Barista
Serve up delicious drinks and great experiences in a café or restaurant.
Also known as: coffee artist, coffee shop assistant, cafe worker, coffee server
About the job
What it's like
As a barista, you’ll prepare and serve a range of hot drinks for customers to enjoy.
Baristas are the face of a coffee shop or café. As a friendly person, you’ll greet customers when they arrive, take their order then whip up some tasty beverages. You’ll master the art of grinding and brewing coffee, perfecting your craft to serve delicious drinks every time.
Some baristas work part-time alongside school, college or university. Others dedicate their career to the profession and progress to a more advanced role. For example, you could move into coffee shop management, specialise in equipment maintenance or become a trainer that shapes the next generation of baristas.
So, are you ready to make everything from mochas to matchas?
Your tasks might include:
offering a warm welcome, chatting with customers and helping them enjoy their visit
preparing and serving drinks like tea, coffee or juice
operating coffee machines
taking customers’ orders and giving recommendations
cleaning the counter, machines and seating area
restocking coffee, milk, cups and other essential supplies
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
BBC Bitesize – Jack talks us through his journey into a barista role
Artisti Coffee Roasters YouTube video – check out these barista job-hunting tips
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Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Barista'
Select qualification level(s)
Other careers that you might like
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Kitchen porter
Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
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Food and drink -
Tourism and hospitality -
Retail
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- listening
- adaptability
- positive attitude
- verbal communication
- time management
- cooperating
- attention to detail
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Maths (Mathematics)
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English
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Skills for Work: Hospitality
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Foundation Apprenticeship: Food and Drink Technologies
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Foundation Apprenticeship: Hospitality
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
You don’t need any specific qualifications to start working as a barista. Although, there are a few ways you can get into this career.
Work
You can become a barista through applying directly with an employer.
Most workplaces will provide on-the-job training. Your application will stand out if you have previous customer service experience.
Use the My World of Work job search to look for vacancies.
Apprenticeships
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) mean you learn on the job. You’ll get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time. You might want to consider an MA in:
College
Getting qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND, could help you find a job. Useful subjects include:
Hospitality
Hospitality Operations
Professional Cookery
Hospitality Management
Use the My World of Work course search to find HNCs or HNDs.
Customer service skills are valuable to employers. Volunteering in a relevant role can help you build the skills and experience you’ll need to become a barista. Search for opportunities on Volunteer Scotland.
Good numeracy skills are important as you may have to work out customers’ bills.
Find the right course for you
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Barista'
