The Changing Dreams of a Barista

Nikos Domuros is the ideal barista. Charming smile, firm handshake, flawless presentation—he blends a perfect coffee without even breaking eye contact with his customers. And the regulars—who call themselves his friends—say they could not imagine going anywhere else for a coffee break.

But Domuros has not always been a barista. In fact, five years ago, if you told him he would be in Athens serving drinks for a living, he would have called you crazy. Originally from Thessaloniki, the self-proclaimed “unconventional Greek” started up his own graphic design and video editing firm—something he had wanted to do since majoring in graphic design in 1997.

Life was far from perfect—as with many fine arts professions, freelance graphic design is not always lucrative. But with a night-club security job on the side, he was making ends meet.

And then the financial crisis hit.

What used to be a fifteen-hundred-euro monthly income quickly became half that. His earnings continued to decrease until he was left with a failed business. His only option was to move.

“I had to go South,” he says, “the more South it is, the better things are. In Crete, you know, they’re okay. But bigger cities mean bigger opportunities, so I came to Athens.”

For the first time since he was nineteen, Domuros found himself living with a roommate; he was suddenly relying on friends—even friends of friends---in ways he never expected he would have to do.

“And that’s how I ended up here, even,” he says, a cigarette lingering too long between his fingers, “I used to come here for my coffee and beer or whatever… when I quit my previous job I mentioned it [to the owner] and he was like, ‘Okay do you wanna make coffee here on the weekends?’ I told him I don’t know how to make coffee. And he said, ‘Well, you’re gonna learn.”

Domuros laughs and then turns nostalgic. “See there’s another example. You find support from your friends and they become your family.”

It has been three years since moving to Athens, but he is finally feeling a bit more stable. By September, he plans to be in his own apartment—thanks to his savings from work.

But there is more to life than money, and the move to Athens gave Domorus an avenue to pursue new talents.  He teaches martial arts and deejays during the weekends—a nod to his love for the arts.

“Yeah, I’d love to run a media company again. But I’ve learned to live and let live.” 

Domvros quickly hides the melancholy. He looks up and smiles.

“I’m still an artist. Martial arts is an art. Even coffee is an art! Blending this stuff? It’s a f------ art form.”

Glancing around at the place he has come to love, it is as if his next thought takes him by surprise.

“I guess my dream is to have both.”

“