Hi there! I'm writing a barista character and got a bit stuck. Do you have any notes on how to write baristas (e.g. what shifts are like; what you have to learn to be one, etc)? Thank you so much!
(Your posts here are invaluable, by the way, and super helpful. 😄)
Barista - specializes in making a variety of coffee and espresso beverages.
Usually works in a cafe, coffee shop or bookstore where they take customer orders, complete transactions and serve drinks.
May also prepare and serve a few small meals and pastry options.
prepare the premises or outlet ready for opening
welcome customers, take orders and process payments
prepare and serve coffees, hot snacks, sandwiches and cakes
clean and tidy work areas, equipment and coffee machines
check and order new stock
Preparing Beverages. One of the barista’s primary duties is preparing various drinks to meet customer preferences. This involves:
Crafting Espresso-Based Drinks: Baristas skillfully pull espresso shots, steam milk, and create drinks like cappuccinos, lattes, and macchiatos. They ensure each beverage has the perfect balance of flavor and texture.
Brewing Specialty Coffees: Many coffee shops offer pour-over coffees, cold brews, or French press options. Baristas must understand brewing methods, grind size, and extraction techniques to achieve the desired flavor profile.
Creating Latte Art: For many customers, presentation matters as much as taste. Baristas often add intricate designs, such as hearts or rosettas, to elevate the visual appeal of lattes and cappuccinos.
Customizing Orders: Customize drinks to customer preferences by adjusting sweetness levels, switching to non-dairy milk, or adding extra espresso shots.
Other barista duties may include:
Welcoming patrons to the shop
Building a relationship with regular customers and remembering their orders
Explaining the cafe’s special menu items as necessary
Recommending beverage options if requested
Following recipes and presentation guides to make beverages
Preparing plates or takeaway containers of pastry and food items
Cleaning and maintaining the commercial coffee machine, steamer and blender
Following health and safety policies
Removing dishes from the table as patrons finish their drinks
Preparing checks and taking payment from patrons
Baristas work in a variety of coffee shops with the following characteristics:
Standing and walking around for extended periods of time
Lifting and carrying food and drink trays to tables
Working near many other customers, servers and kitchen staff
Wearing a uniform if required by the restaurant
Working environment may be noisy
40 to 42 hours (variable) per week
Evenings / Weekends / Holidays (on shifts)
Cafes and coffee shops typically open early in the mornings
May require baristas to be flexible with scheduling to meet customer demand
The work can be fast-paced during busy periods
Suitable job for students and part-time workers
Career Path & Progression
There may also be opportunities to move into:
coffee tasting and buying
product development and marketing
You could become self-employed and open your own coffee shop.
With experience, you could become a:
regional manager, with a coffee retail chain or franchise.
Flexible Hours: Perfect for students or part-time workers.
Skill Development: Learn customer service, multitasking, and coffee expertise.
Social Interaction: Build relationships with customers and colleagues.
Career Growth: Opportunities to advance into management or specialty coffee roles.
Physical Demands: Standing for long periods and repetitive motions.
Irregular Hours: Early mornings, weekends, and holidays are typical.
Modest Pay: Entry-level wages can be low, though tips often help.
You can get into this job through: a college course; an apprenticeship; applying directly; training with a professional body.
College. Although not essential, you could do a college course that would give you some of the skills needed for this role. Courses include:
food and beverage service
Apprenticeship. You can apply to do a Hospitality Team Member Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.
This will usually take 12 months to complete
A mix of on-the-job training and time spent with a college or training provider
Direct Application. When you start, your employer will put you through training in barista skills and product knowledge. Some employers may prefer you to have experience in customer service, retail sales or catering.
Common Personality Traits
22,778 baristas were surveyed to learn what personality traits and interests make them unique. Based on the Holland Codes:
Baristas tend to be predominantly conventional individuals, meaning that they are usually detail-oriented and organized, and like working in a structured environment.
They also tend to be realistic, which means that they often enjoy working outdoors or applying themselves to a hands-on project.
Baristas score highly on openness, which means they are usually curious, imaginative, and value variety.
They also tend to be high on the measure of extraversion, meaning that they rely on external stimuli to be happy, such as people or exciting surroundings.
Baristas use a wide variety of tools to complete their duties. Some common tools:
Espresso Machine. Allows you to brew highly concentrated black coffee. During this process, the machine forces pressurized hot water through finely grounded coffee. Some types of drinks you can make using an espresso machine include: Macchiato; Cafe latte; Cappuccino; Mocha; Affogato; and Americano
Frothing Steam Pitcher. Used to create any drink that requires milk. A frothing stream pitcher helps you create a milk foam to top off a cup of coffee. You can also use this type of pitcher to create an assortment of latte art. Frothing pitchers are stainless steel and feature a handle and pouring spout. A narrow spout can offer control when pouring latte art, such as a heart or rose. You can also find frothing pitchers in different sizes, depending on the amount of milk you want to froth.
Foam Frothing Spoon. After creating foam from a steam pitcher, you can use a foam frothing spoon to control how much foam you pour over a cup of coffee. Using a frothing spoon can prevent spilling that may occur when pouring the foam into a cup of coffee. This type of spoon features a flat tip that makes it easier to scoop only foam from a steaming pitcher.
Thermometer. When making espresso, it's important to consider the brewing temperature, along with that of the milk froth. If your espresso machine doesn't come with a proportional-integral-derivative, use a thermometer to measure espresso as it leaves the brew head.When making a drink that requires steamed milk, it's important for the milk to reach the ideal temperature of about 149 degrees Fahrenheit. To reach this temperature, consider using a frothing thermometer for complete accuracy. A frothing thermometer can also help you avoid burning the milk while ensuring a caramelized milk finish that can elevate the flavor of any coffee.
Commercial Coffee Maker. This type of coffee maker lets you brew a standard cup of coffee. After filling it with water and coffee grounds, a coffee maker filters hot water through a basket holding coffee grounds. After filtering, black coffee enters the coffee pot. You can use this black coffee for a standard cup of coffee or for other drinks such as an iced coffee or latte.
Tamper. Baristas use tampers to brew espresso, whether in a machine or through a stovetop espresso maker. A tamper lets you pack loosely dosed coffee grounds so they're tightly pressed, ensuring a quality espresso shot. You can also adjust the length of a tamper depending on the espresso dosage.
Scale. Helps you achieve a consistent and accurately measured espresso shot. In terms of measurement, a scale helps you determine the amount of beans you use for one shot. If you use a quality grinder with a doser, you may not need a scale.
Coffee Grinder. Grinds fresh coffee beans before the brewing process. A coffee grinder lets you grind as much coffee as needed, whether for an espresso shot or a large batch of coffee. Many coffee grinders have conical burrs that let you select the size of your coffee grounds.
Sources: 1 2 3 4 5 ⚜ More: References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs
Hi, thanks so much for your lovely words, you're too kind! Hope this helps with your writing 💕
