What Does a Coffee Barista Do? A Comprehensive Guide

A barista is a professional who makes and serves beverages such as coffee, tea, and specialty drinks. They are responsible for taking customer orders and payments, and they are the heart and soul of any coffee shop. From the science of brewing to the art of customer relationships, baristas have a lot to manage on any given work day. Not only do they need to be able to recommend specialty drinks, but they must also ensure a clean, safe, and productive work environment for both customers and co-workers.

By personalizing the customer experience, the right barista can also be your best brand ambassador. If you're looking to fill this crucial role, it might be useful to know what an ideal candidate's resume should look like. Check out this sample barista resume to learn about the skills and experience you'll want to see in your job applicants. When it comes to creating your job ad (whether it's for a beginner or a barista boss), you don't need to start from scratch. Use the template below to create an optimized description that will reach a large audience.

If you're looking for additional ideas on what to include, here are listings of baristas from other companies in your area. The term 'barista' is most commonly used in English-speaking countries to refer to someone who prepares and serves espresso-based beverages with an air of professionalism, usually in coffee shops. This may open up opportunities for you to open your own coffee shop or pursue advanced positions in the coffee industry. As you can see, a career as a barista can be very interesting and has prospects for today and for the future. Most of the time, larger coffee shops or franchises require you to be 18 years old and provide employee training. Use this opportunity to make your position stand out from other competing listings, perhaps by listing the 5 responsibilities of a barista or other details specific to your coffee shop. More often than not, specialized culinary programs, business degrees, or coffee education programs are sought after for this role.

A barista in a coffee shop or cafe can also serve light food items such as sandwiches, bagels, pastries, or breakfast items. A barista in a hotel coffee shop may only prepare and serve basic coffee and espresso drinks, while a barista in a full-service coffee shop often serves other beverages such as tea, smoothies, and frozen drinks. Baristas typically work in restaurants, cafes, bars, hotels, department stores according to the U. S. Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook.

They blend coffee beans, prepare coffee and tea drinks, explain menu items to customers, clean up after customers leave, and strive to ensure that customers are comfortable and satisfied. Plus, multitasking is essential; you'll take orders, prepare hot drinks, decorate drinks and serve them; some coffee shops even serve food. A barista works closely with customers so they must have the ability to establish good relationships with them, have an outgoing personality, and present themselves in a professional manner. A barista is an “espresso coffee artist” who has extensive knowledge about coffee and prepares, decorates and serves beverages to the customer. These can include espresso coffees and beverages made with espresso such as lattes, cappuccinos and iced coffees.

Benjamín Arrand
Benjamín Arrand

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