Many people envy baristas for being able to taste all kinds of coffee, operate expensive equipment, and even experiment with different drinks, but this profession is far from as easy as it looks. To become a qualified barista, you not only need solid coffee knowledge, but also have to go through systematic training and become familiar with every aspect of running a café. From extensive cupping to ensure consistent quality, to handling multiple tasks at once and coordinating seamlessly with the team, to the physical strain caused by long hours of standing and repetitive movements, as well as the tedious cleaning work, every part is a required course. If you are also thinking of entering the industry, it may help to first look at this realistic portrayal and understand the dedication and perseverance behind the glamour.

Many people long for the barista profession, and some even make becoming a barista their goal. This idea is not hard to understand—baristas always seem to be able to taste all kinds of the most delicious coffee, conduct cool experiments with different drinks, and operate those expensive coffee machines.

However, actually making coffee is far from as easy as it looks.

First, if you want to step into this industry, you must build up enough coffee-related knowledge. Some people think baristas can just start working without much training, but the reality is that every barista has received systematic professional training. They must be familiar with every aspect of how a café operates, from serving food and drinks to washing cups and utensils, and be able to handle each task.

Next, I will show you the little-known truths behind the glamorous image of baristas. After understanding them, you will realize that becoming a qualified barista is by no means easy.

Baristas must drink a lot of coffee

What may affect baristas the most is perhaps the amount of coffee they drink. Baristas are often asked, "How much coffee do you usually drink?" But in fact, they simply cannot remember how much they have drunk. Because they spend long hours at the coffee machine, baristas need to constantly taste the coffee they make—whether during morning prep every day, or even more so whenever a new batch of beans arrives. They rely on repeated tasting to ensure that flavor and quality remain consistent. After a day like this, the amount of coffee they drink is too many to count. If the barista serving you faints from excessive caffeine intake, that actually shows he is very competent.

Baristas must be able to multitask

One of the most essential abilities for a barista is multitasking. They have to keep taking orders while ensuring the milk foam is steamed just right and the coffee machine's water output is precise. An excellent barista must also be able to face special customers' special requests while always keeping a smile and remaining neither overbearing nor servile.

Baristas must understand teamwork

Of course, the operation of a café is definitely not sustained by the barista alone. Baristas need a strong sense of teamwork. During peak hours, it is common to see two people sharing one coffee machine, with one responsible for extracting espresso and the other for steaming milk and assembling cups. This kind of coordination looks simple, but in practice it is quite difficult and requires a high level of rapport between the two baristas. Once an unexpected situation arises, the two must also be able to handle tricky problems together.

At the same time, baristas also have to coordinate with other partners in the store, such as cashiers and servers. Everyone on the team must work to maintain overall coordination and avoid problems with coffee quality and work efficiency when orders are dense.

Baristas must have the ability to resist fatigue

As a barista, you have to stand for long periods and continuously repeat almost identical movements. In fact, every barista more or less suffers from repetitive muscle strain. "Barista wrist" is one of the most typical strain symptoms, caused by baristas repeatedly tamping grounds and lifting milk over a long period. In addition, baristas do not just work five days a week, and every day they have to arrive before the café opens to check the equipment, and after closing they still have to organize the tools before they can leave. They simply cannot work "nine to five" like ordinary office workers. So the next time you go to a café for coffee, please treat the barista serving you kindly, and ideally do not linger in the café late on a Saturday night—after all, just because you do not have to work the next day does not mean the barista does not have to get up early.

Baristas must keep counters and equipment spotless

Perhaps the most inconspicuous yet most important work of a barista is cleaning the counters and coffee equipment. Customers usually do not see this, but it is crucial to coffee quality. The cleaning work is quite tedious, including cleaning the portafilter, cleaning the coffee machine's water outlets, cleaning the coffee grinder, and cleaning up leftover items and stains on the counter, and so on. Cafés usually give baristas a cleaning checklist, and to outsiders, the length of the list is enough to shock them. If a barista is especially meticulous about cleaning, that shows he cares greatly about coffee quality and takes pride in his work.

If you also want to become a barista...

If you want to become a barista, first you need to be open-minded and humble and polite. Second, you must understand that becoming a qualified barista is by no means something that happens overnight. You need to keep learning coffee knowledge and theory and continuously practice your crafting skills before you can reach perfection. Always remember that a love for coffee and a thirst for knowledge are essential qualities of an excellent barista. Finally, do not expect latte art to save a cup of low-quality coffee.

If you want to learn more about coffee, you can absolutely ask the barista serving you in a café, because most of them are very happy to discuss coffee with you. Baristas are very willing to serve customers who like to communicate and love to learn. Of course, you should also respect the barista standing in front of you. All they want is a word of thanks. What they pursue is simply to provide customers with the best possible service and the most delicious coffee. In the end, whether we are baristas or consumers, isn't what we all want just a cup of fragrant coffee?

Image/Text/"Daily Coffee News" WeChat public account

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.