How to become a barista?

Hey Erik! I've been a barista for over 5 years and I would love to answer your question. First, let’s be clear, what is a barista? The barista is the person operating the coffee machine and making different coffees, of course. But the job also includes steaming milk, maintaining the equipment and the area clean, keeping up with the fast-paced environment as well as making sure all the coffee that is being served meets the required standards. While you don’t need any formal qualifications to become a barista, getting some basic barista training will be a good start. Getting guidance from experienced professionals gives you the basic knowledge that is essential for preparing coffee. Like the correct grind, extraction time, and milk-steaming technique. That being said, many cafes offer some barista training as a part of the job. Even though this theoretical knowledge is essential to get you started, the best way of becoming a great barista is to practice your skills. The more coffees you’ll make the better you’ll get at your job. When I was starting, I found it really helpful to learn from my other, more experienced colleagues who showed me the ropes. Being a home barista is a great opportunity to practice too. So make coffee for your family and friends, you’ll become better at it over time.