Traveling Barista Sandy Lo Catches Up with Former Customer, Country Crooner Aaron Parker

It’s been a while since I worked at the Starbucks on 21st Avenue in Nashville.  In the 2 years that I was a barista at the extremely busy location, I formed many bonds with other partners and customers.  From drag queens to photographers, to big name celebrities, to plenty of singer/songwriters just trying to get

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Traveling Barista Picks: Top 10 Coffee Shops in the U.S.

It’s no secret that I travel a lot.  Hello, it’s kind of in my name!  Usually, I spend 6 months to a year in one place, but the last part of 2014, I was practically in a new city every week!  It was exciting, freeing, exhausting, and I’m glad I did it. In fact, for

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The Broken Home of Corporate Coffee

It’s been almost 2 months since I have stopped being a barista. Part of me jumps for joy at all of the mental and physical freedom I have. Another part of me feels homeless. Not just because technically, while traveling cross-country, I am without a home. I walk into a Starbucks, and I feel like an

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Traveling Barista: Cutting The Apron Strings

Well, last week was it — my final week as a barista. After 9 years, I thought I’d feel more sentimental. I figured I’d cry. As I blended frappuccinos on my last day, I reminded myself that I would never do that again. You know what? That made me happy. I guess I’m sad I’m not sad. Does that make sense? How can I turn away from something that’s been a part of my life for so long and not shed a tear?