A second career in coffee
Choose a Second Career in Coffee
With a steadily growing demand for coffee in every city, baristas' need is also estimated to increase. This is good news for those individuals who are thinking about coming out of retirement or seeking to make a career change. A career in coffee might be a good direction to take when considering something new.
You certainly won't be alone. The majority of us change careers about 7 times in our lifetimes. According to Careers Advice Online, by the age of 42, an average person can change up to 10 jobs! This is about a new job every three years. Statistically, about 30% of you reading this article right now will change your career or jobs in the next 12 months.
Why do people change jobs so often? The Balance Careers tells us that the main reason for such frequent job change is low pay that can’t sustain the growing prices – people are forced to look for better-paid jobs to afford their living. Another reason is professional burnout occurring more often. This is true in the corporate environment due to unreasonable demands, high stress, lack of recognition, inflexible schedules, and management. Sometimes, your life values naturally change over time, and you decide to pursue a career that brings more spiritual or social satisfaction.
What does it tell us? The modern, fast-paced world requires us to be ready for a change. The market is saturated with jobs, and you will most probably try different careers throughout your life. The best way to do it is by being aware of market needs and learning opportunities.
Be a Barista During A Time of Transition
Sometimes, this career change isn’t so smooth. Especially if your job contract is terminated unexpectedly, your company is closing, or you decide to retire earlier due to the changes in the company you are working for. Being “in-between” jobs or careers can be challenging in several different ways – lack of funds, lack of social interaction, and personal and professional challenges.
The good news is that lifelong learning opportunities are easily accessible online and offline. You can easily take an affordable online course on social media marketing, search engine optimization, successful negotiation skills development, psychological first aid, or barista training fundamentals. Sites like Udemy, Khan Academy, edX, Codeacademy, etc., offer plenty of online courses designed by university professors and industry professionals.
How to be a Barista and a Get a New Lease on Life
Choosing a second career in coffee – as a barista – can help you get a new lease on life and your career. At first glance, if you think about modern coffee shops, you might imagine a hipster-looking young man or a young lady with their share of tattoos standing behind a brew bar or a shiny espresso machine. This is an unfortunate stereotype that you may see on platforms like Instagram and Facebook.
While this is sometimes the case, it is not generally the norm. On average, most baristas are just fine and ordinary men and women who love coffee. Across the spectrum, there is a diversity of age. And why not? In 1990 how many 17 years old drank coffee? I'm not sure of the numbers, but I'd put my money that there are many more young people drinking coffee today than 25 years ago! My point is that coffee is certainly not for only the young, and a barista career is not only for someone in their 20's or 30's. Why not even consider starting your own coffee shop or coffee roastery? You could buy a drive-thru coffee stand or set up a mobile coffee business and come out of retirement on your terms.
Being a Barista Is a Job for All Age Groups
Most young people may view a barista job as a temporary gig. A part-time job while they are in college or waiting to move to another city. This attitude doesn’t promote great customer service or a deep interest in coffee characteristics or barista subjects. After all, why do you need to try so hard at a temporary job?
Others, on the other hand, really enjoy coffee. They aim to learn more about the beverage, roasting, and serving coffee (latte art, anyone?).
However, as an older barista, you may have already passed the stages of going to college or university, working in an office. You might be emotionally done with the endless cycle of career changes. This may have included work in various fields. When you already have some life and professional experience, when you’ve been to the top and bottom, you know what really matters now – great customer experience, personal approach, a true passion for what you are doing, gratefulness, and personal satisfaction over professional achievements.
Being a barista is a great job choice at any time of your life because, next to the benefits mentioned above, it brings great salary opportunities, flexible scheduling, free training, and many more perks that we will discuss next.
Why a Barista Career is a Great Job Choice at Any Age
Benefits of Being a Barista
A barista job has plenty of benefits. We’ve written about them a lot on our Barista Training Academy blog, so let’s touch upon the main ones here.
You Can Work Anywhere
The main advantage of a barista job is that no matter where you live or plan to move to – you can get a barista job. People drink coffee anywhere – in big cities and small towns, busting megapolises and rural areas. You will be welcomed as a barista anywhere where people drink coffee.
Being a Barista is Often a Secure Job
Global Foodservice Coffee Market Research Report 2020 reveals that from 2015 to 2026 coffee industry will experience historic growth with an unprecedented number of coffee sales. This means that the need for coffee – and good baristas – will be growing. With the expansion of the coffee market in the USA and everywhere globally, you have an opportunity to secure your barista career for the upcoming years.
Transferable Skills
Coffee brewing skills are universal. Once you learned how to brew good coffee, you can apply the skill anywhere. Good coffee is in high demand everywhere, and this trend will only be going upwards. Your life circumstances might take you to a different city or even a different country on a different continent where you will have no problems finding a barista job.
Flexible Working Hours
Whether you want to work full-time or part-time, a barista job allows you to choose the working hours that suit you the best. Barista shifts are usually planned a month, so you can request to work on certain days. On other days you can switch shifts with other baristas if you have something urgent going on. Depending on where you work, you have a chance to design your own schedule that allows you to fulfill your obligations outside the coffee shop.
Good pay and FREE COFFEE
One of the main perks of being a barista is the possibility of making a good income that consists of a minimum wage and above, plus gratuity tips. Your tips are important to this good pay equation. Barista tips vary from coffee shop to coffee shop. Our research indicates that you can add anywhere from $4.00 per hour to $23.00 per hour in tips to your base salary.
As a barista, you try, taste, and sample all new coffees all the time – possibly many times during a shift. This means you will most likely have access to high-quality coffee! Additionally, it's common practice to receive one or more complimentary drinks per day. Sometimes you are also allowed to buy coffee beans at wholesale prices too.
Coffee Isn’t Just for the Young
The coffee world is open to everyone. It isn’t easy to find a more welcoming, open-minded, tolerant industry than coffee. No matter who you are or where you are in your life, you can always find your way in the coffee business.
We strongly believe in your second career in coffee. And your post-retirement career in coffee holds more benefits than one can imagine at first. Whatever your reasons for working after officially retiring, working in coffee can be a financial benefit to you and your family; working after retirement may help your financial stability – like a coffee shop or a drive-thru coffee stand employee, you are eligible for health insurance. In addition to your retirement plan, your barista salary will help you cover not only your basic needs but have discretionary money to do the things you love. This may include traveling or purchasing new things.
After retirement, many people lack interaction with other people, and the best way to replenish it is by working in a coffee shop. Moreover, a barista job helps your physical and mental health by being active, learning new things, and having new experiences and positive emotions.
“Older” Baristas Add Value To Wherever They Work
We talked to several coffee shop owners about the age of their baristas. While many of them have hired young baristas, they say they would gladly hire older baristas too. Unfortunately, many older people who think about starting a second career in coffee face different fears like ageism. Or they fear not being able to acquire a new skill. Or perhaps to memorize countless recipes or be fast enough in fast-moving environments.
However, coffee shop owners name many assets that older baristas have in comparison with young ones. More senior baristas have life experiences that help solve interpersonal problems at work. They tend to be more reliable and have a better sense of time management. They also show more maturity in the workplace. This leads to fewer arguments, better performance, and positive relationships with staff members and customers.
Mentorship Opportunities
Any previous experience is always beneficial. You may have worked in human resources, have teaching experience, or previously managed a group of people. You will be able to use your knowledge. For example, baristas may be required to perform basic accounting for inventory. This is where your previous experience may come in handy.
Older baristas can be effective mentors to younger people also working in the coffee shop. By sharing their life experience, they can help younger baristas. In any workspace, senior employees balance immaturity and impulsive youthful energy.
Age Discrimination
Age discrimination or ageism in coffee shops is rare but possible. No one can guarantee that you will never face something like this. However, it would help if you remembered that age discrimination at your workplace is illegal and may lead to responsibility. According to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), age discrimination against people aged 40 or older is not allowed. It means that the law forbids discrimination in hiring, firing, and promoting based on their age.
Barista Training Can Lead to New Life Experiences
Getting your initial barista training opens up a world of opportunities for you. As you can see, any after-retirement work has plenty of lifestyle, health, and mental benefits.
Being a barista is a socially active job. As a barista, you will experience many positive emotions, new adventures, and learning opportunities. This will help you avoid social isolation and make your life purposeful. Working among young baristas will make you feel younger for a longer time.
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 barista resource. It is affordable for anybody who is looking to start a career in the coffee industry. For more information, visit our blog.
