• 6 min read
• April 29, 2026

At 6am, many of us are reaching for the snooze button. But by then, Oliver (Oli) McBride has already been on the ice and is getting ready to clock in for his shift at Starbucks.

Oli’s life is divided between two worlds: the chill of the ice rink and the warmth of the coffeehouse. Freshly home from spending six-weeks performing in Mexico, he’s back behind the counter and we caught up with him to talk early starts, latte art, and his post-training coffee hack.

Oli started learning to skate at 14. “My mum was late picking me up one day,” he explains, “so I ended up going to watch a friend do her ice skating lesson and I just fell in love with it at first sight – and I’ve been in love with it ever since.”  

He started his career as a solo skater but would later train in adagio – a style of dance known for its awe-inspiring lifts and dramatic acrobatics – and would team up with his skating partner, Nylah. “Nylah’s mum saw me practicing on the ice one day and asked if I might be interested in partnering up. I thought – why not? Let’s just go for it.” 

That “go for it” mindset has shaped much of Oli’s journey so far; a quiet confidence that says “yes” to every opportunity – whether he’s mastering a difficult jump or learning how to pour the perfect rosetta.

“On the ice, you’re committed, you’re focused, you’re moving fast but with precision. At Starbucks, it’s the same – you’re crafting drinks that take skill and you’re doing it quickly but precisely.”

Oli divides his time training between rinks in Telford and Sheffield, UK, and he has an intense schedule. “I train at ridiculous o’clock in the morning,” he laughs, “I’ll be on the ice doing jumps and spins, practising really, really hard.”

Afterwards, he reenergises with a well-deserved coffee: “after skating I head to the store to make an Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso – but I have my own twist on it. I make it hot with three pumps of brown sugar syrup, three shots of Blonde Roast – and I actually substitute the Oatmilk for Whole Milk because I’m trying to build muscle at the moment.” 

Then the second part of his day begins – which calls for a different kind of discipline.

“On the ice, you’re committed, you’re focused, you’re moving fast but with precision,” Oli reflects, “at Starbucks, it’s the same – you’re crafting drinks that take skill and you’re doing it quickly but precisely.”

He mentions latte art as an example – the careful pouring technique that creates intricate patterns on the surface of a coffee, like hearts or rosettas. “Latte art is a really hard skill to learn. It’s easiest with whole milk,” he explains, effortlessly switching back into barista-mode, “it’s much harder with oat, soy or almond milk. And even the jug you use to pour the milk can make a difference. It sounds really complicated, but honestly it comes as second nature to me now.”

A supportive community

Oli joined Starbucks around two years ago, after searching for a job he would genuinely enjoy that could support his skating ambitions – one that could flex around early-morning training sessions and occasional skating contracts.

From day one, he says, his team made it work. Supervisors taught him the craft, teammates helped him to build confidence behind the bar, and shift patterns were shaped around his time on the ice.

“I couldn’t have wished for a better team”

That flexibility was put to the test when he was offered the chance to travel to Mexico to perform in a show over the festive season – one of the busiest times of year for Starbucks.

“I was worried,” he admits, “I wondered if I left for that long, would my job still be there for me when I got back?”

But after discussing it with his manager, a plan was put in place and he was reassured that his job – and his teammates – would still be there waiting for him when he came home.  

He recognises the importance of a community to lift you up – both on and off the ice: “At the rink when I’m not on the ice I’m talking to my coaches, other skaters, staff – there’s this real sense of community and support,” he says, “then I come to Starbucks and I have this whole other community around me. Everyone’s so supportive. There’s been so many times when I’ve needed to swap shifts around to accommodate my training. I couldn’t have wished for a better team.”

“Follow your dream with everything you’ve got”

With the support of those around him, Oli has the confidence to dream big.

“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve dreamt of the Olympics,” he says, “but since I’ve started performing in shows I’ve also imagined becoming a Disney on Ice skater and having the opportunity to perform at theme parks and cruise ships around the world.”

They’re ambitious goals, but they feel achievable.

“You’ve got to back yourself, because it’s your life – don’t let anyone tell you what to do. I was so close to just settling for a 9-5 job, but I knew that’s not what I wanted. So I took a job at Starbucks: it’s flexible, the people are amazing and it’s a nice company to work for.”

For now, that flexibility gives him the freedom to chase every opportunity that comes his way – and he knows his team will be cheering him on wherever he goes.

“My best advice is to follow your dream with everything you’ve got.”