How to Become a Barista
If you want to become a barista then there are a large number of training courses you can do to become qualified. You can even do a City & Guilds qualification now. The afore mentioned is a level 2 award in Barista Skills and will help you if you want a qualification to work as a barista.
Before you even enrol on a course then go to as many coffee shops as you can, what coffee do you like? What do you see baristas doing that you like? Also read up on coffee so that you have a good basic understanding of coffee beans and the process of producing coffee. But what should you look for when booking a course?
Course Content
If you don’t want to spend too much money then look at joining a company that will train you on the job. If however you do want to do a training course then do check out the content. You need to become qualified on how to steam milk, grind coffee beans and understand coffee machines that will enable you to produce the best coffee. Essentially you need to become an expert on how to produce the finest espresso. This will require you understanding how to calibrate a coffee grinder, use good dosing techniques, tamp coffee and get the prefect extraction! Now you know why there is a City & Guilds in this!
In addition to the above a good training course should provide you with a training manual with training videos so you can always relook at aspects again. Also as a barista look for a course that doesn’t just cover espressos. Ideally you want to know about ristretto, macchiato, americano, cappuccino, mocha and of course a UK favourite- the café latte. An increasingly popular coffee is also the flat white so see if the course you are looking for covers that.
Certificate
When you complete the course also make sure that you receive a certificate that you have been trained. Also, many course are not just for those who want to work as a barista. Many courses welcome people who simply want to make better coffee at home. So also a great idea for a special present for somebody.
What Makes A Great Barista?
But qualifications apart, what make a a great barista?Well first of all you do need to love coffee and have a palate for it.This is crucial as you will need to be able to adjust your brews accordingly. Plus you will need to be able to work quickly, on your feet, and also have great attention to detail.