Barista
Also known as: specialised coffee bartender, coffee maker, coffee bartender, specialised bartender
About this occupation
Baristas prepare specialised types of coffee using professional equipment in a hospitality/coffee shop/bar unit.
A specialisation of bartender.
Essential skills and knowledge
- greet guests
- comply with food safety and hygiene
- take food and beverage orders from customers
- set up the coffee area
- present decorative drink displays
- execute opening and closing procedures
- upsell products
- maintain equipment for non-alcoholic drinks
- handle customer complaints
- work in a hospitality team
- check deliveries on receipt
- work according to recipe
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Baristas (O*NET 35-3023.01). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Clean or sanitize work areas, utensils, or equipment.
- Receive and process customer payments.
- Prepare or serve hot or cold beverages, such as coffee, espresso drinks, blended coffees, or teas.
- Take customer orders and convey them to other employees for preparation.
- Clean service or seating areas.
- Prepare or serve menu items, such as sandwiches or salads.
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Social, Conventional
Top skills: Active Listening, Service Orientation, Speaking, Monitoring, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination
US median pay: US$31,200 a year (2025), 3,854,050 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementVery important (3.6)
- Agriculture or Foods and NutritionO*NET: Food ProductionImportant (3.2)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageImportant (3.1)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Fast Food and Counter Workers
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
- Food Preparation Workers
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
- Waiters and Waitresses
- Cooks, Short Order
- Bartenders
- Cooks, Restaurant
- Cooks, Private Household
- Cooks, Fast Food
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.