A version of FIRE where someone leaves their full-time career once their investments can cover most — but not all — of their expenses, then takes lower-stress part-time or flexible work (the name comes from a barista job, often chosen for benefits like health insurance) to cover the rest.
Full FIRE means your investments cover 100% of your bills. Barista FIRE is the halfway house: your portfolio covers, say, 70% of what you spend, and a relaxed part-time gig covers the remaining 30% — while often also providing health benefits, structure, or social connection. It lets people step away from demanding careers years earlier than waiting for a fully-funded number.
Someone needing $50,000/year whose $800,000 portfolio generates about $32,000/year (4% withdrawal) is $18,000 short. A part-time job covering that gap — roughly 15-20 hours a week at a modest wage — lets them leave full-time work years before hitting the full $1.25M FIRE number.