have one life...make the most of it when you give it a 'shot' :).




Philippians 4:6- "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."