<!––>The Chicago Red Eye has a list of 10 things you may not know about the men and women who make your lattes and whatnot. This one is gross, but important:

Just because their finger is black doesn’t mean it’s dirty.

Many baristas get “espresso finger,” which is when their index finger looks blackened because they’ve been leveling coffee grounds on the portafilter all day.

The sullied finger can stay dark even after repeated washings.

“Sometimes I keep it in my pocket so people don’t see,” said Intelligentsia barista Michael Phillips.

We can see how that might be awkward.

Barista diaries[Chicago Red Eye]
(Photo:Matthew Oliphant)

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