Barista = drinks + dishwashing + moping + vacuuming ??

[Abhishek]

Thanks guys!
I have heaps to learn and need mentors like you.

I just finished my last shift at this Cafe. Now off to look for a weekend job close to my home where I can pump out more coffees and be an experienced barista

[Dragunov21]

To be fair, I think the level of skill required for the two roles is not really comparable...

Perhaps, but they're both skills that must be practised to be able to produce consistent, quality work in a timely manner and that do allow a substantial level of differentiation between "capable" and "mastery". They're similar enough to illustrate a point.

As and aside, I've seen just as many iriots calling themselves "IT professionals" as "baristas". Usually chuck "security" in the middle right before they whip out Malwarebytes and CCleaner and then find themselves lost and having to call for backup...

[TC]

I think there is a difference in "calling themselves" and "being qualified". I'm not calling myself barista because I can make a cup of coffee; I call myself barista because I'm qualified with an advanced level certificate.

Hi Abhi,

All noble, but no certificate can teach you the skills required to become a barista.

A course can certainly give you a start but I can assure you that if you do get work at the right place and can develop your coffee knowledge, your experience and your palate, hindsight will come into play many, many years from now. Perhaps you will then be a barista.

Let's talk about it after your first few hundred thousand fantastic cups.

Enjoy the ride...It's a blast!

Chris

[MrJack]

To be fair, I think the level of skill required for the two roles is not really comparable...

[Dragunov21]

If that's the case, it sounds like you could probably find a place that better utilises your talents.

Availability will be your biggest hurdle, I suspect.

[Abhishek]

Hahahahahhaha! Good question I think we are jumping the gun here.

I think there is a difference in "calling themselves" and "being qualified". I'm not calling myself barista because I can make a cup of coffee; I call myself barista because I'm qualified with an advanced level certificate. I've worked in apprenticeship for 6 months making over a thousand cups. I think that does qualify me a barista.

To top it off, I grew up in filter coffee household, with coffee plantations in Coorg and Mangalore under my family's name.

And this is my first job in an independent cafe (I've worked at franchisee before), and I felt the responsibilities were different. That's it.

And yes, if a qualified developer joins my IT company, we do call him developer not hobbyist coder.

[STS]

I just came back home after a long shift of dishwashing, vacuuming, moping, and making about 20-30 drinks in a cafe where I work as a part time barista apart from my IT day job.

I took part time barista work to polish my coffee skills and learn a bit more about this sweet drug, but I feel that there is not enough coffee making work in the evenings and we (baristas) end up doing just cleaning and housekeeping. Is this a normal practice everywhere?

I'm interested that you consider yourself a barista. If a barista took a part time job in your industry to polish their self taught IT skills and learn a bit more about computers would you be happy with them calling themselves an IT professional?

[Abhishek]

I think I'm coming off as a bit negative here guys.

It's not my intention to complain, but to find out if this is the case with all new baristas. After working for 8 weeks, I thought it is an appropriate time to pop this question in the forum and so I did.

I do understand that beginners go through hardships, but sometimes they also get used. And from a business point of view, for many, it makes sense to use any resource available at hand (baristas/chef) vs. hiring housekeeping staff at non-peak hours.

[Dragunov21]

There's nothing wrong with helping out, but I think you have a right for your job to be as described.

That an entry-level barista role in non-peak hours includes all auxiliary tasks required to keep the place in working order should be common sense unless there are dedicated hands/cleaning staff.

I suspect it will be there in his contract.

[Dragunov21]

I completely agree.
Disappointed of the fact that these things are not made clear beforehand.

Welcome to the real world :P. Though just will say, plenty of people can talk the talk; I would say that the skillset of a head-barista would be just that - skill based, not just knowledge that can be picked up by anyone passionate enough to spend hours studying.

[JATALLO]

30 coffees a day is better then 0 coffees a day which subsequently you will be doing having left your part time job. I currently only have the opportunity to make and practise my barista skills at home in my own time which I love however I would be happy with a 5 hour weekend shift making only 30 coffees even if it involved cleaning duties. I guess it's been stated but any exposure to making coffee is still exposure and experience non the less. Good luck with your quest my friend.

[TC]

Barista is a very skilled profession...

Yes agreed. At the moment, you are/were learning to make coffee. You're not a barista yet!

Think Japan and sushi-chef- 7 years and then you might get to call yourself one...

Many/most who would call themselves baristi in Australia are patently not. Many with the requisite skills and experience don't need a tag. Their coffee speaks for them...

Baby steps (even if on the end of a broom for a while....)

[chokkidog]

Re "technical talk" know exactly what you mean, we certainly have a select group here that are able to debate any subject you like to choose ad nauseam, talk is cheap, guess what it all comes down to is, can you pull a decent shot?

Agreed, Yelta. The ability to "pull a decent shot"; to have a workflow Modus Operandi that gets the drinks to the customers
efficiently and maintaining a clean workstation. These things speak way louder than words about Total Dissolved Solids, Specific Gravity and Refractometry
and a few Other Things that spring to mind.. ( but can be found in certain threads on the wawaweb ;-D )

[Yelta]

Interesting! That's what I thought too.
But in a few countries including Canada, Denmark and USA - Barista is a very skilled profession. Recalling from my last trip I met some baristas who were in trade for more than a decade and could talk technical for hours about the TDS in their espresso.

Cant comment on Denmark or Canada, however have traveled the US extensively over many years and only on a couple of occasions have I met skilled barista's/baristi that even come close to Aussie standards.

Re "technical talk" know exactly what you mean, we certainly have a select group here that are able to debate any subject you like to choose ad nauseam, talk is cheap, guess what it all comes down to is, can you pull a decent shot?

[fatboy_1999]

I'm tipping that the ones who are professionals with in-depth knowledge were unlikely to have started out just making coffee.
You seem to think that being an IT professional has some bearing on wanting a specific role in hospitality. I don't think IT experience entitles anyone to skip over what the business owner deems necessary for the role.
Fair enough, you think the job definition should be clearer, but for the rate I am guessing you were earning, what did you realistically expect?

You seem to want a full on barista job with little or no experience. I cannot see it happening.

As said earlier, walk then run.