About Me
- dark roaster
- I am the author of five outdoor guides, a novel, and a new collection of coffee culture stories. I spend my time making art in my coffeeshop and have a sincere desire to publish, and consult coffeeshops, diners and small restuarants on superior service and the highest quality food and beverages.
Signs Your Barista Cares
ReplyDelete(these actions can not always happen under extremely busy conditions or when a barista is having an off day [i.e. revels in a bad attitude])
He or she has a nice, sincere greeting when you come to the counter: “Hi. How are you today?” or “Good afternoon”.
Listens carefully to the order.
Gives the group and cup a rinse before making an espresso shot.
Lets the espresso flow momentarily to clean off any excess grounds from the porta filter.
Asks, “What kind of milk would you like?”
Asks, “How many espresso shots you want in a latte or cappuccino?” before starting the drink.
The espresso shot flows smoothly in a thin, circular brown and tan ribbon from the porta filter. A bad shot will literally gush forth or barely extract from the porta filter.
Pulls the shot(s) out from the group before the bitter end fills the cup.
Makes a drink over if it is not exactly right. Of course this cannot always be accomplished when the line is a dozen deep or the customer makes a wrong order then corrects herself.
Gives a bargain price or maybe, just maybe, a free drink to a friendly customer.
Designs latte art (a majestic aspen leaf, rosetta, or heart in the milk foam). It should be stressed that artful foam does not make a drink taste better.
Gives a warm-hearted compliment like “You look wonderful today.”
The barista asks again, “What’s in the drink?” when he is unsure of the order.
Puts a drink in the desired cup. Each customer needs the exact cup to fit in a car drink holder or favors ceramic mugs over glasses.
Makes a flat or extra hot or tepid or foamy drink and asks if it makes the customer happy. Not a scalding hot drink to a delicate child and lukewarm latte to dad.
Asks, “How much water or ice in an Americano.”
Asks if the customer wants room for cream.
Never reheats milk or chai; unless the customer asks for it, which will never happen.
Says, “Thank you” or “Appreciate it” when tipped.
Cleans empty glasses from your table, even when you are still seated.
Wipes off a cup or glass when milk or espresso is spilled on it.
The barista does not snicker or give a guffaw for special orders or decaf.
Supplies a top, especially for mothers with a baby, mothers to be or elderly woman, and possibly to guys with broken arms or legs.
Puts a top on drinks left on the counter by customers who have to run to the pottie, have to run out to the car for cash, and even talk on a cellphone.
Heats a cup or glass so the drink stays hot.
Makes absolutely sure a dry cappuccino is dry.
Gives a free refill of coffee when tipped well.
Takes your order instead of waiting and waiting for an indecisive customer.
Pours your drink to the rim. If the contents are short of the rim the caring barista will ask if you desire more.
Serves only warm drinks to children (see above for the wrong way).
Puts the exact amount of coffee a customer desires, whether or not it reaches the brim.
Fills a coffee card with stamps when any discrepancy has occurred.
Replaces a dirty glass with a clean one for a refill drink.
Places a saucer under any cup that has overflowed.
Thanks you for a tip.
Wishes you a good day on your way out the door. Again, this can not always happen when a barista is busy as hell or might be a tad too presumptuous to offer good tidings.
Signs Your Barista Cares
ReplyDelete(these actions can not always happen under extremely busy conditions or when a barista is having an off day [i.e. revels in a bad attitude])
He or she has a nice, sincere greeting when you come to the counter: “Hi. How are you today?” or “Good afternoon”.
Listens carefully to the order.
Gives the group and cup a rinse before making an espresso shot.
Lets the espresso flow momentarily to clean off any excess grounds from the porta filter.
Asks, “What kind of milk would you like?”
Asks, “How many espresso shots you want in a latte or cappuccino?” before starting the drink.
The espresso shot flows smoothly in a thin, circular brown and tan ribbon from the porta filter. A bad shot will literally gush forth or barely extract from the porta filter.
Pulls the shot(s) out from the group before the bitter end fills the cup.
Makes a drink over if it is not exactly right. Of course this cannot always be accomplished when the line is a dozen deep or the customer makes a wrong order then corrects herself.
Gives a bargain price or maybe, just maybe, a free drink to a friendly customer.
Designs latte art (a majestic aspen leaf, rosetta, or heart in the milk foam). It should be stressed that artful foam does not make a drink taste better.
Gives a warm-hearted compliment like “You look wonderful today.”
The barista asks again, “What’s in the drink?” when he is unsure of the order.
Puts a drink in the desired cup. Each customer needs the exact cup to fit in a car drink holder or favors ceramic mugs over glasses.
Makes a flat or extra hot or tepid or foamy drink and asks if it makes the customer happy. Not a scalding hot drink to a delicate child and lukewarm latte to dad.
Asks, “How much water or ice in an Americano.”
Asks if the customer wants room for cream.
Never reheats milk or chai; unless the customer asks for it, which will never happen.
Says, “Thank you” or “Appreciate it” when tipped.
Cleans empty glasses from your table, even when you are still seated.
Wipes off a cup or glass when milk or espresso is spilled on it.
The barista does not snicker or give a guffaw for special orders or decaf.
Supplies a top, especially for mothers with a baby, mothers to be or elderly woman, and possibly to guys with broken arms or legs.
Puts a top on drinks left on the counter by customers who have to run to the pottie, have to run out to the car for cash, and even talk on a cellphone.
Heats a cup or glass so the drink stays hot.
Makes absolutely sure a dry cappuccino is dry.
Gives a free refill of coffee when tipped well.
Takes your order instead of waiting and waiting for an indecisive customer.
Pours your drink to the rim. If the contents are short of the rim the caring barista will ask if you desire more.
Serves only warm drinks to children (see above for the wrong way).
Puts the exact amount of coffee a customer desires, whether or not it reaches the brim.
Fills a coffee card with stamps when any discrepancy has occurred.
Replaces a dirty glass with a clean one for a refill drink.
Places a saucer under any cup that has overflowed.
Thanks you for a tip.
Wishes you a good day on your way out the door. Again, this can not always happen when a barista is busy as hell or might be a tad too presumptuous to offer good tidings.