Behind the Bar with Tayah
Our “Behind The Bar'“ series highlights one of our team members, celebrating their unique contribution to the Tala experience. We believe the connection across the bar can be meaningful and impactful. Our team puts a smile on the faces of so many each day by simply serving delicious beverages and being an authentic presence in each person’s day. Learn more about what makes each person on the Tala Team unique with this personal interview.
Tayah has been with the team since August of 2021. She started as a part timer as she was beginning her junior year of high school. When she first came on a lot of the team knew her as Porter’s daughter—Porter is a regular who we love and who is know for being at the cafe first thing in the morning and ordering a pour over. Although she had come into the cafe from time to time with her family, she was fairly quiet as a customer before joining the team.
One of our jokes on staff with Tayah is that she will tell you she’s “in the area” to run errands, but Tayah’s definition of “in the area” is rather unconventional. If you heard that in everyday conversation you’d think she’s probably five to ten minutes away—nope. When Tayah say’s she is in the area she is usually referring to somewhere 15-25 minutes away like Vernon Hills. Her humor is one of the many reasons we love Tayah; she will always keep you on your toes!
Currently Tayah works full time as a Shift Supervisor and our Event Coordinator. She is also one of the youngest on the Tala team, although her maturity would make that hard to guess. Even when she isn’t on shift, Tayah can often be found hanging out at the cafe. If you’re a Highwood regular, you may already know a few things about Tayah. Let’s see if you learn anything new!
Q: How would you describe yourself to someone who doesn’t know you?
A: I am introverted except when I’m with my favorite people—my family, my best friend, my boyfriend—people where I’m able to just be myself. I like to think I’m funny. I like to crack jokes. Introverted and funny.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Oh! My style! I like bigger, baggier clothes, I don’t like to dress super feminine. I don’t really know how to describe my fashion. I don’t have a word for it. Technically what Jess [her best friend] called it the other day was “feminine grunge.” I don’t really know what that means but that’s what Jess said.
Q: What is your favorite part about working at Tala?
A: Getting to meet all the customers that walk in and have a personal experience with a lot of them and getting to know so many different types of people. A lot of our regulars all live very different lives so I love just getting to build connections with people I would have never met if I didn’t work here. And coffee.
Q: What is your favorite drink to make and to consume?
A: Probably a cappuccino because they’re so cute and it’s easy to do latte art. My favorite drink to consume is china breakfast tea with honey or cold brew with chocolate and oat milk.
Q: What do you do when you’re not here or “in the area”?
A: I’m either at school or hanging with Jess [her best friend] or Eddie [her boyfriend]. Or I’ going for walks in the area, like Fort Sheridan. I also love to read. I’m trying to pick it back up, I love reading and I want to make more time for it.
Q: What is your favorite memory at Tala?
A: That’s such a hard one! There’s so many good ones! One of my favorites is probably when Stefan gave me my key [making her a Shift Supervisor] because he prefaced it with “I’m still not 100% sure about this yet.” He still gave me the key, which meant he knew I wouldn’t burn the cafe down! That was a big honor that they would trust me with a key to Tala.
Q: Do you have a favorite customer memory?
A: This is easy. It’s just when Phil comes in and immediately starts bullying me. One of my favorite memories of Phil is when he told me to have a hate-filled day. As he was leaving he goes, “Tayah, have a hate-filled day” and I just said, “Thank you Phil, I hope you have a hate filled day, too.” I love Phil.
Q: What is one topic that will always get you talking when you’re on bar?
A: Talking about different things to do outside or school!
Q: What are your future plans?
A: I’m going to college in the fall, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. I’ll be studying social work and right now I want to work with kids in either group homes, psych wards, or work in child services. That’s the plan for now!
Tayah will be with the team until the end of July when she’ll start packing up to head out to Colorado. In the mean time make sure to start a conversation with Tayah and give her all your tips and tricks for college, moving West, and exploring a new region!