How do you learn to be a barista?

Today, a barista job has become one of the most desirable jobs to get. With the rise of coffee consumption and the expansion of big coffee chains like Starbucks, baristas are in high demand in every labor market.

How many times you walked into a coffee shop and thought, “Wow, it’s so cool to be a barista. I wish I could be a barista!” We have good news: today, learning how to be a barista is easier than ever. You – yes, YOU – can become a barista too! We strongly recommend you to read our article 10 things you must know before you become a barista.

If you want to know how to be a barista, but you don’t know-how, we suggest starting small. Take small steps every day, learn one new thing every day, and have a cup of coffee every day.

Learn to be a barista the right way

There is not only one way to learn how to be a barista. There’s a variety of options to choose from in terms of becoming a barista. Whether you choose to study online or go to a barista school, be sure to look only for reliable and trustworthy resources.

If you do otherwise and don’t get proper training, there’s a risk you acquire some bad habits. For example, you won’t know how to maintain expensive equipment. Or you will steam your milk incorrectly, which will result in the poor quality of the drinks you make. Imagine you have been writing with your right hand, and suddenly you will need to relearn how to write with your left hand.

The same applies to your barista skills. Once you learned something incorrectly, you’ll have difficulty retraining your brain to do it differently. That’s why it’s worth having proper training from the very beginning of your barista career.

How to become a barista?

If you are starting from scratch and having a hard time deciding what you need to do next, here are a few ideas for you:

• Immerse in learning about coffee

Learning about coffee is an exciting adventure into the cup of your favorite drink. There are so many aspects of coffee taste and so many variables that affect espresso. The history of coffee is full of ups and downs, and you definitely what to know how coffee became the most popular drink in the world. There are some great coffee books out there, including Uncommon Grounds by Mark Pendergrast and The Professional Barista’s Handbook by Scott Rao.

• Learn about coffee origins

The origin of coffee is one of the factors affecting coffee flavor and aroma. Where the coffee comes from, the processing involved, as well as its storage – all impacts the taste of coffee in your cup. That’s why knowing the coffee origins and respecting the farmers who grew it, and supporting fair trade practices are very important.

Every time you buy a coffee, ask baristas where the coffee comes from and special about it.

• Familiarize yourself with roasting profiles

Coffee roasting is another area of expertise that you might want to delve into. Most of us drink medium roasted coffee because it’s bright and well-balanced, but in some countries like Italy or France, they prefer their coffee to be roasted really dark.

• Use various low-cost brew methods at home

Invest in a good grinder, an Aeropress, and scales to learn how to find the best coffee to water ratio. Experiment with coffee dose and water volume – this will help you to master your manual brewing skills.

If you want to become a professional barista, you will need to learn many coffee recipes. In this case, it’s even worth buying a small or used espresso machine and brew coffee at home in a more relaxed environment. Of course, it’s different than in a coffee shop, but you can still practice coffee tamping, milk steaming, and latte art.

• Take an online barista training course

Turn to the internet and choose an affordable yet dependable online barista training program. There are many resources out there for very different prices. A high price doesn’t always mean a good product. We reviewed some of the existing training programs in the previous article and realized that some of them are quite overpriced. In contrast, others offer a good balance between price and information.

Check out The Beginning Barista Guide, with almost 160 pages of solid content covering various topics, from coffee history to a barista job search.

• Get to practice with an espresso machine

Before becoming a full-time barista, you might want to have a part-time job in a coffee shop or restaurant. It doesn’t necessarily have to be Starbucks, Caribou, or Peet’s Coffee. You want to start small and work in a less stressful environment. Besides, most restaurants today have an espresso machine to deliver quality espresso drinks to their customers. So look out for barista vacancies in your neighborhood.

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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. It is affordable for anybody who is looking to start a career in the coffee industry. For more information, visit our blog.