Baristas are not normal people.
They are usually creative but a little obsessed, are extremely hard working but still don’t like the idea of working 9-5 Monday to Friday, communicate through their own weird code like “S C” for Skim Cap, and furthermore, to wind down after they finish work, they watch latte art videos or read articles about coffee. Quite a unique bunch.
Perhaps though, it’s these strange attributes that set the mere ‘good barista’ from the ‘great barista’.
Let’s take a look into what distinguishes a great barista from the rest.
Here are 5 things that make a great barista:
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A barista’s role isn’t just to make coffee behind the machine, but to be the boss of small talk – sometimes to the extent of almost being an unlicensed therapist or an entertainer/comedian to brighten that customer’s day. They are highly skilled communicators that are also balancing their attention to the customers with the rest of the team to ensure all gears are running smoothly. A great barista naturally communicates to the rest of the team with the least room for error and speaks up when it needs to be done. A common attribute to a great barista is charisma and their ability to speak in a charming or friendly manner – they are pretty much siiickkkk people to work with.
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It’s a public holiday and two staff called in sick. The aircon also happens to be broken that day in the middle of summer, and to top it all off, the POS system keeps getting errors. A great barista will not crumble but instead focus and find a way to get through the rush. Either by coming up with solutions such as sweet talking to the customers so they are understanding of the current pickle they are in, or by taking control by delegating roles in a calm fashion, they will somehow come up with a way to persevere the next hour or more. A great barista is pleasant to work with and will show their fullest potential in maintaining quality and customer service when it’s crunch time.
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From the extraction of the pour to the way they texture milk, attention to detail is key to consistency and quality. Another must to a great barista is cleanliness and organisation as they know their systematic way will prevent accidents and pump out coffee in the most hygienic and efficient way. They will not only dose the same amount or carefully watch the extraction each time, but they also achieve to do all this with great precision and speed.
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Yes, it is annoying to make a babycino. Yes, it is harder to steam and pour with soy than full cream milk. No, I don’t want to make you a half skim, half full cream, 4 sugars and 48 degree flat white with chocolate on top. But a great barista will swallow their pride and give the customer what they want, even when it might be one of those ‘nothing is working out’ sort of days. A great barista is sensitive and will both accommodate and value the customer’s wants and needs. Instead of being annoyed, they are creative and think up a solution instead. For example, rather than being rude or agressive, he or she may kindly suggest/recommend to the customer a new drink on the menu will be perfect for them or devise a quick method to make their drink (assuming this is for a picky regular customer). Rather than sulking, they will use their creativity to find a solution to the problem.
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A great barista will find ways to improve themselves. If they know exercise will help with their endurance levels, then they will incorporate some exercise into their daily routine. If they need to wake up 30 minutes earlier to set up to prep, they will make that sacrifice to better their performance.
They will also constantly find ways to fine tune their skills. They will study the science behind the chemistry behind making coffee if need be, or work on improving their taste buds to pick up any flaws in the roasting process or appreciate the different notes in coffee.
Props to you if you’re a barista and you came to read this to find new ways to better yourself and improve! Maybe you’re already a great barista that encompasses all of the above without you even knowing it!
Baristas are curious people who live in their strange world of coffee that need to be acknowledged for their hard work and passion. It is time for us to realise that the barista is more than the dude who makes coffee, but they are also the therapist, the rock, the supporter, the friendly guy/gal, the scientist, the problem solver… the list goes on. Do you have what it takes to be a great barista?
