is a barista certificate useful

Jenna Gottlieb chats with barista trainer Vicki Hart to find out whether formal training beats hands-on experience when it comes to working at a coffee shop.

Each day, hundreds of millions of consumers around the world depend on professional baristas for their daily cups of coffee. Among other things, they rely on them to produce an enjoyable and consistent drink by applying their skill, knowledge, and experience.

It makes sense, then, that anyone aspiring to be a professional barista requires some degree of formal training. Sometimes, this might be an informal orientation period at a small coffee shop, but typically, people invest time and money in dedicated barista courses.

In fact, these courses are more popular than ever, partially thanks to the continuing expansion of specialty coffee, but also because of the Covid-19 pandemic. People didn’t stop drinking coffee when they were forced to stay home – in reality, many delved into the wealth of coffee knowledge available online.

Taught by experienced coffee professionals, many barista programmes enable existing professionals to progress all the way to barista competitions. However, there are now courses available for aspiring baristas of all levels.

Courses are ideal for people who want to learn about the coffee brewing process step by step. Classes generally teach crucial skills like good dosing techniques, how to tamp coffee, and what it takes to properly calibrate a coffee grinder.

Many of these courses are offered by roasters, but others are taught at Specialty Coffee Association-certified training centres. Over the decades, these schools have produced thousands upon thousands of coffee professionals, many of whom still work in the industry.

Modern baristas are more respected as coffee professionals, partly thanks to the publicity afforded by competitions like the World Barista Championship. In turn, this is encouraging more people to pursue this as a career.

However, with so much free coffee knowledge available on the web, some in the industry are beginning to question the necessity – and the cost – of formal barista training.

By completing a barista course you will gain a variety of valuable skills not only limited to coffee-making but a wider range of aptitudes and knowledge that you will carry with you for years after, regardless of where your path takes you.

What are the benefits of barista courses?

Like in any trade, many baristas learn their trade exclusively on the job, often from a young age. However, some of the intricacies and subtleties of coffee require genuine insight.

“I have found that learning only on the job, due to the busy environment you are working in and the pressure of the customers being present, teaches you the process of making coffee – but not necessarily the understanding of what you are doing,” says Vicki Hart, who leads barista training courses at Limini Coffee.

“The advantage of a barista course is that not only do you get to practise the physical side of making coffee, but also the reasoning behind it. Some of the most important things – like extraction time, grind size, dosage, and freshness – often get left behind when learning on the job.”

In her experience, it’s far more fruitful for prospective baristas to learn in an environment where they’re free to make mistakes, ask questions, and explore ideas.

“This leads to a better barista, as they have the confidence and knowledge to know if their coffee is the best it can be, and the know-how to problem solve and fix any issues,” she adds.

Some of the many skills taught by barista courses are the ability to create latte art, problem-solving, an intricate knowledge of grinder settings, and proper cleaning and maintenance procedures.

Furthermore, students learn about the history behind coffee processing, roasting, and brewing techniques. This explains why training is often held at roasters, as this allows the students to learn about the entire journey of the coffee bean from bean to cup.

On a higher level, barista courses can also help aspiring competitors to hone their craft. Often, this can enable them to break through into other areas of the coffee industry, such as management, quality control, sourcing, and roasting.

Finally, it’s important to remember that the coffee industry is evolving quicker than ever before. Stakeholders are grappling with climate change and social issues to create a better coffee supply chain, and technology is innovating at an incredible rate.

Baristas aren’t immune to this change – in fact, it’s vital for all coffee professionals to stay abreast of the latest trends and technologies, whether that means learning to embrace superautomatic espresso machines or discovering the next best coffee cocktail.

Barista do’s and don’t’s when making coffee

FAQ

Is it worth doing a barista course?

Do baristas need to be certified?

Is SCA certified worth it?

What is the best degree for barista?

What is a barista certification?

A Barista Certification is a professional qualification that demonstrates an individual’s knowledge and skills in making espresso-based drinks and other coffee beverages. It is typically issued by a specialty coffee organization or employer to demonstrate proficiency in the field of barista work. Q2. How long does it take to get Barista Certified?

What is the SCA barista skills professional certificate?

The SCA Barista Skills Professional Certificate is a certification program designed to help baristas gain the knowledge and skills necessary to become a professional barista. The program consists of two modules: Introduction to Coffee and Barista Skills.

What can a barista do?

Barista Competitions and Judging: Baristas with exceptional skills can compete in barista competitions or become judges in coffee competitions. Own a Coffee Business: Some baristas choose to start their coffee-related businesses, such as opening a coffee shop, mobile coffee cart, or coffee roastery.

What is the best program to learn to be a barista?

Selected by our experts as the best program overall to learn to be a barista is the Speciality Coffee Association. This company goes in-depth in its classes, offering a Coffee Skills Program with recognized professional standards, and upon completion of the course, baristas receive a diploma touting their expertise in coffee making.