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The lockdown in Moscow had a couple of special aspects ‘lockdown’ was an entry pass system. In order to get the
to it. First of all, the term ‘quarantine’ was never declared. In- pass, you had to be officially employed, again. Which as we
stead, a mandatory self-isolation was implemented as a measure now know, most baristas aren’t. Without that pass, you
to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The regulations an- were only allowed to go to the closest store to your house,
nounced ‘non-working days with secured paycheck’ that and using public transportation and even taxis was prohib-
sparked controversy. To put it simply: coffee shops were ited. Basically, if the coffee shop was still running somehow,
closed, the profit was non-existent, the rent was due to the but the barista was not an official employee, there was noth-
expected date, and the owner still had to pay salary to the ing to do about it but to stay home. Or maybe violate the
employees. However, the majority of baristas in Russia are ‘lockdown’ rules and walk miles and miles to your workplace
not officially employed. And that put both parties in a tricky on foot. As Moscow residents were adapting to the remote
situation. As an employee, you can only rely on your boss’ mode of working and cafes and restaurants were switching to
dignity and wait for the average monthly paycheck, but cannot delivery, the struggles for the coffee industry began. Shall we
demand anything properly because you know there’s no cash try to deliver coffee beverages to the nearby neighborhoods?
flow at all. As an employer, you can either try to make do and Or shall we focus on selling beans online instead? What can
save both — your team and your business, or lose your repu- we as baristas do?
tation if you choose only the latter. We’ve talked with various Moscow baristas and asked
Another thing that caused a lot of nuisance during the them about fears and struggles the pandemic made them face.

Photo / Gabriela Gutierrez
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