Coffee is so much more than just a drink – it’s an entire culture! As interest rises, so does the number of people looking to get into the barista profession. Geertjan, also known as Geertjan the Baristaman, has spent years working in various sectors, and has recently started freelancing in the specialty coffee industry. In this interview, Geertjan talks about how Temper gave him that push to go freelance.
Did you know that the average hourly rate for a barista shift is now €20.50?
Geertjan, what was your life like before you started freelancing?
"I worked in various places, mainly in retail as a salesperson and later with broader responsibilities such as back office and transport management. In 2008, I lost my job due to the economic crisis and finally got time to think about what I really wanted. I figured that I would like to go on a world trip and work in hotels and as a barista along the way. So I decided to take barista training courses and found my first barista job in Amsterdam. I worked like this for 7 years, and then more recently started working as a freelance barista, initially through Temper!"
How did you make the move from permanent employment to freelancing?
"I had been thinking about it for a long time, but I found the step to freelancing difficult because of the uncertainty and a lack of experience in finding projects. I was afraid of being without income and not being able to pay my fixed expenses. After talking to others who freelance, I discovered Temper. I looked at the website and immediately saw the possibilities. I could use it as a kind of safety net, where I could always find shifts if I didn't bring in projects myself. That gave me the confidence to take the plunge."
And so it happened. How do you like it now?
"After my permanent job, I started the transition to freelance life with a few shifts through Temper at nice coffee shops. I soon realised that the barista profession is a niche after all, even on Temper. Clients indicated that there was a difference in quality between baristas. Nowadays, I mainly get assignments through my own network, which I have built up over time. Temper is now my 'back-up' option."
What did you find to be the biggest advantage of Temper?
"The profile you can build. You can show how loyal, punctual and responsible you are, and all these traits are in your own hands. If you take responsibility, this is rewarded with a higher rating. As a result, you get better shifts, earn more money and get more shifts."
What about those travel plans?
"Those are on hold right now. I must honestly say that I'm so busy right now – in a nice way – that I haven't had the time. I enjoy what I'm doing now so much that the need to travel has diminished a bit.
I have completely shifted my focus to my own business and that feels incredibly good. When you work for a boss, all your energy, including your creativity, goes to that employer. But now all that energy goes to myself, it’s bubbling with ideas and I can invest in things.
Financially, things are also going well, so who knows, maybe at some point my income will generate enough to be able to say, 'I'm going to Bali for a while now!'"
What is your dream to work towards with your own venture?
"My dream is to set up a webshop selling clothes inspired by coffee. For example, I’m designing jumpers. I find that I get a lot of creative energy from this kind of project and it seems great to set this up and see people actually buying it."
Has Geertjan's story sparked the freelance flame in you too? Create a profile on Temper and find freelance shifts in hospitality, retail, logistics and construction.
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