Online Barista Training: Espresso Drinks Building

To become a barista, the first thing you need to learn is how to build the most basic espresso-based drinks. After that, you need to establish a certain workflow that will make your work easier and faster. This online barista training article will focus on the process of coffee drink preparation and recipes.

Read further if you want to know how to create a perfect workflow and how to pull a great espresso shot for service every single time.

Online Barista Training: Drink Building Workflow

There might be variations to your workflow. You may slightly modify your techniques as long as your coffee drink tastes great. Here we describe the general workflow that might be adapted for greater efficiency in your coffee shop.

Great Coffee Shop Workflow:

• Portion out your milk depending on what drink or drinks you are going to serve;
• Select a cup;
• Take a portafilter, dry it out. Make sure it’s clean and dry;
• Dispense coffee from the grinder into the portafilter, double-check the weight;
• Level the coffee, tamp it, clean the top of the basket before inserting a portafilter;
• Purge the group head;
• Lock a portafilter into group head;
• Start extracting immediately;
• Purge steam wand and begin to steam your milk;
• Finish steaming and turn off espresso extraction (around 27 sec.);
• Wipe steam wand;
• Add espresso to cup;
• Polish your milk;
• Pour your espresso and create latte art;
• Make sure your cup is free of drips;
• Serve a handle to your left, assuming that the customer is right-handed;
• Knock out the coffee from a portafilter, rinse a portafilter and screen, put it back in the group head.

Barista training takes time to master your skills. As soon as you master your workflow and learn the basic recipes for espresso-based drinks, your service will become faster and smoother. Don’t get demotivated if, in the beginning, it takes you longer to think about the sequence of your steps. Everyone was there once. Practice makes perfect, and soon you won’t even doubt any following steps.

A barista's job is all about multitasking. Don’t forget to chat with your customers or ask them about their day while preparing to serve them a drink. It will contribute to the quality of your service and make the customers come back. Even if you are a fresh barista, you can tell you are just starting your barista career, and you had your training. Customers like authenticity and the efforts you put into making their cappuccinos.

Online Barista Training: Common Espresso-Based Drinks

Now try to apply the workflow to make the following drinks:

Espresso

Take a 2-3oz ceramic demitasse cup.
Extract 2 shots 1.5-2oz each.
Espresso can be accompanied by a small glass of sparkling or still water (optional).
If a customer wants more than a double espresso in a beverage, you should charge up for an extra shot.

Macchiato

Take a 3-4oz ceramic demitasse cup.
Extract a double espresso – 1.5-2oz
Steam your milk – 1.5-2.5oz

Cappuccino

Serve cappuccino in a 5-6oz ceramic cup
Extract a double espresso – 1.5-2oz
Steam your milk – 3-3.5oz

Caffe latte

Latte is prepared the same way as a cappuccino but is in a larger cup. Continue pouring the steamed milk into the espresso base until the cup is full.
Take a 8-16oz ceramic or paper cup
Extract a double espresso – 1.5-2oz
Steam your milk – 6.5-14.5oz

Flavored latte

Flavored Latte is a latte with the addition of flavored syrup.
Pour the syrup in the cup first, then the espresso, and then pour the steamed milk until the cup is full.

 

Your coffee shop might want to serve all espresso drinks as doubles (as we suggest here) for consistency and better cost management. Having drinks not larger than 16oz on the menu can also help better manage the cost of goods. An effective barista try should memorize the recipes and guidelines provided by the coffee shop manager or owner.

Brought to you by Barista Training Academy, “The Beginning Barista,” Your Ultimate Prep Guide to Getting Your First Job as a Barista” is an ultimate resource that is available online and is affordable for anybody who is looking to start a career in the coffee industry. For more information, visit our blog.