B for barista coffee expert

Barista - the coffee expert at the espresso machine

Preparing a high-quality coffee is a real art. After all, there are a few points to consider if you want a delicious espresso with a beautiful crema to flow out of the portafilter machine. The type of coffee, roasting, pressure and temperature are just a few examples.

The barista knows all these factors inside out, because he or she is the person at the coffee machine and prepares the delicious drinks for the customers. The word itself comes from the Italian and initially meant nothing more than bartender. However, the term is now firmly associated with the preparation of delicious coffee specialties in a café.

A good barista coffee expert not only masters the preparation of specialties such as cappuccino, latte macchiato or espresso, but should also have a lot of theoretical knowledge about coffee. They must be able to advise customers on the various coffee beans and know the differences in taste they bring. Decorating the drinks with so-called latte art is also part of his skill set. Because a heart, a leaf or even more elaborate symbols on the milk foam are guaranteed to put a smile on the faces of guests.

The last aspect of a barista's daily work is the care and maintenance of their equipment. Here, too, he or she must know which points are important. After all, good equipment for a barista is associated with enormous costs and only professional care will ensure a long service life.

How barista training works

There is a wide range of seminars and training courses for baristas. For example, the SCAE (Speciality Coffee Association of Europe) offers the so-called Coffee Diploma System (CDS), which is also recognized internationally. Six months of practical experience is required before the seminar can be completed. This is followed by another 12 months of work before the certificate is finally issued. In addition to theoretical content on coffee, the training also covers extensive practical content on the operation, maintenance and cleaning of barista equipment.