Being a barista is one of the coolest jobs in the coffee industry. Many want to become baristas based on an idealized image of what the job entails. It’s true in part and the best parts – brewing coffee, pulling shots, and creating latte art – are indeed fun and rewarding. However, there are many aspects of the job that people don’t consider when they decide on becoming a barista.
To become a barista, you have to undergo rigorous training. You must earn your certified barista certification from the North American Coffee Institute or the International Cafe Association. You will also need to participate in in-person workshops and group training sessions.
Skills That A Barista Needs To Have
Cleanliness and sanitation are the most essential skills a barista needs to possess. Many diseases are spread through contact with bodily fluids, which come from human contact and using unclean equipment. Therefore, a barista must be very careful and vigilant about cleansing surfaces and disinfecting equipment and coffee machines after every customer.
Communication skills are another key requirement to becoming a successful barista. This is crucial because you’ll be interacting with customers daily; therefore, you must be able to provide good service and satisfy their needs in an efficient manner.
Data entry and organizational skills are also very important. As a barista, you will be working side-by-side with your colleagues; therefore, it is vital to work as a team and depend on each other to support each other.
Another aspect of being organized is keeping track of inventory and ordering supplies and supplies on time so that there is no shortage of any supplies required. Being a barista is not an easy task. It is an exhausting job and requires a lot of patience and hard work – but if you love coffee, then it is definitely the right job for you!
Attention to detail is another trait that a barista should have. As a barista, you are working very closely with customers, so you must be attentive and polite at all times. Similarly, you must pay attention to what you are doing in order to make the best coffee possible. Fluency in written English is also a must for this job because you will be writing orders and communicating with customers through writing emails and notes.
Coffee Making Skills
If you want to become a barista, it’s essential to know about coffee-making skills. However, you do not need to study coffee-making specifically as on-the-job training will be sufficient.
Know your equipment
Whether you work in a shop or in a coffee shop that doubles as a cafe, you need to familiarize yourself with all the tools and machines used on the shop floor so that you can fix, clean, and maintain them.
Understand The Different Types Of Coffee
Knowing the different types of coffee and their flavor profiles will help you choose the correct coffee for your customers’ orders. For example, you will be able to tell them the difference between an espresso and an Americano.
Make Coffee According To Your Instructions
Once you are familiar with your tools as well as the different types of coffee, you are ready to make your first cup of coffee as a barista. The measurements differ depending on the type of coffee you are making: an espresso will require more coffee than an Americano. You will have to make the correct amount of coffee in order to produce the best product and manage your time efficiently.
How To Set And Create Specialty Drinks
Some people like their coffee black while others like to add flavor to their coffee with creams and syrups. Others like to add caramel or chocolate syrups for a treat. As a barista, you must be able to make specialty drinks at the right time and according to customer requests. You should be familiar with the different types of drinks and how to make them properly.
How To Brew Coffee
You have three options when it comes to brewing coffee: pour-over, drip and espresso (the most popular). Espresso brewing requires precision, whereas drip brewing is easier and requires less skill than the other two methods. Pour-over brewing involves pouring hot water over coffee grounds in a filter so that the water passes through the grounds and drips into your cup.
To avoid over or under-brewing your coffee, you must know which equipment to use and how much time you should wait before brewing your coffee. For example, espresso takes less time to brew than drip does because the water is heated in the machine and flows through a funnel, whereas drip brewing involves you to heat the water in a pot and then pouring it through the coffee grounds manually.
How To Pull Shots
Another skill a barista needs to possess is pulling a shot or pulling a shot espresso properly. Pulling a shot involves pumping water through a fine grind of small coffee particles to the perfect consistency, which will then flow through a sieve or filter to produce a thick liquid called espresso. Now, this may not be as easy as it sounds! Espresso pulls require constant practice and timing so that all the coffee grounds are squeezed out of the shot and the water passes through them properly to produce a tasty espresso.
Barista Salary
The average salary of a barista based on different sources ranges from $13, 000 to $25, 000 a year, which includes your benefits and tips. Salaries depend on your skills and experience as a barista. The more experience and training you have as a barista, the higher your salary will be. Job security is another issue to consider as a barista because there are many similar jobs in the coffee shop industry. However, if you love coffee and people and enjoy working in this environment, then this job is perfect for you!
Becoming A Barista: In Conclusion
Becoming a barista is becoming more than a coffee puller or a coffee barista,it’s being service-minded, it’s being qualified, it’s being organized, it’s being confident and polite, it’s being passionate and it’s knowing people. It’s also knowing about coffee because knowledge is power!
