One of the best jobs for this is as a barista, especially at a coffee shop on or near the University of Cincinnati’s campus. The regulars become friends, the drinks become fuel and the coworkers become family.
Students at the University of Cincinnati (UC) work a host of different part-time jobs, whether serving at restaurants, nannying or walking dogs. Many are working for the extra paycheck, but others seek community, new friends and a place to be themselves at their workplace.
One of the best jobs for this is as a barista, especially at a coffee shop on or near UC’s campus. The regulars become friends, the drinks become fuel and the coworkers become family.
Two baristas at Rohs Street Café, Sean Pettit and Alex Viox, enjoy their jobs for all of these reasons and more. The News Record spoke with them about their experience as baristas and why they look forward to going to work.
“There is really good access to fuel, which is the coffee,” Pettit, a fourth-year environmental studies student, said when asked why he would recommend that students work as a barista over another job. “There’s the coffee shop vibe and being in the atmosphere is great.”
Pettit began working as a barista at Rohs about five months ago. Previously, he worked at Starbucks, but was looking for something slower-paced and heavily focused on the customers. Enter Rohs Street Café, a small coffee shop on the southwest corner of campus, situated near Good Plates Eatery, Clifton Heights Tavern and the Campus Cyclery. The customers can be “niche,” according to Pettit.
“You’re meeting designers, you’re meeting musicians,” he said. “There’s so many people that are directly from the jazz world that come through, and it’s really cool.”
Rohs Street is a favorite among UC students, as well, and you’d be lucky to find an open table while classes are in session. During the beginning of the pandemic, to space out tables, Rohs opened their community room, and the space is still open until around 6:30 p.m. each night. Where there is space in a coffee shop, students will fill it, and the café is regularly full. Pettit, who can make multiple drinks at a time while holding a conversation, doesn’t mind.
Viox is in her second week at Rohs and a first-time barista. She is a second-year graduate student earning a double master’s in architecture and business administration and wanted a change of pace after her last co-op.
“Part of the reason I wanted to be a barista was, especially now with school partially online, I wanted more human interaction,” Viox said.
Viox and Pettit agree that the community surrounding Rohs is one of the best parts of the job. Getting to know regulars and their drinks can be exciting, according to Pettit. When you visit Rohs Street Café, you will frequently see Pettit. He knows most customers that walk in by name, and the customers greet him with wide smiles.
“My favorite part is making drinks, blowing people away with really good latte art,” Pettit said. “The first time I got featured on someone’s story, I felt like I finally made it.”
Pettit and Viox are passionate about their jobs, and both plan to stay at Rohs for the foreseeable future.
“I feel like being a barista was a good skill to learn, and sure you’re learning how to pour drinks, but I feel like honestly, the biggest skill you’re learning is how to talk to people,” Viox said. “It’s networking, it’s making friends. And at a time like COVID, where life can feel so isolating, it’s great. I’ve been very happy.”
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January 18, 2022 at 10:00AM
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Finding community through coffee: Meet the student baristas of Rohs Street Café - The News Record
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