Illy Cafe

Working at Illy Cafe inside the Devanahalli Bangalore International Airport is a strange experience because the clock doesn't really matter. People are coming and going at three in the morning just as much as they are at noon. We are right there in the terminal, serving coffee to travelers who mostly look a bit tired or stressed about their gates. The space is clean and bright, but it feels temporary because everyone is just passing through. I spend my time making espressos and checking the pastry display. The airport noise is constant, with the announcements playing over the speakers every few minutes. We have a small team here, and we all have to wear our badges and go through security every single day, which takes a while. The coffee machine is probably the most important thing in the shop; if it breaks, we are in big trouble. We don't really have regulars like a neighborhood cafe would. Instead, we see faces we will likely never see again. Some people are happy to be going on vacation, while others are just trying to get home after a long trip. We just try to get the orders right and keep the line moving so nobody misses their flight. It’s a fast pace, and by the end of my shift, my feet usually ache quite a bit. But it's interesting to see people from all over the world.