Full early retirement is not for everyone. Some people want to leave full-time work but are not ready, or not able, to stop earning entirely. Barista FIRE offers a middle path: save enough that your investments cover most of your expenses, then work part-time, often in a low-stress job, to cover the rest, especially costs like health insurance.

The name comes from the stereotypical part-time job, a barista, but the actual work can be anything flexible and enjoyable. The point is freedom from full-time employment, not freedom from all work, and for many people that trade is far more appealing than either extreme.