Barista profession - who is it?

The word "barista" comes from the melodic Italian language and translates as "a person working at the bar." But really, barista - who is it? In Italy, for example, a barista is a person by profession, and not part-time. And, namely, working only with coffee and having nothing to do with the bartender. Although this profession originated in Italian lands, the impetus for its spread was the development of American Starbucks coffee houses in the 1980s.

Barista Responsibilities

Barista - who is it? This is a good specialist who has experience. Anyone who knows at least 40 recipes for classic coffee drinks (ristretto, cappuccino, latte, etc.), and also has a large number of original recipes. The master must understand the varieties of coffee and know about its origin, be able to distinguish between shades of taste, to distinguish between the degree of roasting and understand how it affects the taste of the drink.

A barista is a sorcerer of an espresso machine who knows how to pack coffee into the machine correctly and with what force, what pressure and extraction time are in it. A coffee maker must be distinguished by the ability to present his masterpieces of coffee art. Since the barista is not just a person making quality coffee, but the soul of a coffee shop.

How to become a real master?

Large network coffee companies usually "grow" specialists on their own. The applicant passes a trial period, after which more experienced colleagues teach him all the intricacies of coffee art and give the answer to the question: "Barista - who is it?" Currently, in Russia this skill can be studied in all major cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnoyarsk, etc. The main selection criteria are:

• age from 18 to 25 years;
• good naturedness;
• sociability;
• knowledge of the basics of psychology;
• responsibility for the result.

Barista training can take place during work. If he plans to take up the profession seriously and go global, then you can get additional education. In Italy, in the homeland of this profession, men from 30 years old work as barista. The profession is considered respected, prestigious and highly paid.

A few indispensable qualities barista - a guarantee of amazing coffee

Barista - who is it? This is a professional who, in addition to knowing the varieties of coffee, the technology of its production and the basics of preparation, has the personal qualities that characterize him as an unsurpassed master of his craft.

Firstly, the barista must have creative potential, because the main feature of his work is the creation of diverse drawings on coffee foam. It is important that the master could bring to life not only standard patterns, but also his own. A coffee shop will be popular if the menu of coffee drinks is varied, so the barista should be able to show remarkable imagination in their manufacture.

Secondly, a true professional is required to have stress resistance and patience, because communication with clients is an integral part of the profession. The master must remember the preferences of each regular customer, be able to tell in detail and interestingly about each drink and offer them correctly, depending on the situation. Friendliness and courtesy towards visitors is the key to the success of a beginner barista.