What Makes a Good Barista?
Photograph from journeyscoffee on Flickr
Last Saturday, Serious Eats member EtherMaiden asked, "What makes a good barista?" Cafe owner and barista ChelleyD01 gave this informative reply:
A good barista knows their customers drinks when they walk through the door. They know when milk is to temp without having to use a thermometer. They know that fresh, cold milk will bring good volume and best taste every single time rather than dank, reheated milk over and over again. They know that many steaming pitchers are needed as when flavor syrups are steamed WITH the milk, as opposed to being added cold, it brings a better flavor to the drink. They know that good, freshly ground beans are amazing and will gladly toss out pre-ground anything.
They know that light and air are a beans worst enemy. They know that breaking down your equipment at least 2 times a day for a thorough cleaning will always lead to a good pull and no build up of coffee oils. They know that a good to-go cup is paper but has a textured styrofoam outer layer so it is comfort to the touch and the lid fits tightly. They know that fake whip will dissolve into a greasy mess on top of any drink in a hot second. They know that coffee brewed into pots on a hot plate will taste like dreck in no time and any good shop uses thermal tanks to hold the fresh hot brew.
Lastly, they know that most of America doesn't know shit about coffee, the difference between a cappuccino and a latte but really, REALLY just want to sound like they do. We just smile, chat away and then make your drink correctly while letting you think you just ordered an cold banana cappuccino when its really an iced skim banana caramella latte that you ordered.
Even though I don't drink coffee, this gives me a greater appreciation of the service baristas perform for the coffee-loving masses. What's your idea of a good barista?
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10 Comments:
I can't stand that. "Most of America doesn't know shit about coffee."
That makes it sound like there one pure way to enjoy something. It's one thing if you say people don't want to try this highly refined way of making coffee. It's another to insult people to make it sound like people don't know what they like or dislike.
And if people like coffee, they like their coffee.
Telling people what they like is bullshit is NOT serious eats. It's seriously nutty.
foodinmouth at 10:21AM on 08/15/08
How can you start off so poorly with "A good barista knows their customers drinks when they walk through the door.". As if you order the same thing every time you go anywhere. Nothing drives me crazy like the coffee shop girl or dude thinking they are helping me by memorizing what I got the last few times. Take that extra effort and produce a drinkable cup of coffee, please.
And, I believe it is true that in the past Americans were below par when it came to coffee knowledge, they have come a far. And I think that most Americans now are as educated as anyone else on the globe when it comes to the European Coffee experience that Startbucks etc. attempts to emulate, and yes that includes Europeans.
seadkdc at 10:56AM on 08/15/08
First and foremost, a good barista makes a good cup of coffee. A barista can have the worst customer service in history but still make the best cup of coffee and people would still go to them. Soup nazi, anyone?
A good employee or ambassador for a coffee shop will be friendly to the customer which might involve knowing what they like to order, but they don't start making it as soon as you walk in the door. I hate it when someone behind the counter thinks they know what I want today based on what I ordered yesterday (and maybe the ten days preceeding as well). Joke with me that I've changed my order, sure, but don't assume that I'm going to order the same thing every time.
Another things that bothers me at the counter is when the attendants are so busy talking about their classes or whatever they did the previous evening and it's apparent that I, the customer (who has been known to tip for good service), want to get a cup of coffee and get out.
So, to sum up, a good barista makes a good enough cup of coffee that you want to come back for more...and hopefully has good customer service skills as well.
seakmdc at 11:44AM on 08/15/08
Wow, someone's getting a little too big for their britches!
SugarNSpice at 12:28PM on 08/15/08
Well, lets put it like this...if and when you make 6 figures a year NET selling COFFEE, have 2 successful cafes that have been open almost 10 years, won countless awards, have been featured in local news and newspapers on countless occasions and have traveled all over to sample different coffees, teas, techniques and bring in the best Fair Trade bean, then you can worry about my britches. When you can tell the roast and brand of a bean with your eyes closed just by scent (and I don't mean crap from Starsucks) and can tell when a hopper is off by a mere 1/4 ounce just by weight in your hand then you can decide when they are too big!
Toot my own horn? You bet your sweet ass. I have climbed mountains to get where I am and the knowledge that I have.
I guess I'm doing something right, aren't I??? Have another cup of Chase and Sanboring and call it a day, would ya?
ChelleyD01 at 12:49PM on 08/15/08
I agree with the "most Americans don't know shit about coffee" remark, but you can probably extend it to the world. Can you honestly say that 51% (a lowball "most") of Americans know a lot about coffee? Not 51% of SE readers, but picking any person on the street, at a gig, in bus, etc. 51%.
You'd be lucky if 25% of Americans really even truly care about how their coffee is made. I'd be surprised if "most" Europeans or Asians know a lot about coffee to the extent that if they were blindfolded or given cappucino or latte tossed in a cup, they'd know the difference.
I sure as hell wouldn't - I have no appreciation for the finer points in coffee despite being raised on blue mountain and pure Kona coffee. As long as it's not the faintest bit bitter, it's a job well done by the barista. I can't stand hot coffee and only drink my coffee iced and diluted by at least 1/3 with organic milk and some sugar or condensed milk - sign of a true non-coffee lover. If I do get a bitter cup, even after I've diluted it, I just pour the stuff out little by little and continue to add more milk and sugar until the bitterness goes away.
Cassaendra at 1:23PM on 08/15/08
"They know when milk is to temp without having to use a thermometer."
No! Bad bartender! bad!
steaming milk without a thermometer is just stupid; the difference between properly steamed milk and scalded, nasty milk is actually a pretty close one, and it really can't be felt by hand, especially if that hand's been handling hot mugs and been splashed with hot coffee for a few hours.
moreover, the old "hand on the bottom" trick is a real, real great way to burn the hell out of yourself.
bottom line, from a bartender that doesn't own, but actually WORKS regularly behind the bar--use a thermometer; it'll save your hands, and you won't look like a dick. also, perhaps equally importantly, you'll actually make good coffee, and for that your customers will thank you.
rasellers0 at 1:58PM on 08/15/08
Those are tremendous achievements! I would love to learn more about coffee, but your tone seemed so condescending. Almost as if "us Americans" don't have the intellect to learn about what great coffee is...maybe that could be a new venture for you.
I do admit I was snarky with my comment, I apologize, and such a tone was not called for and beneath me.
SugarNSpice at 2:06PM on 08/15/08
Apology accepted, Sugar. Now getchyerass over here and have some joe.
ChelleyD01 at 2:54PM on 08/15/08
@Chelley - I was just in Costa Rica and went on a tour of the Britt Plantation and also a much smaller outfit called Down to Earth. Both owners/operators explained that they would never recommend using dark roast beans (but they still sold it?) because in their opinion this signals that the beans could be lower quality and the dark roast masks any flaws. I ended up buying all medium roast and have been very happy, but is there any truth to their claim?
AliNC at 4:47PM on 08/15/08