Top 10 Barista Interview Questions
Our online barista school offers the top 10 coffee shop interview questions and answers that will help you prepare for your barista job interview.
Whether or not you have any relevant working experience, you can easily get a barista job if you take your time to answer sample barista interview questions. Knowing these answers in advance will give you confidence and, what’s more important, credibility in the eyes of your potential employer. If the manager sees that you are well informed and serious about the job and… he or she will give extra points to your barista resume.
Remember, during a barista job interview:
- Demonstrate your enthusiasm and good nature
- Express your passion for coffee
- Convince the employer that you are the right fit
If you want to know how to get a barista job, the answer is simple: take your time to go through some barista training basics and prepare for your barista job interview.
Being a barista is an awesome job as it provides plenty of benefits: good pay, quality coffee, and great career prospects. So, it’s definitely worth spending some time getting ready for a job interview. It won’t take you a lot of time if you:
- Collect the information about the coffee shop
- Get free barista training
- Prepare your outfit
- Think of the questions you want to ask yourself (Be proactive and show your interest in the position)
- Practice at home
- Get ready for unexpected questions. If you don’t know the answer, be honest about it.
Top 10 Barista Interview Questions
The following barista interview questions are just sample, most common questions. You might not be asked the same questions, but the chances are that you’ll be asked something similar.
Barista interview questions aim at evaluating your ability to be a good barista, which means your customer service skills, stress management, and flexibility. If you meet these employer’s expectations, you will most probably be hired as a barista.
Here are sample barista interview questions:
Barista Interview Question 1:
Why would you like to work in our coffee shop? (It’s an important question where you acknowledge the coffee shop's uniqueness; show your respect to their work and menu).
Answer: I’ve been following your coffee shop social accounts for a while, and when I visited your café for the first time, I was impressed with the ambiance and impeccable service. I really like that you focus on specialty coffee and have programs to support coffee growers in coffee-origin countries.
Barista Interview Question 2:
What is your favorite coffee drink? (This question aims to understand your coffee basics. The manager wants to know if you have any general knowledge of coffee recipes and names).
Answer: My favorite coffee drink is flat white with almond milk. I like the stronger espresso taste accompanied by creamy milk foam. I like the nutty almond aroma of the milk that blends well with coffees having nutty notes.
Barista Interview Question 3:
Tell us about your previous barista experience. (This is the moment when you have to be honest – tell the truth whether you have any experience as a barista or not. If you don’t, talk about your other jobs in customer service. If this is your first job, say that you are a great communicator, get along with other people, and work well in a team).
Answer: I will be honest I don’t have any barista experience yet, but I used to work as a waitress in a local restaurant, so I had to deal with customers daily: I was advising on the menu options, taking orders, and serving food and drinks.
Barista Interview Question 4:
When are you able to start working? What is your availability? (To answer this question, know your obligations or college schedule, figure out the coffee shop's hours of operation. Be flexible and show that you are interested in this job).
Answer: I attend college Tuesday through Thursday, but I can work all day on the weekends. I could start working as soon as you need me.
Barista Interview Question 5:
Give an example of your excellent customer service. (This is the moment for you to shine. Use your chance to stand out in your barista job interview and tell an example of your outstanding customer service experience).
Answer: Superior customer service is the key to a great customer experience. I always treated my customers as the most welcomed guests of our restaurant. I always tried to remember their names and preferences. Once I greeted a group of regular customers by their names and remembered their favorite dishes. A suggested some new desserts, and they were delighted. I was very well-tipped after.
Barista Interview Question 6:
How do you manage stress? (Working as a barista in a coffee shop might be stressful sometimes due to high customer volumes. It’s important to be able to multitask, solve problems, and deal with grumpy customers. Without stress management, you risk burnout quickly at your job).
Answer: After working at a restaurant, I realize that a barista job might as well be very challenging sometimes. Usually, when I’m ending a very stressful shift, I prefer to go jogging and listen to my favorite music. Jogging allows me to unwind, and the next day I feel enthusiastic again.
Barista Interview Question 7:
What is the difference between a cappuccino and a latte? (Again, you want to have some basic barista knowledge, so learn a few most common coffee recipes if you don’t know them already).
Answer: A cappuccino is a shot or two of espresso, 2 oz of milk, and 2 oz of foam. Latte has the same amount of coffee with about 5 oz of steamed milk and a thinner layer of froth.
Barista Interview Question 8:
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? (A coffee shop manager wants to know that you are serious about the job. Employee turnover is something they want to avoid by any means. If they feel like this is only a summer job for you, and you are not planning to stay in coffee for more than 3 months, coffee shop owners may not hire you).
Answer: I have dreamt about working in the coffee industry since the first time I tried a shot of quality espresso. In 5 years, I see myself as a coffee shop manager or, if I’m lucky enough, a coffee shop owner. I’m good at delegating and organizing work, so I’m really excited about managerial responsibilities.
Barista Interview Question 9:
What is great customer service, in your opinion? (Explain that you understand how important customer service is. Stress your desire to understand and help other people).
Answer: I take customer service very seriously. I want to serve people the way I want myself to be served. This means more than just serving coffee to the customers. I want my customers to feel that they get the top experience every single time, consistently. I also want to create a community of loyal and returning customers who value specialty coffee.
Barista Interview Question 10:
What are your salary expectations? (Be realistic with your expectations. If you have a chance, try to talk to one of the baristas before your own interview and ask him or her how much they make. If this doesn't work out, you can search for the relevant information online. At least try to figure out the minimum salary in your state. Often, baristas are paid about $7–9 per hour plus tips, which is approximately an average minimum salary in the USA).
Answer: I want to be paid fairly according to my skills and achievements. As a beginning barista, I understand that there’s still a lot to learn, but I’m ready to put a lot of effort into becoming the best barista I can be. I believe starting with a minimum wage would be reasonable.
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