Home › Forums › Open Discussion › How do you get barista experience?
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November 22, 2009 at 5:43 am #593087
slinkydinkMemberI see lots of barista jobs but they all say “experience a must” so how do you get in the door?
November 22, 2009 at 9:39 am #682621
celeste17ParticipantI would just keep applying to espresso places and eventually you will get on. I would go to your favorite place and ask.
November 22, 2009 at 5:35 pm #682622
JustSarahParticipantYou have to start pretty low. I’m no longer a barista, but in high school I worked at a brand-new ice skating rink, usually in the concessions area. We had an espresso machine; not serious barista fodder at all, but I learned what the difference between the drinks was. Then I worked at a health-food store’s espresso bar, then an incredibly busy Starbucks, then Tully’s, and finally Cupcake Royale/Verite. At each step I gained different experience.
The best places want experienced baristas, but also personable people with great customer service skills and cleanliness/attention to detail.
I worked with one guy who was an amazing barista but was apathetic toward customers and thought he was above cleaning up after himself, both of which are big parts of the job – he didn’t last long. Keep that in mind, and good luck! If you work at an independent place and have the right combination of personality and skills, you can make decent money after tips.
November 22, 2009 at 6:44 pm #682623
JenVMemberhow I became a barista is that I had a friend who was one, and she agreed to teach me how to pull shots and steam milk to get experience. then I applied for a job, and claimed I had experience. :) I really enjoyed doing it, and was a full-time barista for about 2 years.
November 22, 2009 at 6:59 pm #682624
The Velvet BulldogParticipantYou can learn on your own what the different drinks are, then I’d at least try to find a friend with an espresso machine and pull some shots at their home. Granted, this is very different from a commercial machine, but you get a sense for steaming milk and putting the ingredients together. Are you a regular at any local independent coffee shops? I bet they’d let you hang out and watch how it’s done. You probably need a food handler’s license–if you get one, maybe a barista will let you duck behind the counter and pull some shots. I worked at a cart in Bellevue for one summer and it was plenty! Good luck!
November 22, 2009 at 9:19 pm #682625
IrukandjiParticipantMaybe you could talk with Tricia at Red Cup to see if she’d schedule a Barista Class. I bet if you got a couple friends together, she’ could probably set us a class and tasting… I better call her and tell her she’s being set up!
November 23, 2009 at 12:55 am #682626A barista needs to do more than just make drinks. Service is a must. Most times when people are going to get a caffeinated drink, they are in a big hurry and often in a bad mood (hence the need for caffeine).
Maybe you could get experience with high pressure, high stress environments.
November 23, 2009 at 3:28 am #682627
slinkydinkMemberThanks for all the tips guys!
November 23, 2009 at 9:14 pm #682628
girltraceyMemberThere is a barista training academy in Renton:
http://www.seattlebaristaacademy.com/
Also, ABC in Portland.
November 23, 2009 at 10:38 pm #682629
SueParticipantWow … that school in Renton essentially charges $500 per day for training!
November 24, 2009 at 3:25 am #682630
GenHillOneParticipanteegads…and it takes THREE HOURS (and $195) to teach me how to make my own coffee (not even espresso!) at home? *snort*
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