When we talk about a barista, the image of a charming person preparing and pouring delicious coffee while making small talk with their customers pops up in our mind automatically, right? However, this is a highly romanticised version of the job.
In reality, baristas have to fulfil several duties in an intense environment. The morning rush in a coffee shop can be incredibly overwhelming and can take a toll on your physical and mental health.
This blog post will walk you through some major challenges of a barista job. We will also find out if it is worth it or not. Read on!
What are the Duties of a Barista? Are they Challenging?
If you are planning to become a full-time barista, it is important to know the complete realities of the job.
Here are some common duties (apart from preparing beverages) that almost every barista has to perform:
1. Demanding work hours
Coffee shops receive the maximum number of customers during the morning hours. This means that baristas have to wake up before sunrise, get ready for work, and reach the coffee shop before the morning rush begins - usually before 7 A.M.
You can find this role challenging if you aren't a morning person. Not only this, but baristas usually have to work till evening.
2. Physical labor
Baristas spend most of their time standing behind counters, greeting customers, and slinging coffee. This takes a toll on their physical health and can cause issues like backache, sore feet, wrist injuries, etc.
Many baristas claim that they experience neck aches from looking down for an extended amount of time while preparing beverages. Some of them also confirmed experiencing wrist pain and muscle strain at one point.
3. Dealing with demanding and sometimes “rude” customers
Baristas are expected to smile and make small talk with their customers.
While there is no issue with this, doing this for long hours can be exhausting and overwhelming, especially if you are an introvert. Moreover, some customers can be too difficult and downright rude.
4. Managing inventory
Apart from the physical and social aspects of the job, baristas are also required to do some additional work. This includes keeping a track of inventory, smartly managing the stock of ingredients, and ensuring minimum wastage.
The Major Pros and Cons of Having the Job of a Barista
Being a barista is indeed challenging. However, it's not all bad. There are certain benefits of this job too.
In this section, we will take a closer look at some major pros and cons of a barista job.
Pros:
- You will learn the art of preparing different kind of delicious coffee
- No boring dress code or restrictions on tattoos or piercings. You are free to carry yourself the way you want to.
- Opportunity to earn decent hourly wages and extra tips depending on the customers
- Depending on where you work, you can also get flexible working hours
- You don't need a college degree or formal education to get the job
- Free coffee all day, every day!
Cons:
- Early mornings
- Demanding work hours
- Excessive physical work can harm your health
- Poor work-life balance
- Repetitive job
How Much Time Does it Take to Become a Skilled Barista?
Generally, you will need basic knowledge and an industry experience of 1 to 3 months to get the hang of your job as a barista. However, this time can be more depending on the skills required by your workplace.
For example, if you want to work in a highly popular and specialty coffee shop, you may need to have deep knowledge and experience of 1 to 2 years to be considered a suitable candidate.
Conclusion
While being a barista can be interesting and “fun,” in its own way, it is also stressful and challenging. The job requires you to remember innumerable coffee recipes, be on your toes at all items, make small talk with customers, smile often, keep an eye on equipment, manage stock, and whatnot!
So, make sure to be mentally and physically prepared before choosing this as a career.
If you are a social bird, love chatting and meeting with different people, and enjoy preparing beverages (and free coffee!), the job of a barista can be the right fit for you.
We, at The Miners Coffee, are looking for talented baristas. We will provide you with proper training before you start the work. Not only this, but all our employees also get company benefits and enjoy excellent work-life balance.
Sounds exciting? Reach out to us at career@theminers.eu to learn more!