A Day in the Life at the Atelier

Ever wonder what happens at the Atelier before you arrive for your morning coffee, what keeps everyone moving through the lunch rush, or what goes on after the doors close for the day? There is a lot happening behind the scenes at the Atelier, and while every day has its own rhythm, there is a familiar routine that keeps everything running.

So, here is a look at a typical day at the Atelier, from the first person arriving at 6:30 a.m. to the final cleaning of the evening.

6:30 a.m. — The Day Begins

The first person through the door arrives at 6:30 a.m., well before the Atelier opens to customers.

There is plenty to do before 7:30. Pastries and cookies need to be prepared, sandwich components need to be made, and the first filter coffee of the day needs to get started.

We grind our filter coffee right before brewing it because freshness matters. Grinding the beans just before brewing helps preserve the coffee's aroma and flavour, so the first pot of the day is ready to taste its best when we open.

Depending on the roasting schedule for the week, the roaster may already be running at this point too. On those mornings, freshly roasted coffee becomes part of the Atelier's morning routine before the first customers have even arrived.

7:00 a.m. — The Baristas Arrive

At 7:00, the baristas start arriving and the Atelier begins to come to life.

They refill supplies, get the bar and coffee stations ready for the day, and calibrate the espresso machines to make sure the coffee is extracting properly. Espresso is sensitive to small changes, so getting the machines dialled in before the morning rush is an important part of the routine.

Outside, the terrace gets ready too. The cushions are put out on the couches, giving early customers a comfortable place to enjoy their coffee when the weather cooperates.

Opening time — Open for Business

At 7:30, the doors open and the day really gets moving.

People heading to work start lining up at the drive-thru, while customers begin coming into the Atelier for their morning coffee, freshly baked treats and whatever else they need to get their day started.

8:00 a.m. — The Atelier Starts Filling Up

By 8:00, the office staff and production team are starting their days, and customers who work remotely begin arriving too.

Some people are stopping in for a quick coffee before work, while others settle in and make the Atelier part of their workday. The pace starts to change, and the Atelier becomes a mix of customers grabbing coffee, people working, conversations happening at the counter and the team keeping everything moving behind the scenes.

10:00 a.m. — Coffee, Sandwiches and Online Orders

Late morning brings another shift in the day's routine. The person responsible for opening & making the sandwiches starts helping with online orders, making sure orders are being prepared and packed while the Atelier continues serving customers.

At 11:00, another member of the team arrives and starts printing shipping labels and arranging the shipment of online orders. Each package is carefully checked before it leaves the Atelier to make sure everything is ready for its journey to its new home.

Of course, the Atelier doesn't always follow a perfectly predictable schedule. When the lunch crowd arrives and things get busy, the online order work can pause while the team jumps in to help serve customers.

Lunch Rush — Everyone Has a Job to Do

Lunch is usually one of the busiest times of the day at the Atelier.

People come in for homemade sandwiches, coffee and pastries, while the team works to keep everything moving. Someone might be waiting for lunch, another customer might need help choosing a coffee, and somewhere along the way a conversation about espresso machines can suddenly turn into a full discussion about which machine is right for a particular kitchen.

Our baristas know their coffee, but they also know our espresso machines, so they are always happy to talk through the differences, features and practical considerations when someone is thinking about bringing an espresso machine home.

3:00 p.m. — The Afternoon Crowd Arrives

By around 3:00, the online orders are usually finished and the person responsible for the sandwiches has headed home for the day.

You might think things would quiet down at this point, but the Atelier has a different kind of busy in the afternoon.

The bulk coffee bean area starts getting especially active as people stop in on their way home. It is the perfect time to make sure the coffee cupboard is stocked before the next morning, especially when you know exactly how quickly a bag of your favourite coffee can disappear. We'll grind the coffee to your exact needs, whether for a filter, Aeropress or espresso.

The baristas are also happy to help a customer pick out a new coffee. They're in the know of the coffee notes of each of our coffees and which ones work best with which coffee brewing method a customer uses at home. 

The espresso machine conversations continue too. At almost any point in the afternoon, a barista might be pulled into a conversation about grinders, espresso machines or the best setup for making coffee at home.

Closing Time — The Work Isn't Quite Done

Eventually, the Atelier closes for the day, but that does not mean everyone immediately heads home.

The baristas begin their nightly cleaning routine, including a deep cleaning of the espresso machines. Keeping the machines properly cleaned and maintained is part of making sure customers can count on a great espresso every day.

And if you happen to still be inside when closing time arrives, there is no need to rush out the door. We do not kick people out at closing. If you are finishing your coffee or wrapping up a conversation, you are welcome to stay while the baristas finish their work around you.

The office staff and production team finish up their own days, and eventually the Atelier becomes quiet.

Then our cleaning person comes in for the nightly cleaning, getting the space ready for another morning.

And Then We Do It All Again

By the time the Atelier is quiet for the night, a lot has happened since that first person arrived at 6:30 in the morning.

Coffee has been brewed and roasted, sandwiches and pastries have been prepared, online orders have been packed and checked, espresso machines have been discussed, customers have stopped in on their way to work and on their way home, and plenty of coffee has made its way into cups and bags.

Then the doors are closed, the machines are cleaned, the lights eventually go down, and the Atelier gets a few quiet hours before someone walks through the door at 6:30 the next morning and starts it all over again. That's a day in the life at the Virgin Hill Atelier.

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