I have seen a few posts on this topic, but theyre quite out dated now. I wonder what would be the going rate for hiring a top class Barista in 2012? Not talking about minimum wage workers, but for someone that has the looks, the experience for making consistent shots after shots in a busy environment and of course be able to put latte art on the cup.
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Barista wage 2012
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Re: Barista wage 2012
I really dont know the answer but have heard figures from $16-$40/hr
...not many get the pointy end and typically they have to create a lot of business to get the big bucks.
Are you asking the question to know what to ask for in a new job?
Full time, part time, casual will also make a big difference to the cafe owner. Paying you top dollar in the quiter parts of the day can be hard to justify.
If you are "that good" then why not see if you can work on a unit price. I dont know if its legal but a set figure of say 70c a cup might be a win-win for both the owner and the barista in a busy cafe as long as you were happy to work for $60hr when you were getting pumped and then work a few hours at $7hr when it was quiet.
Of course this is the math that the owner is doing to justify a full time wage anyway.
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Re: Barista wage 2012
Yep, Campos will even pay more than that for a full-time, gun barista. However most places in Sydney typically offer between $20-$25 per hour.Originally posted by 3A313D352320323531233C3529500 link=1337605623/2#2 date=1337655270I saw Campos advertised for a barista in a new company owned shop and they were offering $60-$65,000
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Re: Barista wage 2012
Thanks Dennis for bringing some realism to this. ("...typically offer between $20-$25 per hour....")
I have seen enough scenarios of espresso machine operators wanting big bucks, but their performance fell short of the expectation and they didnt last long.....
This really is an individual thing negotiated between individuals (proprietors and "baristas"), and from the experienced proprietor point of view it goes something like ".....prove it..." (that you are worth the money). A quick trial will sort it out.
The problem is, that there are enough "newcomer cafe proprietors" with no experience, that rely on employing someone that presents as being a "gun", and they are more likely to deliver a demanded pay rate which in turn delivers a false impression on rates to the market.
You also have the age old psychological effect of employees inflating in conversation with others, what they are really being paid and their nett worth as a barista, by a considerable margin. In short....who do you believe?
I dont know how you get a genuine answer (in terms of $) to this topic. And of course, a "gun" barista is not just an espresso machine operator. He/she is an ambassador to the business, keeps the established clients, brings new business, and increases the dollar spend from the captive clients. Its an attitude / ethic that you either have or you dont have, and that has nothing at all to do with snobbish bad attitude as in...."attitude".....
There arent many of those around.
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Re: Barista wage 2012
Originally posted by 0629233E470 link=1337605623/1#1 date=1337654095f you are "that good" then why not see if you can work on a unit price. I dont know if its legal but a set figure of say 70c a cup might be a win-win for both the owner and the barista in a busy cafe as long as you were happy to work for $60hr when you were getting pumped and then work a few hours at $7hr when it was quiet.
Probably not 100% kosher on a normal employer-employee barista deal, but would certainly be ok if the employer paid whatever the obligatory bare minimum hourly wage is + a smaller per unit bonus.
I suspect a number of the baristas who do singificantly better than average are probably doing a fair bit of managerial work too (certainly the 3 or 4 I know are in that category...not a big sample though).
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Re: Barista wage 2012
Very informally (and may take a number of forms)......and obviously the person deciding it has to know their stuff. I was just commenting on the legality of potentially paying an employee less than the hourly minimum.Originally posted by 7A594A4A41677C4D565B5956380 link=1337605623/6#6 date=1337668679How do you give a bonus for quality?Originally posted by 282E322C29362A2B450 link=1337605623/5#5 date=1337668202+ a smaller per unit bonus.
Barryd.
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Re: Barista wage 2012
Thanks for the answers so far guys.
Nope, Im planning to open a new cafe soon so Im researching for the figure now. Preferably to get a full time barista. Right now we have a cafe but not really concentrating on coffee, so the staffs are more of an allrounder rather than dedicated barista, so I thought to ask and get some ideasOriginally posted by 426D677A030 link=1337605623/1#1 date=1337654095Are you asking the question to know what to ask for in a new job?
$20-25 is a reasonable. Hopefully inclusive of sick leaves / super etc.
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Re: Barista wage 2012
I agree but I like the concept.Originally posted by 77716D73766975741A0 link=1337605623/5#5 date=1337668202Probably not 100% kosher
I think as long as you were over the minimum wage for the week then it would be fine.
eg:
If $16/hr is the minimum hourly rate then as long as an 8 hour shift is more than $130 then it would be legal.
So:
7am-10am - 200 coffees @ 0.70 = $140
10am-3pm - 50 coffees @ 0.70 = $35
$175 for the 8 hours = $22/hr
If the gun barista could attract another 100 coffees in the 10am-3pm slot (20 more an hour) then it becomes
7am-10am - 200 coffees @ 0.70 = $140
10am-3pm - 150 coffees @ 0.70 = $105
$245 for the 8 hours = $30.60/hr
Pay for performance instead of paying so the barista can spend half the day facebooking friends.
How many coffees a day do you think he/she will make?Originally posted by 706462627874736476767070110 link=1337605623/8#8 date=1337679934Im planning to open a new cafe soon so Im researching for the figure now. Preferably to get a full time barista.
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Re: Barista wage 2012
That is quite a good idea paying per cup made.
As many as possible of courseOriginally posted by 0D2228354C0 link=1337605623/9#9 date=1337681855How many coffees a day do you think he/she will make?
but Im aiming for 45kg / week as a minimum on weekdays, so that is about 450 cups / day. At $0.7 a cup, that might be a bit rich.. considering at peak hour, 2 baristas might be required. - One to pull shots and another for milk.
Actually which is more important? Shots / Milk barista? At least from customers perspective anyway.
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Re: Barista wage 2012
It depends on the size of your new business,If it was a small specialty cafe doing 200-300 coffees then you probably arent going to be turning over enough to warrant paying someone big dollars.
If it is a large operation with 2 or more coffee machines doing high volume+ plenty of food etc you might be able to pay your standout top class barista more money but I would be expecting them to manage the whole coffee operation and train staff too.
I think you will have your work cut out for you, there arent that many top class/competition level ones around and they mainly work for specialty cafes or are the face of certain coffee company signature stores or chains.
good luck.
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Re: Barista wage 2012
Wow lol if I were working by myself doing 45 kg mon-fri I would be flat out exhaustedOriginally posted by 726660607A76716674747272130 link=1337605623/10#10 date=1337684959As many as possible of course but Im aiming for 45kg / week as a minimum on weekdays, so that is about 450 cups / day. At $0.7 a cup, that might be a bit rich.. considering at peak hour, 2 baristas might be required. - One to pull shots and another for milk.
I would want a good hourly rate at least $25hr full time. You would most definately need 2+ baristas if you wanted your customers to be served with a good product and not have to wait too long for it either.
Probably add another minimum $3-$5hr for managing other staff/the coffee operations in general
Most top baristas who have worked in cafes for a long time can also allround.....cash register etc.
This my opinion anyways.
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Re: Barista wage 2012
At that work rate... pay em heaps. They will be getting smashed all day and if you are paying "average" they will nick-off to a softer job pretty quickly.Originally posted by 243036362C20273022222424450 link=1337605623/10#10 date=1337684959450 cups / day
Of course "both" is the answer but good milk is noticed by more (Australian) customers.Originally posted by 243036362C20273022222424450 link=1337605623/10#10 date=1337684959Shots / Milk barista?
It was just a random figure, the concept is the same though and might be a balance of minimum wage and a per cup bonus to encourage them to:Originally posted by 243036362C20273022222424450 link=1337605623/10#10 date=1337684959At $0.7 a cup, that might be a bit rich
a: care about quality (to keep customers)
b: generate new business (which will improve their bottom line)
c: generate more business (eg: sell the second cup)
d: lessen the freebies ;-)
The problem I have with minimum wage (or any fixed wage for that matter) is that it encourages minimum performance.
I heard once that the scottish hamburger place worked on the rule of 3s when pricing items.
1/3rd costs
1/3rd wages
1/3rd profit
...of course the "want fries with that?" or "upsize?" adds a higher % in the profit line but you get the idea.
Seems that not too many business owners want to share that much wage but if more did then they might find a more loyal work force that help build a business not just sponge from it.
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Re: Barista wage 2012
It depends on the equipment you are using, ie a Robur E with a temperature stable machine like a Linea, will not take much training so long as the person pulling shots is being supervised and has a consistent tamp. Milk on the other hand is harder to do consistently. There is lots more to account for when texturing milk and managing your flow, it definitely takes more mental organisation.Originally posted by 213533332925223527272121400 link=1337605623/10#10 date=1337684959That is quite a good idea paying per cup made.
As many as possible of courseOriginally posted by 0D2228354C0 link=1337605623/9#9 date=1337681855How many coffees a day do you think he/she will make?
but Im aiming for 45kg / week as a minimum on weekdays, so that is about 450 cups / day. At $0.7 a cup, that might be a bit rich.. considering at peak hour, 2 baristas might be required. - One to pull shots and another for milk.
Actually which is more important? Shots / Milk barista? At least from customers perspective anyway.
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