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Social ServiceISCO 5132

Barista

A barista is a person who prepares speciality coffee on professional equipment in a cafe, bar or other hospitality outlet. The work combines the craft of making coffee with serving customers.

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Rate 5 of the 20 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

educate customers on tea varieties

maintain relationship with customers

greet guests

handle customer complaints

upsell products

About barista

Making the coffee is the first part. The barista grinds, doses and extracts espresso, steams milk, and keeps the grinder and the machine adjusted as the beans and the room change through the day. The same person serves tea, so knowledge of tea varieties belongs to the job as much as knowledge of coffee.

Advising the guest is the second part. The barista advises customers on the coffee and tea on offer, explains what distinguishes one origin or roast from another, and teaches customers about tea varieties when they ask. Those conversations also sell: the barista recommends the drinks and the retail products that fit what the guest already likes, which raises sales revenue without pressure.

The counter has to run as well. The barista builds relationships with regular customers, follows the opening and closing procedures at both ends of the shift, and works as part of a hospitality team alongside the kitchen, the floor and the bar. The barista also knows the menu well enough to suggest additional drinks and products.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (20)

comply with food safety and hygienecomply with food safety and hygieneRespect optimal food safety and hygiene during preparation, manufacturing, processing, storage, distribution and delivery of food products.educate customers on tea varietieseducate customers on tea varietiesInstruct customers about origins, characteristics, differences in flavours and blends of tea products.maintain relationship with customersmaintain relationship with customersBuild a lasting and meaningful relationship with customers in order to ensure satisfaction and fidelity by providing accurate and friendly advice and support, by delivering quality products and servic...greet guestsgreet guestsWelcome guests in a friendly manner in a certain place.handle customer complaintshandle customer complaintsAdminister complaints and negative feedback from customers in order to address concerns and where applicable provide a quick service recovery.upsell productsupsell productsPersuade customers to buy additional or more expensive products.handover the service areahandover the service areaLeave service area in conditions which follow safe and secure procedures, so that it is ready for the next shift.set up the coffee areaset up the coffee areaSet the coffee area so that it is ready and in conditions which follow safe and secure procedures, so that it is ready for the upcoming shift.take food and beverage orders from customerstake food and beverage orders from customersAccept orders from customers and record them into the Point of Sale system. Manage order requests and communicate them to fellow staff members.maintain customer servicemaintain customer serviceKeep the highest possible customer service and make sure that the customer service is at all times performed in a professional way. Help customers or participants feel at ease and support special requ...work in a hospitality teamwork in a hospitality teamFunction confidently within a group in hospitality services, in which each has his own responsibility in reaching a common goal which is a good interaction with the customers, guests or collaborators ...maintain equipment for non-alcoholic drinksmaintain equipment for non-alcoholic drinksOperate and care for the coffee and espresso machine and blending and juicing equipment. Thoroughly clean the machinery at the end of each business day.maximise sales revenuesmaximise sales revenuesIncrease possible sales volumes and avoid losses through cross-selling, upselling or promotion of additional services.work according to recipework according to recipePerform tasks in food preparation according to recipe or specification in order to preserve the quality of ingredients and to ensure replication accuracy of the recipe. Select the appropriate material...prepare specialised coffeeprepare specialised coffeePrepare coffee using specialised methods and equipment. Ensure a high quality preparation process.educate customers on coffee varietieseducate customers on coffee varietiesInstruct customers about origins, characteristics, differences in flavours and blends of coffee products.present decorative drink displayspresent decorative drink displaysShow drinks in the most attractive way and develop decorative drink displays.prepare hot drinksprepare hot drinksMake hot drinks by brewing coffee and tea and adequately preparing other hot beverages.execute opening and closing proceduresexecute opening and closing proceduresApply standard opening and closing procedures for bar, store or restaurant.check deliveries on receiptcheck deliveries on receiptControl that all order details are recorded, that faulty items are reported and returned and that all paperwork is received and processed, according to the purchasing procedures.
Optional (2) — show
ensure maintenance of kitchen equipmentensure maintenance of kitchen equipmentGuarantee coordination and supervision of cleaning and maintenance of kitchen equipment.apply foreign languages in hospitalityapply foreign languages in hospitalityUse the mastery of foreign languages orally or written in the hospitality sector in order to communicate with colleagues, customers or guests.

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a barista do?

Barista's prepare specialised types of coffee using professional equipment in a hospitality/coffee shop/bar unit.

What skills does a barista need?

A barista needs 20 essential skills, including comply with food safety and hygiene, educate customers on tea varieties, maintain relationship with customers, greet guests, handle customer complaints.

Will AI replace barista jobs?

The AI disruption score for barista is 40/100 (moderate risk). Skills most exposed to automation: upsell products, prepare hot drinks, maintain customer service. Most resilient: handover the service area, work in a hospitality team, comply with food safety and hygiene.

Quick Facts

SectorSocial Service
ISCO GroupPersonal service workers
Essential Skills20

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