Name: Valicia Byrne
Hood: Lower Haight
Cafe: The Grind Café
Position: Barista

What is your coffee drink of choice?
"Lately, it’s been simple: Coffee with cream and brown sugar."

What do you love about your job?
"Human interaction. When I help super-rad people that appreciate whatever it is I’m making for them, I can’t help but be stoked. Even getting the cell phone zombies and Starbucks lovers to interact can be pretty fun."

What's the weirdest thing a customer has ordered?
"I had a woman ask my co-worker to microwave her strawberry banana smoothie. That seemed counterproductive and also very disgusting."

Photographed by Molly DeCoudreaux