Food And Beverage Service Jobs

How To Get A Job As A Barista

Being a Barista is not as simple as you may think.  Doing many jobs is easy, but doing them well is not.  If you enjoy meeting a variety of people (both pleasant and otherwise), work well as part of a team, work well under pressure, have good manual dexterity, and  enjoy serving others, you may make a good Barista.  Round all that off with knowledge, and you could be a very successful Barista.

To be a successful Barista, you must also be courteous, attentive, cheerful, friendly, creative, organized, able to work quickly and efficiently even under stress, a good listener, and always give exemplary customer service.  You should have knowledge, not only about how to make drinks properly, but also about the company you work for and the products with which you work.  This will enable you a more interesting person to relate to, and also to intelligently inform customers and answer their questions.

Baristas work mainly in coffee shops although some are also employed in bistros, bakeries, and resorts.  The work of a Bistro may be full or part-time, and there may be shifts, early morning being the most demanding.

If you get a job as a Barista, you will spend most of your day filling orders for coffees, both simple and complex.  You must understand what each order involves, prepare the necessary ingredients, and, using the appropriate utensils and equipment, complete the order, always being aware of the importance of proportions, and temperature.  You will check that the coffee you prepared was exactly as ordered and deliver it to the customer or pick-up counter.  Errors must be promptly corrected with a sincere apology to the customer.  Many customers are in a hurry for their coffee, so prompt, exacting service is vital.  Time restraints do not usually allow you the luxury of creating a beautifully decorated coffee as shown above, but when such is possible, it is something not soon forgotten by customers.  In addition to making coffees, Baristas keep their equipment and work area neat and immaculate.  They also do all they can to make the coffee shop orderly and inviting for customers and employees alike.

Education

Get your high school diploma or GED.  While there take courses in English, science, math, and computers.  It would be wise to get some education in business practices, especially if you later hope to open your own coffee shop.  Get some experience in a food industry setting, such as a coffee shop, bistro, or bakery, anyplace where the quality of coffee served is of importance.  Hone your customer service skills and try to learn all you can about food services.  Take the time to take a course in safe food-handling procedures.  Some coffee shops require their employees to complete such a course.  Be aware that some employers may prefer Baristas who have a college degree, 

Take a formal training course specifically for Baristas.  You may get a job as a Barista where you will be trained on the job, but if you want to be eligible for literally any Barista position, formal training is your best option.  Formal training will teach you more than just how to make perfect coffees.  Formal training will teach you all aspects of coffee, roasting, customer needs and wants, the coffee service industry and how it operates.

Do some research into training programs in your area.  Visit a variety of coffee shops..  Find out where the Baristas were trained and what they thought of their training course.  Make sure that the course you choose will qualify you for certification.

If you want to get a job as a Barista, you want that perfect combination of knowledge, personality,and experience, lots of it.

Experienced Baristas can advance to positions as supervisors and managers.  Some go on to open their own coffee shops.