Online Barista Training
How to Be a Faster Barista
Learning how to be a barista can be fun and exciting. However, it can sometimes be nerve-racking when the customer line grows longer and you can't seem to work fast enough.
It happens every day.
Morning rushes can be a source of anxiety for many baristas – even experienced ones!
Being a faster and more efficient barista will naturally occur as you practice and get more barista work experience. As a result, your barista skills will evolve and get better. This is especially true as you adapt to your coffee shop's workstation and the already established workflow.
While your experience and familiarity with your coffee shop will speed up your game, there are still a few things you can do to be a faster barista. The following are several tips on how you can be a faster barista.
Tips on How to Be a Faster Barista
Get your mindset right
Coming into work with a positive and energetic mindset will play an essential role in performing your barista duties.
This means getting the appropriate amount of rest, sleep, and diet. Go into work with a positive attitude and a clear mind, as this will help you focus on making great coffee while engaging positively with customers.
Sometimes this requires a five-minute mental reset or meditation before your barista shift to help get your thoughts, feelings, and perspective together. You might need another “reset” during your break.
Consider the workflow
Every café has a natural flow… this is where the customers come in and congregate to how you move your body as you serve to tamp, pull espresso shots, and serve coffee.
Assess your barista workstation (behind the coffee bar) and slowly run through the workflow as you begin your shift.
Does it feel right?
Is there anything that can be changed so that it's easier to do your job more effectively?
For example, if you are taking over someone's shift, would you be able to move or change something that allows you to do your job easier and faster?
For example, if you were left-handed, could you move the coffee grinder to a different position to help you? Could you move the knock box or trash can to make it easier for you to reach?
Would you be able to adjust the syrups so that you can better reach them? Coffee equipment is generally challenging to move, but there may be other items on the counter that you can move to be more effective and efficient.
Suppose you can't change anything. That's okay too. Determine how you will move throughout the workstation that is most effective for you.
Always prep
Preparing always makes your job easier. Always!
As you start your barista work shift, determine what needs replenishing ahead of time. For example, do you need more cups, syrups, cream, or milk? Do you need to bring out more muffins or fill up the sugar container?
Additionally, it is helpful to know what items you are out of. Perhaps, you don't have any more vanilla bean syrup or oat milk. These are things to be aware of before you start your shift.
Restocking items, filling up your coffee in the hopper, or wiping down your workstation before you start will go a long way.
If you're in charge of opening your coffee shop in the morning, you'll want to make sure you have everything ready to go before the rush of morning coffee drinkers come in!
Avoid frantic work
It's easy to get frantic when a line starts forming. You see a dozen eyeballs staring at you while you work, and the pressure can sure build up quickly! We've been there.
Soon, your adrenaline kicks in, and your brain starts to overload. That's when mistakes start to happen, and orders get messed up – and injuries occur.
Focus on one beverage at a time. And more importantly, focus on one customer at a time. Take a deep breath and try to maintain your focus. The line will get smaller, and customers will often be understanding.
If you get overwhelmed, you may need to ask for help. For example, if a manager or coffee shop owner might be in their office, run in and tell him. Another barista may be in the back kitchen preparing food – run in and say something. It's always okay to ask for help.
Develop a team plan
If you are working with one or two other baristas, you will want to develop a plan for your shift.
Communicating with other baristas will help you avoid colliding with each other when serving each customer. For example, one barista might be on the espresso machine, the other simply ringing up sales on your coffee shop POS system and providing additional support. This extra support may include adding syrups, filling cups with ice, re-filling coffee, etc.
Assign each cup a name and drink
During your morning rush, you're going to want to assign each cup with a drink and a name. This will help you avoid confusion and ensure that the correct customer gets the right drink. In addition, having an orderly system will decrease mistakes and avoid having to remake each drink.
Steam milk for multiple beverages
If you get an order for two macchiatos, you may want to steam your milk for both beverages. If you have a two-group espresso machine, you might also be able to pull both shots together as well.
Ten seconds here and 15 seconds there can add up. By trimming down your seconds at each turn, you will be able to deliver your coffee much faster.
Focus on safety and ergonomics
While it might seem counter-intuitive, focusing on safety and ergonomics is especially important. In addition, keeping yourself healthy will be beneficial as time goes on.
In other words, don't sacrifice your personal safety – or the safety of your co-workers or customers to save a few seconds.
Always stay focused on your long-term health in the short term. That means taking the right position during each tamping of the portafilter, cleaning your wand, or side-stepping to avoid a collision.
Talk to customers
Have fun! Chat with customers.
It takes time to make a unique coffee drink. And three minutes can seem like an eternity if you are in awkward silence.
Talk with customers. It will make the time go by faster as you build your drink and wait. It's an excellent way to get to know your community members and pass the time. Consequently, all this does is improve your opportunity of earning more essential tips.
Be a Faster Barista at Each Turn
Here's a sample of an efficient barista workflow:
- Greet each customer coming into the cafe
- Consider offering a recommendation and upsell
- Get a cup and write their name and beverage on it.
- Ask what type of milk option they would like
- Pour the milk
- Start grinding
- Tamp and start pulling your shots
- Squirt your syrups – if necessary
- Purge your steam wand and start steaming milk
- Pour out your espresso shots.
- Purge your steam wand, wipe it down
- Pour your milk
- Serve
At every point, you can save a few seconds here and there. But it will take focus and preparation. Despite it all, remember that you are human. It takes time to make coffee. Especially great coffee!
Instead, focus on your customer's experience. Make every encounter positive, productive, and profitable.
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