When it comes to non-Starbucks real coffee joints, we have a few good ones. I like this one and this one.

The attitude depends on the minimum wage employee making the coffee. Some think they are 'artists', some don't give a shit and the regular folks seem to be the norm. Just like any other service industry.

I have never worked this job, but its in the service industry working directly with the public, for not much money, so I would say its a crap... I mean some people love doing things like this but its not for me...

i did this for a couple of years. tmbgitw did this for a few years. many of my friends are in the same boat. it's at the top of the list for food service jobs - i enjoyed most of my time as a caffeine slinger. free beans and shots, lots of bullshitting, reduced price food, a minimum of jag customers. not crap!

I was a barista for a few months at an indie coffee place in Wrigleyville while in college. I ran the whole store myself during my shifts and got a lot of reading done on downtime. I look back on this position pretty favorably