How to Train a Barista: Barista Training Program (Free Manual Template)

Americans consume more than 26 million bags of coffee a year, an average of two cups per person per day. At the forefront of this coffee craze are the baristas, fulfilling this demand every day with a smile.

No two cafes are the same, which means barista training never stops. When you take a job as a barista, you’ll need to become familiar with the house rules at your cafe. No matter how much time you’ve logged behind the espresso machine or how intricate your latte art techniques are, you must always be open to learning more about the special quirks and procedures of your job.

Undertaking extra barista training is a great way to show initiative and prove that you’re ready to take on more responsibility. Barista training programs can be helpful both for those new to the job and those who want to improve their restaurant skills. Good training leads to more satisfied employees and lower staff turnover.

In this guide, you’ll learn all there is to know about barista training. We’ll guide you through the types of training and the best courses to choose from. We’ll also discuss the skills required to be a barista and how to apply for barista jobs.

What’s in This Guide?

• Best Barista Training Programs

• Job Skills Developed in Training

• Types of Barista Training

• How to Apply for a Barista Job Post-Training

• How to Hire and Onboard New Baristas

• Final Thoughts & FAQs

Best Barista Training Programs

If you’re looking to become the best barista you can be, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve scoured the web for the top barista training programs in the U.S. From accessible online courses to thorough education programs, here are our recommendations:

Formal Training Programs

Formal barista training takes place in person at an established institution. These usually require an application process and aren’t free, but they are certainly worth it for the extensive training you receive. Here are some of the best formal education programs in the States:

• Counter Culture Coffee: This popular coffee maker has training centers in most major U.S. cities that offer classes in specific areas of barista training, such as advanced latte art. Classes last approximately two hours and start at $150-$175. They also offer free coffee-tasting sessions if you want to improve your palate.

• Specialty Coffee Association (SCA): With schools and campuses all over the world, SCA offers accessible and comprehensive coffee skills programs to prospective baristas. Participants pay a course enrollment fee and head to one of the many campuses dotted around the U.S. to learn about sensory skills, coffee preparation, and customer service. Modules are between 4 and 21 hours of work. SCA also offers training in coffee sustainability and being a coffee technician.

• Seattle Barista Academy: Home of giant coffee brands like Starbucks, Seattle is the place to be for hopeful baristas. You’ll get hands-on training from top industry professionals either as intensive two-day seminars or casual half-day sessions. The courses aren’t cheap - expect to pay upwards of $2,600 for the multi-day professional training - but there’s a money-back guarantee if you’re unsatisfied with your training.

Online Training Programs

Online courses are much more accessible but don’t tend to offer the same practical experience as formal training programs. They’re still highly educational, though, and make an excellent supplement to on-the-job training on the side. If you’re considering enrolling in an online barista class, check out these sites:

• Barista Hustle: This Australian company is one of the premium providers of online barista training in the world. Their site is easy to navigate and offers a range of courses, from lessons in percolation and immersion to advanced latte art training. You can purchase one-off courses from $100-$200 or buy a monthly subscription for $15 that gives you access to all the courses and support.

• Bellissimo by Coffee Business: Another renowned coffee company, Bellissimo offers both online and in-person classes that cover everything from espresso machine operation and maintenance to milk frothing and manual coffee brewing. To access their online barista training course, you must sign up for a subscription and pay $49.95 for your first three months.

• Espresso Academy: Espresso Academy offers full barista training via online courses taught by experts all the way from Sicily, Italy. Courses are internationally certified by both the SCA and IBC and cover barista basics to advanced coffee-making skills. You can pick and choose your modules depending on your experience and budget.

Barista Skills Acquired Through Training

A professional barista needs a wide range of hard and soft skills to perform successfully and become a true business asset. 

From basic competencies like coffee-making to more advanced abilities like heightened sensory skills, here’s what you can expect to learn when you undertake barista training:

Basic Skills

Baristas need a combination of dexterity and organization to be successful. Naturally, they also need to know how to make a good cup of Joe and work to the customer’s specifications and requirements. Here are some basic skills you’ll pick up from barista training:

1. Coffee-Making: The most basic skill in barista training is making a decent cup of coffee, but this is harder than it sounds. Coffee preparation requires accuracy and precision, as well as a mastery of the various coffee-making apparatus, including the Aeropress, French press, Chemex, and the espresso machine, as well as cold and blended drinks. 

2. Communication: Baristas must have good speaking and listening skills to be able to make the right drinks for the right customers. They must be able to clearly explain the differences between lattes and cappuccinos and listen to whether the customer wants syrup, toppings, or a specialty coffee blend. Correctly fulfilled orders improve customer retention and brand reputation.

3. Health & Safety: In addition to the basic tasks of coffee-making, baristas must learn cleaning procedures to keep the cafe clean and the equipment sanitary. These include disassembling and sanitizing all components of the espresso bar, washing and sanitizing glassware, tidying floors and countertops, and making sure all service complies with local health standards to keep the health inspector happy. 

4. Organization: Soft skills like organization are no less important than other abilities. Good memory and time management can improve customer service and make your cafe a welcoming place that people want to revisit regularly.

Advanced Skills

Advanced barista skills can make you more knowledgeable and successful in your role. They also show your superiors that you’re dedicated to a life in the coffee industry and make you more marketable to future employers. Here are some more sophisticated skills we recommend learning for the sake of your future barista career:

1. Deep Coffee Knowledge: The best baristas will have a thorough knowledge of coffee, including its history and cultivation, information about the specialty coffee industry, espresso extraction, coffee freshness, and how to repair coffee machines.

2. Latte Art: While entry-level baristas in budget coffee shops may use a stencil, high-end establishments expect their baristas to be trained in producing refined latte art for their customers. To get these higher-paying barista jobs, you should train your latte art techniques. 

3. Sensory Skills: Professional baristas have excellent senses of smell, sight, and taste. They can easily discern various types of coffee blends and flavors, from slow-roasted beans to green coffee, and can steam milk to just the right consistency when required.

4. Management Skills: To really show that you’re dedicated to the coffee business, you should learn people management skills. This will allow you to take on more senior responsibilities and advance up the ladder to restaurant manager roles.

Acquiring all the training for advanced coffee-making demonstrates that you’re committed enough to your career to pursue additional education and training on your own.

Types of Barista Training

There are several ways to train new restaurant staff and acquire barista experience. Whether you opt for an online training program or learn on the job, each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. 

On-The-Job Training

There’s no better way to learn the job than to actually do the job. If you’re a restaurant manager, allowing new baristas to shadow more experienced employees lets them see firsthand how things work and ask questions about procedures and new menu items on the fly. 

Coffee shop owners who give on-the-job training reduce staff turnover and allow new hires to learn the unique restaurant training manual and processes effectively. Prospective baristas seeking this type of training also get paid while learning. There are very few disadvantages to this sort of training, but it is possible that more senior employees may pass down their own bad habits or forget to demonstrate something crucial.

Formal Training Programs

A formal coffee skills program may take the form of an in-person course, a full degree, or a taster session by a specialty coffee association. Although these programs can be expensive and may require relocation, they provide high-quality and ultra-focussed training with industry experts. Formal programs also help with state-mandated training, like food safety and sexual harassment prevention.

Online Barista Training

With this approach, you can learn new skills on your own schedule and at your own pace. Online classes are often free and easy to access, and many organizations give you the opportunity to learn from celebrated baristas around the country. 

However, online courses don’t allow you to ask questions or get personalized responses, and they certainly don’t provide any practical training. As a result, it’s best to use online barista training only as a supplement to hands-on experience.

How to Apply for a Barista Job After Training

If you pursue additional barista training, you should be able to use your new skills and certifications to your advantage when searching for jobs. Extra training is proof that you’re committed to a career as a barista and that you’re willing to take the initiative to learn how to be a better worker, which will give you a huge advantage when pursuing promotions or new jobs.

The first thing is to put all the relevant training and skills on your barista resume. Briefly mention what courses you took and what you learned, such as latte art, espresso machine maintenance, and food safety. Then, search through online job boards or contact your favorite restaurants directly to see if there are any barista openings near you.

Alternatively, you could use your network of contacts to see if anyone’s hiring. During your training, you’ll likely get to know other people in the coffee industry who may be able to at least point you in the right direction for where to get a barista job.

How to Hire & Onboard New Baristas

If you’re a coffee shop owner looking for new baristas, you’ve got to be attentive throughout the hiring and onboarding process. Hiring new baristas is simple enough - just look for any previous experience and relevant customer service skills - but the real work begins post-hire.

The first weeks of a new barista’s job are the most important, as this is when they’ll learn your establishment and work to your own specific procedures. Here are some tips you should consider during the onboarding phase:

1. Write a Clear Barista Training Manual: Having a clear account of what you expect from your baristas not only helps you visualize your values and expectations but also allows your new employees to quickly realize exactly what you want from them. As such, you should write a detailed restaurant training manual for your new hires to follow.

2. Have New Hires Shadow Experienced Employees: Letting your new workers learn from your existing employees helps them learn the ropes more easily. They’ll get up to speed more quickly, and your more advanced workers can gain valuable management experience that could benefit your establishment in the long term.

3. Provide Regular Feedback: Let your new baristas know when they make an error, offering gentle advice and guidance to steer them in the right direction. Similarly, let them know every time they do a good job, as positive reinforcement goes a long way in this day and age.

With these three strategies, you should be able to hire and onboard new baristas easily. Trained baristas are ideal for your company, but sometimes it may be up to you to offer that on-the-job experience.

Final Thoughts

Training is necessary for a barista to be successful. Making a good cup of coffee requires attention and precision, and latte art is definitely not an innate skill, nor is management. Pursuing extra training and certifications demonstrates a commitment to improving your skills and a desire to excel as a barista.

It’s always worth seeking out new opportunities to grow and improve at a job; it may even lead to new opportunities to advance in the industry. To really set yourself apart, you should familiarize yourself with modern restaurant technology like our variety of products here at Toast.

Our point-of-sale system is ideal for coffee shops, and many modern establishments have taken to our self-ordering kiosks to modernize their premises. Whether you’re a coffee shop owner looking to hire new staff or a prospective barista searching for ways to improve your craft, try Toast today.

FAQs

How do I train myself to be a barista?

Baristas require training in coffee-making and customer service, so the best way to train yourself is to enroll in a course or find a job that provides training. You can learn a lot from online classes, but practical experience is the best way to become a fully trained barista.

Is barista a hard job?

Although becoming a barista requires technical training and a knowledge of coffee-making, it’s a relatively easy job that almost anyone can pick up. Provided you have the right skills and training, you can find a barista role rather easily, as there are always coffee shops and restaurants looking for new baristas.

Can I learn barista training online?

While every barista needs hands-on training to succeed in their roles, you can achieve a large amount of success through online training. There are many courses - some free, some paid - that teach modules like history of coffee, coffee cultivation, food safety, espresso machine maintenance, and latte art techniques.

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