Being a barista is all about coffee, whether it’s preparing, roasting or using the espresso machine.
The coffee expert – a barista
In this country, a barista is a coffee expert. Usually the barista works in an espresso bar or a coffee shop. The barista not only takes care of the correct preparation of various coffee specialties. He (or she) also keeps an eye on the perfect roasting of the coffee beans, knows the technical finesse of the espresso machine and presents his coffee specialties in an appealing way. In short, coffee enjoyment is guaranteed with a qualified barista.
The training of a barista
The term originally comes from Italian and means bartender. In Italy, the barista is an apprenticeship. Here the activity includes the preparation and serving of all kinds of drinks and is not limited to the preparation of coffee specialties. At the international level, the meaning of the term barista has shifted and means exclusively a specialist in the preparation of espresso-based coffee specialties. But be careful, the term barista is not protected, so anyone can call themselves a barista.
In Italy, the barista is an apprenticeship.
There are also no binding standards when it comes to training baristas.
A life between art and technology – everyday life of a barista
The day-to-day work of a barista is as varied as the world of coffee. The barista is artist and technician at the same time. A barista knows everything about the right temperature, the right degree of grinding and the right pressure for an espresso machine. His work also requires extensive knowledge of coffee types, different roasting processes and a technical understanding of the professional maintenance of the espresso machines. In addition, the barista is communicative and knows how to sell his coffee specialties. But that’s not all, a barista can be a real artist.
Latte Art – the special art of coffee
Many know the barista not only as a specialist when it comes to coffee, but also as a creative artist when decorating the milk froth. This special art, which not all baristas can master, is called “latte art”. The milk froth serves as a canvas, on which true works of art are created with the help of stencils and pens. Whether simple symbols or entire images, the barista’s art is ephemeral, but precisely because of that it is beautiful. In addition to artistic talent, the right consistency of the milk froth and the optimal pouring of the milk into the cup are also crucial. The best artists regularly compete in competitions. Even world champions have been crowned.
