Ever consider landing a barista job in Australia?
You may have visited a coffee shop on Sunshine Coast and been wowed at the beautifully made and artistic coffees presented to you. You may wonder what course to take to acquire skills to brew a delicious latte or magical coffee.
Making coffee is both a hobby and an art. And do not forget that it is a respectable profession not only in Australia but in most countries across the world. For such reason, there is so much to learn about coffee. From grinding, roasting beans, steaming milk, and the ever-delicate latte art.
There are both pros and cons to having a job in coffee. It is fast-paced, continuous work, and can be tiring from working long hours on your feet. The good news is that you are never short of coffee to keep you going!
Read the guide below to find out how you can land your dream barista job in less than five hours.
What is a Barista?
We are sure that you hear the term all the time, but what is actually a barista?
A barista usually works in a café, coffee shops, bars, and restaurants. They prepare and serve different coffee types from espressos to lattes, mochas, flat whites, and cappuccinos. A barista’s main job role is to provide excellent customer service by efficiently taking customer orders, prepare and serve coffees, etas, and in some cafe’s light food and snacks. During peak hours, experienced baristas will be making coffees, whilst less experienced baristas will be front-facing customers. They will be taking orders and cleaning tables.
We listed a barista’s primary duties below to give you an idea of how their day in the workplace looks like. Please note that this may vary depending on where you work, but here are the most common barista duties:
- Greeting customers and taking orders
- Answering customer questions/queries
- Clean coffee equipment and work area
- Making different types of coffees and beverages, including espresso-based drinks, lattes, frappes, and fruit smoothies
- Grinding and extracting coffee beans
- Prepare and serve light food and snacks
- Creating and organising stock displays
- Keeping track of all stock and purchasing more when needed
- Upselling café products
Baristas are usually required to work early mornings, evenings, and even holidays to accommodate the rush of people getting their coffee fix. A typical barista shift is 6 to 8 hours, depending on the café opening and closing times. However, work shifts can be longer (can last up to 10 hours or more), and a lot of that time, baristas will be on their feet. Some baristas will also be required to work weekends, as these days tend to be busier for most coffee shops.
Your salary as a barista will depend on the coffee shop you work for and its location. As a new barista, you will most likely be paid by the hour.
On average, the hourly rate for a barista in Australia is between $25 and $29 per hour. The salary can range for entry to mid-level baristas may range from $46,000 to $52,000. While a highly experienced barista can make up to $57,769 per year.
Key Barista Qualifications
What qualifications or coffee courses do you need to land yourself a barista job?
It might be useful to take a Pro Barista training course.
Pro Barista – Complete Barista Training is a nationally accredited coffee course available in Sunshine Coast and Adelaide. It is an all-in-one intensive course that covers all topics relating to food safety and coffee.
This 5-hour coffee course will equip you with barista skills to become a fully qualified barista. It will take you through the essentials of food hygiene followed by an introduction to coffee (the science, art, and techniques) you will need to create an amazing coffee.
In 5 hours or less (depending on your level of training pick up), you will gain the coffee knowledge and practical hands-on experience you will need to launch your barista career. Pro Barista classes are typically small to guarantee all students receive a fully immersive training experience. You will get to practice and experiment with different milk types, as well all as different elements of coffee grinders and espresso coffee machines.
First, you will cover coffee craft followed by coffee-making organization and coffee machine operations. You will learn how to serve, pour, and present coffee, and you’ll also learn the proper way to clean and maintain a commercial espresso machine.
In less than five hours of successfully completing a Pro Barista Course, you will have everything you need to get started as a barista.
Develop Your Barista Career
You’ve got the job; now how can you progress and take your career to another level?
There is always room for progress in any type of job if you work hard and put in the effort. Over time, once you have gained experience and get the right certifications, there may be opportunities for you to become a head barista, store supervisor, or store manager. There really is no one or no blocker stopping you to work your way up if you put in the work.
Do you have what it takes?
There is a lot more to becoming a barista than meets the eye. You will need to acquire more skills than just turning on a coffee machine and handing the cup to the customer. Get trained and land a coffee job in Australia by taking a Barista Course in less than 5 hours.
