Understanding the Role of a Barista
A barista is someone who prepares coffee beverages. The term barista originated from the Italian word for bartender and is used for both men and women. In Italian, barista is a gender neutral term used for bartenders of any gender.
Baristas are skilled at operating espresso machines to prepare shots of espresso. Making high quality espresso drinks requires expertise. Baristas may also prepare other coffee beverages like drip coffee or lattes. The level of automation versus manual preparation varies across coffee shops. Some larger chains like Starbucks have more automated machines, but good baristas still need specialized skills like milk frothing and latte art even with some automation.
Baristas take customer orders, prepare customized coffee and espresso drinks to order, process payments, and keep their work areas clean. Baristas should have strong customer service skills as they interact closely with patrons. Knowledge of coffee and skill in preparing various coffeehouse beverages is also essential.
Gender Neutral Terminology in Coffee Industry
There is no official male form of the word barista. Some people have suggested terms like "baristo" or "baristi" to refer to a male barista specifically, but these are not commonly used. The coffee industry has become more inclusive, so specifying gender with different terms is becoming less common. Barista has become the standard gender-neutral term used industry-wide.