A carer as a barista can take you practically anywhere, opening up job opportunities all over the world. But in order to master the coffee arts, you need to have a solid understanding of the essential barista skills. A barista course in Sydney can help you learn the basics and then enhance them to become the best. Let’s explore 6 of the crucial skills you’ll need to kickstart your barista career.
1. Espresso Extraction
If you want to make a great coffee, you need to understand how to extract the perfect espresso. While it may seem like the coffee machine does most of the work, the machine is only as good as the operator. Intricate details such as grind size, water temperature and pressure can all impact the coffee’s taste, and no amount of milk, sugar or flavouring will help.
A barista course in Sydney helps you understand the science behind espresso extraction and gives you hands-on training so you can practice doing it the right way. Once you master this, you’ll consistently pull delicious espresso shots.
2. Milk Texturing
For coffees that include milk, you’ll need to become highly skilled in milk texturing. Creating a silky smooth microfoam is crucial for coffees such as lattes, cappuccinos and flat whites. Ideally, you want the milk to have a velvety texture to enhance the taste and make it easier to produce latte art.
A barista training course teaches you how to steam milk to the correct temperature and texture. With plenty of hands-on training, you can perfect your technique to create bubble-free, smooth microfoam.
3. Latte Art
While not absolutely essential in every job you might perform as a barista, learning how to create latte art certainly takes you to another level of skill and employability. Latte art takes time and practice to get right, as you need to understand how the milk interacts with espresso. You’ll also need a steady hand.
During a barista course, you can learn the nuances of latte art such as pour speed and milk temperature, as well as how to make specific patterns such as hearts and rosettas. Not all baristas can create latte art, so developing this is a good way to set you apart from the crowd.
4. Coffee Bean Knowledge
Coffee beans have different origins, varieties and roast profiles, and it can be difficult to remember them all. Learning the theory behind different coffee beans, their flavours, and their processing methods gives you a more rounded knowledge of the coffee industry as a whole.
A barista training course teaches all you need to know about coffee beans, allowing you to make specialist recommendations to customers based on their preferences. This knowledge absolutely sets you apart from less knowledgeable baristas who can’t offer the same premium service.
5. Machine Maintenance
When working as a barista, machine maintenance ticks two very important boxes. Firstly, you need to understand how to look after a coffee machine to keep it in top working order. Secondly, Australia has strict Food Safety laws, and keeping your coffee machine and work area clean is essential to meeting these requirements.
Not only does a barista training course help you identify all parts and components of espresso machines and grinders, but it also helps you understand the daily, weekly and monthly maintenance processes required for coffee equipment. From simple cleaning practices to even performing basic repairs, your barista training will hold you in good stead to handle any equipment issues that come your way while maintaining a safe, healthy workplace.
6. Customer Service
All baristas need the skills listed above in order to make great beverages. But the reality is that most baristas don’t just stand at a coffee machine all day. They interact with customers, take orders, and the best ones even recommend drinks based on a regular customer’s preferences. In terms of enhancing your employability and developing a reputation for excellence, great customer service is paramount.
Barista training courses often use role-playing exercises and real-world scenarios to help you develop the interpersonal skills needed to be a great barista. Remember, not all customers will love your work, so knowing how to handle difficult customers or complaints is essential.
Enhancing Your Barista Skills in Sydney
If there’s one thing that Sydneysiders love, it’s their coffee. They also love highly skilled and knowledgeable baristas who can enhance their daily coffee experience. A barista training course in Sydney teaches you the theory behind being a great barista and gives you plenty of practical experience in all aspects of the role. From extracting espresso to providing exceptional customer service, training courses are the best way to prepare for a long and rewarding career. If you’d like to book a barista course in Sydney, contact the team at Coffee School today for a range of accredited and non-accredited course options.
