Day in the Life: Neighborly Delivery Driver
Ever wonder what it takes to keep your favorite Tala orders moving? Spend a day on the road with Zak, one of our neighborly delivery drivers, as he makes his way through Libertyville, Green Oaks, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Highland Park, Fort Sheridan, and Highwood. From late delivery nights to hand-delivered drop-offs, get an inside look at how we keep things fresh and fast every step of the way.
Arrival At The Warehouse:
Arguably, the most important task upon arrival at the Tala warehouse (located in our Libertyville cafe) is: grabbing a beverage for the road. Depending on the season - and frankly, how much coffee I’ve consumed that day - my go-to order is a single origin espresso shot. However, my favorite seasonal drink is back! So it’s usually a Dirty Horchata before hitting the road.
After I grab my drink, I make my way into the roastery and connect with the production team. The production team might be my favorite group at Tala (shh… don’t tell the cafe staff!). They are the unsung heroes of Tala, making sure your favorite drink or brew is at your fingertips! From making syrups to labelling coffee bags to packing the Tala delivery van, they are the ones doing all the nitty gritty behind the scenes work.
Production usually gives me a run down on what is being sent to the cafes (all the inventory - coffee beans, syrups, coffee cups, etc.) as well as any special delivery instructions to any of the homes. Once I have double checked that everything is loaded and my route is good to go, I head out in the Tala van!
First Part of the Route:
Once I get into the van there are a few important steps I need to take. First, I usually have to move the seat alllllllll the way back. I am a taller guy and this is a nonnegotiable before any work can be done. Secondly, I figure out what I want to listen to for my drive. I have a pretty eclectic music taste so every day is a different playlist. My current favorite artists to listen to on my route are Olive Jones, Dope Lemon, Sam Fender, and Don West. Because my route lasts a couple of hours, I’ll jump around from music to podcasts to audiobooks. You’ll usually catch me listening to a podcast discussing the latest news about Indiana University sports. Or I’ll be listening to my latest read on audiobook. My favorite reads from the Tala van this year include The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead and Twice by Mitch Albom.
The first half of the route typically includes a few stops at homes (to deliver beans!), and then I head to our Winnetka cafe. I love it when the weather is nice, and I can drive with the windows down! So many of the neighborhoods that we deliver to are beautiful, and I enjoy passing through.
Another favorite for me is interacting with customers while delivering coffee. I am an extrovert who’s always up for small talk! Having “regulars” of my own was a bit surprising to me, as it’s something I assumed was reserved for cafe staff. But I love saying “hello” to familiar faces in the cafes or on my route when I get the chance! But the very best part is getting to meet new dogs and giving them a pet.
There are two different categories of home deliveries for us Neighborly drivers. First is our Coffee Club. Coffee Club members receive discounts and lots of awesome giveaways. Coffee Club members can customize their orders and the frequency of their deliveries. The second category is one-off Neighborly orders. This could be anything from beans to draft lattes to growlers of cold brew ordered by a Tala fan who lives in one of the neighborhoods we deliver to.
When arriving at someone’s home, I double-check that I have the right package and drop it off at their front door (like Amazon… but better!). I usually ring the doorbell and then head out. I love getting to be the person delivering fresh roasted coffee to people’s doors because I know how much I love the feeling of getting new coffee!
After a few more home deliveries, I eventually make my way to our Tala Winnetka cafe. When I get there, I unload all of their supplies. Usually, it takes up about half of the van! This delivery includes everything from cold brew kegs, Tala merch, drink ingredients, etc. Mondays typically call for large inventory restocks (to make up for the busy weekend rush!). It’s fun to catch up with Winnetka staff and connect with some of my own Winnetka regulars!
Second Part of the Route:
After my Winnetka cafe stop, it is time to get back on the road, heading north to the Highwood cafe and making home deliveries en route.
The drive from Winnetka to Highwood is one of my favorite drives! Sometimes, if I’m lucky, the route will take me on Sheridan Road, weaving through beautiful homes and foliage. I love getting to see Lake Michigan on a bright sunny day. Nothing goes together like good music, beautiful scenery, and a great coffee in hand.
Once I arrive at the Highwood cafe, I put everything away in its respective spots. While putting away the items, it is always fun to chat with the baristas and see how their weekend was and what they have planned for the day.
After everything is put away at the cafe, I continue to make my way north, on a slow voyage back to Libertyville. If I’m lucky, I’ll get to deliver coffee to a home in Fort Sheridan - one of my favorite neighborhoods to drive through! Then, I’ll usually have a few home deliveries to drop off in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff. Before I know it, I’m back at the mothership in Libertyville (making a few final deliveries). Deliveries can range anywhere from just a couple to almost thirty! Once I’m back to the Libertyville Cafe and warehouse, I unload any remaining items from the van and call it a night!
How Can You Get Neighborly?
From freshly roasted coffee to bottles of syrup, you can have the quality of Tala without having to leave home! You may even qualify for free home delivery if you live in one of our Neighborly neighborhoods! Next time you see the Tala van in your neighborhood, be sure to wave hello! 👋
Zak Cummings
Hailing from Indiana, Zak is a self-proclaimed coffee nerd and Hoosier basketball enthusiast. You may find him delivering fresh beans to your door and jamming out in the Tala neighborly van! When he’s not behind the wheel, he’s probably playing board games with friends or enjoying the great outdoors.