Coast FIRE vs Barista FIRE: Which Is Right for You?

Both Coast FIRE and Barista FIRE are “semi-retirement” milestones — but they approach it differently.

Coast FIRE

You've invested enough that your portfolio will reach your FIRE number by retirement age without further contributions. You still need to cover living expenses from work, but you don't need to save anything extra.

Barista FIRE

You've saved a partial portfolio — enough that a small amount of part-time income tops it up to cover all expenses. The name comes from the idea of working a low-stress job (like a barista) just for the income and perhaps employer benefits.

Which suits you?

• If you're younger with decades of growth ahead, Coast FIRE may come first and require less total saved.
• If you want to drop to part-time sooner, Barista FIRE lets you exit earlier with a smaller portfolio.