How to Become a Barista: Career Guide, Courses, After 12th, Jobs, Scope, Salary

What does a Barista do?

A Barista is someone who works alongside other staff in coffee houses, cafes, shops, bookstores or companies, to make good quality beverages and help them by serving food products. They interact with the customers in a well mannered manner.

Some of the job responsibilities a Barista can do are given below

• They prepare both hot and cold drinks for the customers and provide quality customer service to them
• They take orders, greet their customers and help them in completing transactions by registers and cards
• They maintain an inventory of prices of the items sold in the store
• They steam milk and measure the ingredients and help the other staffs in grinding coffees or espresso beans

Steps to Become a Barista

Students aspiring to become a Barista, can follow the listed steps for a better idea on the methods that should be taken up to become a Barista, 

• Step 1: Before starting your career as a Barista you must have to understand about the certificate they have to pursue, the training they have to take and the amount of work and education needed for this career.
• Step 2: After making your decision for this career. The first and foremost step is to choose their specialization as there are no such special courses. However, this job does not require any specific degree but having a certificate in beverage can boost your career.
• Step 3: You need to have a good score in your higher secondary or have a strong command on roasting beans and brewing techniques as they will help in their Barista job.
• Step 4: To start your career as a Barista you have to appear in some entrance test to get admission in the Undergraduate Course. However, some may get admission on the basis of 12th marks. Some may also obtain an OSHA food safety certificate for this career.
• Step 5: Choosing a recognised training institute is an important step in your Barista career. Students can check out various rankings released by different surveys related to course college. 
• Step 6: As if you are starting your career as Barista you don't need to have any work experience. But having an experience will help to upskill their profession. Candidates can consider some certificate degrees or food and beverage service jobs to be a reputable Barista.

Types of Baristas

Students after completing their 10th, 12th or higher level education can choose a Barista job as their career in India. This career will mainly depend upon their skills and abilities to make coffees and about different types of coffees. Given below are some of the types of Barista job roles: 

• Staff Barista: The job responsibility of a staff Barista is to prepare, serve drinks, coffees, tea, artisan and beverage. They clean and sanitize work areas, utensils and equipment. They provide menus and help them in suggesting products to the customers.
• Lead Barista: A lead Barista is someone who promotes the consumption of coffee products by educating their customers. They serve and sell baked items and different food products to their customers.
• Catering Coordinator: They manage the serving or catering department of the coffee shops, cafes or other food service provider. They oversee the food preparation and presentation and maintain the inventory.
• Bartender: A bartender is an individual who stands at the coffee shops to take the orders and helps in making drinks for the customers. They work in a variety of restaurants, coffee shops, bookstores and resorts.

How to Become a Barista in India

To start your career as a Barista in India from their School level is to start preparing for food and beverage and coffee making skills. The following are the various steps that will help in providing answers to how to prepare for a Barista career at school level.

School Level Preparation 

• At school level, students have to start their preparation with choosing a right stream, although there are no hard and fast rules required for the eligibility of a Barista
• They should be familiar with their coffee making knowledge.
• A Barista job needs customer service and multitasking, which they can focus on during school.
• They must hold good commands in their school subjects which will help students in their undergraduate course.
• They may also start preparing for the undergraduate entrance tests.

How to Become a Barista After 12th?

After finishing your school preparation, one of the career options for the candidates is to take admission in a bachelor course that would help them to get a job in the related discipline. Below we have discussed how to start your preparation for this career.

Undergraduate Preparation 

• During your undergraduate preparation, you can first start preparing for some

university level test to get admitted in their interested course.

• This could be any level of education from diploma to bachelor such as diploma in food and beverage or BSC in Food Safety Course.
• Students along with their school level Pr

preparation should start focusing on cash management, multitasking and customer service skills.

• Students can pursue food and beverage courses to know well about the food industry and beverages.

Post Graduation Preparation

• Most of the professionals who want to get specialization can opt for post-graduate courses.
• Having a master's degree helps them in getting higher positions with a good salary in the organisation.
• The candidates can pursue a PG diploma or master program for this profession. 
• The eligibility criteria for master's courses is having a bachelor degree with at least 50% marks from a recognized university
• After getting admission into the course, students can also look for different organisations who need a Barista for their coffee shops.

Courses to Pursue to Become a Barista

There are various types of courses available which an individual can pursue in order to be a Barista. Given below are the list of relevant courses for the same:

Certificate in Food and Beverage

Certificate in Food and Beverage is a basic level course of a duration of 6 months. 

• This course focused on training the students in baking, cooking several culinary, food safety and nutrition.
•  It deals with subjects like food and beverage management, operations of restraint, hygiene and sanitation and many more. 
• The total cost of pursuing this certificate course is around INR 10,000 to 50,000 depending upon the college. 

Admission Process

Admissions procedure for these diploma courses is done on the basis of marks in last qualifying exams. Some of the colleges offer direct admission while some may provide admission on merit basis. 

Eligibility Criteria

• Students must have a 10+2 or undergraduation degree from a recognized board or university
• Obtain a minimum aggregate of at least 55%

Entrance Exams: No entrance exams are conducted for Certificate in Food and Beverage Service program.

Diploma in Food and Beverage

Diploma in Food and Beverage Service is a diploma program of a duration of 1 year.

• This course will teach you about the knowledge of attributes of foods and services, hierarchy in food department, food industry, hotel and hospitality management etc.
• Institute of Hotel Management, Catering & Nutrition, SRM Institute of Hotel Management are some of the top colleges offering admission to this course. 
• The total cost of pursuing this course is INR 40,000 to 2 Lakhs. 
• After completing this course they get opportunities to work as Barista, chefs, research chefs with a salary of 25,000 to 40,000 per month.

Admission Process

Admissions to these diploma courses are done on the basis of merit marks. Candidates who are aspiring to get admission in this certificate college can apply for direct admission by both offline and online methods. Some of the college conducts an interview for admission

Eligibility Criteria

• Students must have cleared their 10+2 or equivalent level examination with at least 50% of marks or equivalent, from a recognized board.
• Graduates and postgraduate student are also eligible

Entrance Exams

No entrance exams are conducted for admission to the Diploma in Food and Beverage Service course.

BSc Food Science

Bachelor of Science in Food Science is a full time 3 year duration undergraduate course for those students who want to study all the food aspects starting from slaughtering to butchering. 

• In this course, students will be familiarised with food packaging, food microbiology, food chemistry etc. 
• The average cost of this undergraduate course is around INR 20,000 to 3 Lakhs depending upon the university or institutes. Andhra University, University of Science and Technology are some of the popular colleges for this course. 
• Students after graduating from this course can expect a salary between 2 to 4 Lakhs per annum.

Admission Process

Almost all the colleges offering food science courses offer admissions on the basis of marks in the last qualifying examination. Some of them may conduct a counselling and interview process for admission.

Eligibility Criteria

• The basic eligibility criteria for this is to have an aggregate marks of 50% in 10+2 from a recognized board
• Candidates from science stream are eligible for this course

Entrance Exam 

No entrance exams are conducted for admission to BSC food science courses.

BSc Food Technology

BSc Food Technology is an undergraduate program of a span of 3 years separated into 6 semesters. 

• The course primarily focuses on fundamentals of food processing, food analysis, food refrigeration, food microbiology etc. 
• The total fees of this course is INR 20,000 to 1 Lakhs. 
• After successfully completing the degree the students will get the opportunity to work as a Barista, biochemists, food technologist under various departments.
• The average annual salary can be anywhere between 3 - 4 Lakhs.

Admission Process

Most of the colleges offering this program provide admission on the basis of relevant entrance tests. Students after clearing the admission can get admission. However, some colleges offer either through merit marks of last qualifying exams or through direct basis.

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates must have done secondary levels of education from a recognized educational university
• They must have a relevant degree of study at the 10+2 level.
• At least 50% marks (45% for reserved category) is required.

How to Become a Barista Abroad?

Barista is a rewarding career all across the world. Students who prefer to pursue food and beverage courses abroad can get more advantage. For pursuing a career as Barista abroad one needs to clear certain prerequisites and various eligibility criteria.

The sections below will discuss them in detail for your reference,

How to Become a Barista in USA

To become a Barista in the USA, students don't need any specific degree however, they may pursue some degree courses in several specializations such as food and beverage, food safety or food technology etc.

Some of the key points of eligibility and other prerequisites to be kept in mind for becoming a Barista in USA are listed below,

• Be 10+2 qualified if applying for undergraduate courses.
• Have a good grasp in a english language
• Must have valid score in English Proficiency test scores
• Provide several test scores of SAT/ACT/GRE/GMAT 
• Submit IELTS, TOEFL or equivalent examination test scores
• The average course fees of pursuing these courses are INR 11 to 35 Lakhs depending upon the college

Some of the top universities that offers degree in Food Science and Food Technology in USA are tabulated below,

Top Colleges 

How to Become a Barista in UK

• Some specialisation degrees are food safety, food technology, food and beverage etc.
• The duration of following programs is upto 4 year.
• Applications needed to be submitted online in the university official website
• The average course fee is between INR 12 to INR 32 lakhs

Students applying for the programs in United Kingdom ought to meet the subsequent requirements,

• A Bachelor's degree in relevant field for graduate courses
• Should clear GRE or GMAT and other relevant exams. The average score card for clearing GMAT and GRE are 680 and 325 respectively
• Proof of English proficiency IELTS or TOEFL

Top Colleges

How to Become a Barista in Canada

To pursue Barista careers from Canada, students need to pursue intermediate in any stream with a relevant subject. Some popular courses are food technology, food safety, food and beverage, food and drink production etc

• Students need to have a valid degree in relevant specialization with 75% to 80%.
• At least one or two letter of recommendation from your academic professors
• Valid student visa, proof of your passport and citizenship certificates
• ELP Scores such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE

Top Colleges

How to Become a Barista in Australia

Australia offers full time food safety, food and beverage degree in both undergraduate and graduate

• Candidates have to submit their test scores of IELTS, TOEFL etc.
• Students must have a relevant subject at previous academic institutions
• At least two letters of recommendation
• tests scores of TOEFL between 82 to 100 and IELTS at least 6.5
• Valid student visa and relevant certificate, etc.
• The average course fee varies between INR 11 to INR 26 lakhs.

Top Colleges

Benefits of Becoming a Barista

Students who are good enough in customer service and have a good knowledge about coffee are well suited for this profession. The students having the drive for constant increase in job opportunities and a flair for having espresso and brewing techniques skills should go for this career. Below are given some of the valid reasons which will you in choosing this career

• Barista is a rewarding career so being a Barista is not just a challenging profession, but also has its own perks like learning opportunity, people orientation, business skills and the most important added value to the customers.
• Barista's career offers a lucrative salary with a decent pay package. An early Barista can start their career with a salary of INR 1.75 LPA and with experience the salary may increase upto 6 LPA.
• As we all know that the demand for coffee making is increasing day by day so the demand for Barista is also going to increase in the near future.
• The Positive impact of the career of having Barista in the market gives an opportunity to help their customers in providing coffee which help them in becoming stress free work life.
• Barista are those who not only check their customers' needs but also discuss their personal and professional life.

Skills Required to Become a Barista

To become a Barista you must hold some useful skills needed in this career. There are a variety of specializations one will attain to focus on on one side of the Barista. The following are some skills for a Barista career.

Salary of a Barista in India

The starting salary of a Barista in India varies from INR 1,50,000 to INR 3,00,000 LPA. The salary however may vary depending upon the types of organizations, gender, roles and how much experience a person has.