A barista is a coffee specialist who prepares and serves coffee-based drinks. They require knowledge and skill, and may attend coffee schools to earn certification. Baristas must also have excellent customer service skills and perform non-brewing tasks.
The word barista is Italian for bartender. So, a coffee barista is essentially a bartender who specializes in preparing and serving a variety of coffee drinks rather than alcoholic beverages. The term coffee barista can be applied to both male and female coffee shop employees. It can also be used to describe someone with extensive knowledge or skill in preparing coffee-based beverages.
People seem to love – and often depend heavily on – their coffee. This is evidenced by the sheer number of coffee stalls, espresso shops and bars in business today. With such fierce competition, these coffee companies have to go the extra mile to gain and keep a large customer base and remain profitable. Therefore, many menus offer a plethora of options, including baked goods and other food items, as well as cappuccino, specialty espressos and flavored coffees. Preparing these drinks requires a certain degree of knowledge and skill. Enter the cafe barista.
Anyone who serves coffee can call themselves a barista, but training among baristas varies. Some receive on-the-job tutorials, while others attend special schools that provide in-depth instruction on the basics and preparation of coffee. For example, a potential barista might be sent by your company to attend a week-long coffee school that offers classes and seminars on coffee history, grinder basics, machine maintenance, and how to steam and froth milk for cappuccinos. At the end of the week, he can earn a special barista certification.
In addition to being able to brew a good cup of Joe, a coffee barista must demonstrate excellent customer service skills and work well with other members of their team. Coffee shops have become popular hangouts, and for some customers customer service is as important or even more important than the quality of the coffee. In addition to greeting customers, a coffee barista can provide a description of drinks, recommend drinks based on your preferences, offer drink samples, and demonstrate how drinks are prepared.
Coffee baristas can also perform non-brewing tasks and serve coffee. This includes cleaning tables and chairs, sweeping and mopping floors, washing dishes and other general cleaning procedures, as well as storing store products and performing checkout transactions.
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