How to Become a Barista

The dress code for a Barista can vary depending on the company. However, neutral colours, loose-fitting shirts, relaxed pants made of durable fabric and sensible shoes with no open toe are safe choices for any Barista role.

As a Barista, you will be responsible for several tasks outside of making drinks for customers. These will include cleaning, cash handling while taking orders, and stock replenishment.

A clean work area is essential to a Barista. Spills and slips can be very dangerous, so be vigilant in keeping the area tidy and danger-free. Be mindful of customer orders and remember any additional needs or requirements such as dairy alternatives.

Being a Barista comes down to the skills you learn and your experience. As a Barista, you will need a good understanding and execution of time management and customer service, as well as implementing any training you receive.

The most important part of any hospitality job is great customer service, so remember to be polite and in control of any situation. Sometimes customers will not be happy with the service they’ve received, so keep a level head and deal with the problem calmly.

Greet customers with a smile and listen carefully to their needs. Some customers' dietary requirements will be different from others, so it is important to pay attention to what they are asking for.

As a new Barista, you will always receive on-the-job training, including health and safety training, hygiene and sanitation training, and coffee knowledge.

Some drinks will require special additions, such as foams and decoration, all of which should be learned during on-the-job training, as well as maintenance and understanding of the espresso machines.

It is important to stay vigilant with health and safety, to keep your environment as risk-free as possible.

There are frequent rush periods during any hospitality and catering job. Because of this, it is important to not become overwhelmed by a rush of customers. This is why time management is important; it is up to the employees to make sure that the customer has somewhere to sit, and that the seating areas aren’t cluttered with cups and other items from previous customers.

Baristas are required to take orders, make drinks and food items, and clean up, and doing these things requires time management.

Other duties of Baristas include cash handling while taking orders, cleaning equipment after use, and of course, serving customers. All these skills will become second nature to an experienced Barista.

Once a customer selects their order it is your responsibility to make it. Does it require sugar-free syrup? Do they require a milk alternative? These are things you must remember while preparing drinks.

Table service might also be required, and sometimes trays can be heavy. Remember to be safe while carrying anything through the shop to avoid spills and dangers and be aware of your surroundings.

You might have seen Baristas when you visited a coffee shop, cleaning milk steamers. It is important to keep these things in working order while performing regular tasks. Espresso machines are large, and you will receive training on how to properly maintain these machines.

Cups, saucers, glasses and plates are just some of the dishes and cutlery that a Barista will use. These will need to be collected and cleaned after use so that they can be safely reused again.

It is common for customers to pay for their orders with cash. As such, you will learn how to use a cash register to collect cash and give change. Be mindful of the amount of change your customer needs, as they must be given exact change.

Handling cash also comes with risks such as counterfeit currency. You will be shown how to spot this type of cash during your training.