Barista Job Description Template + Hiring Secrets Coffee Shops Need

Tons of major cities are overflowing with barista-hopefuls! But coffee shop owners know that finding the right barista—someone with winning customer banter, espresso expertise, and a great attitude—can be something to percolate over.

From latte art aficionados to experienced coffee connoisseurs, the perfect barista job description is your first step to attracting quality candidates.

Whether you're about to open your doors or making your 100th hire, building the café crew of your dreams takes a great job posting, interview process, and an eagle-eye for culture ad. We'll walk you through every step in this guide.

{{banner-cta}}

What Should a Barista Job Description Include?

A complete barista job description should cover beverage preparation duties, customer service requirements, equipment operation skills, cleaning responsibilities, and physical demands like standing for extended periods. Include both required and preferred qualifications.

Barista Job Description Template

Ready to post your barista position? We've created a complete job description template that you can customize and use right away. This template covers all the essentials—from role overview to application instructions—so you can attract the right candidates without starting from scratch.

Feel free to copy, paste, and adjust this barista job description to match your café's personality and specific needs:

We're looking for our next barista!

Our third-wave coffee shop is looking for a new addition to our team of passionate baristas. As Barista, you will be responsible for brewing and serving a beautiful cup of coffee, keeping your workstation sparkling, and making our customers feel at home.

Our baristas really know their stuff so they can provide detailed knowledge about every cup they brew to the curious customer. If you're looking for a fast-paced job with ample opportunity for growth in the coffee space, you might be just the barista we're looking for.

What you'll do: Duties & responsibilities.

• Prepare coffee and tea drinks that smell enticing, taste fantastic, and look incredible.
• Greet customers warmly and provide excellent service.
• Knowledgeably answer customer questions about each bean and drink composition.
• Keep work stations tidy in keeping with our storefront aesthetic.
• Deep clean espresso machines and other equipment (as a team).
• Participate in regular training to broaden your coffee knowledge and appreciation.
• General coffeeshop upkeep and maintenance.
• Acting as a cashier, using our POS.

Who you are.

• Passionate about coffee: you know quality when you see it.
• Detail-oriented: leave no latté without art.
• Tidy: you take initiative to wipe your station down.
• Experienced: this isn't your first coffee rodeo.
• A team player: you prioritize cooperation to get you through busy periods.
• Excited to learn: coffee is more than just a drink to you—it's a fascination.
• Adaptable: no customer problem goes unsolved.
• Food safety certification preferred (but we can help you get one!)

What we offer.

• Competitive hourly wage: $[X] - $[X] per hour, plus tips
• Select benefits and flexible schedules—because life is about more than just coffee.
• Our third-wave coffee philosophy values quality over quantity. We aim to give customers a cup of coffee like they've never had before—and they're sure to want again.
• We source our beans from fair-trade sources. It's more than a label to us—it's sustainability.
• We strive to form part of the core social life of our neighborhood. We want our customers to come to connect—with the coffee, and with each other.
• Our team meetings are structured to solve problems collectively. We also regularly host coffee tastings and trainings for our coffee-fanatic team.

How to apply, and what happens next.

[Include your specific application instructions, required materials, and next steps here.]

‍

Barista Duties and Responsibilities: What Does a Barista Do?

A good barista serves solid coffee. They know the history of espresso, understand how soil affects bean flavor, and recognize that a top-notch cleaning routine can make the behind-the-bar experience. But a great barista is the front line of your business, and the reason customers choose your café over the chain down the street.

But daily barista duties and responsibilities go far beyond just brewing coffee.

A typical barista's day includes:

• Building customer relationships: Remembering regulars' orders and making genuine connections.
• Taking orders: Handling POS systems, customizations, and payment processing.
• Preparing beverages: Mastering technique, taste, and presentation for every drink.
• Selling retail items: Promoting coffee beans, mugs, and café merchandise.
• Restocking inventory: Monitoring supplies and keeping everything well-stocked.
• Cleaning and organizing: Maintaining spotless workstations and café areas.
• Working with teammates: Coordinating during rush periods and supporting each other.
• Participating in ongoing training: Staying current on new techniques and products.

Keep in mind, though: no one's perfect!

The right barista for your business might excel at latte art but need POS training. They might have amazing menu ideas but need support with opening procedures. When writing your job description, think about which barista skills matter most to your café—and what skills you're excited to help someone develop.

Barista Job Description: Skills and Qualifications

When hiring a barista, you're looking for a blend of technical coffee skills and people skills. The best candidates combine coffee expertise with genuine customer service abilities.

Essential skills for baristas:

• Customer service excellence: Friendly, patient, and professional with every interaction.
• Communication skills: Clear verbal skills and active listening abilities.
• Coffee knowledge: Understanding brewing methods, bean varieties, and drink preparation.
• Equipment operation: Espresso machines, grinders, POS systems, and cleaning tools.
• Physical stamina: Ability to stand for long periods and work in fast-paced environments.
• Teamwork: Collaborating effectively during busy rushes and slow periods.
• Time management: Multitasking orders while maintaining quality and speed.

Preferred qualifications:

• Previous barista or food service experience (but many great baristas start with zero experience!)
• Food safety certification or willingness to obtain one
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Availability for early mornings, weekends, and holidays
• Passion for coffee culture and learning

Remember, the best barista candidates often have great attitudes and work ethic over extensive experience. Look for people who are eager to learn, genuinely enjoy helping others, and fit your café's culture.

‍

How Much Do Baristas Make?

Barista wages vary significantly based on location, experience, and the type of establishment. 

Understanding barista pay rates helps you create competitive job postings that attract quality candidates instead of losing them to higher-paying competitors.

Average barista hourly wages:

• Entry-level baristas: $12-$16 per hour
• Experienced baristas: $15-$18 per hour
• Lead baristas/supervisors: $18-$20 per hour

Factors that affect barista pay:

• Location: Urban areas typically pay $2-$5 more per hour than rural locations
• Establishment type: Specialty coffee shops often pay more than chain cafés
• Experience level: Coffee knowledge and customer service skills command higher wages
• Shift timing: Early morning and weekend shifts may offer shift differentials

Beyond hourly wages: Most baristas also earn tips, which can add $2-$8 per hour depending on location and customer volume. Many coffee shops also offer benefits like free coffee, flexible scheduling, health insurance (for full-time positions), and employee discounts.

When creating your barista job description, research local competitors and consider what additional perks you can offer. Great baristas are worth investing in—they're often the reason customers become regulars.

And if your're just starting out? Don't don't forget to include staffing costs in your coffee shop business plan.

What to Look for When Hiring a Barista

Finding the right barista goes beyond just coffee skills. Use the "3 C's of Hiring" framework to identify candidates who'll thrive in your café: Character, Chemistry, and Competence.

Character - What drives them:

• Strong work ethic and reliability
• Honesty and integrity in customer interactions (that's where background checks come in!)
• Genuine passion for coffee or eagerness to learn
• Problem-solving mindset when challenges arise

Chemistry - How they connect:

• Ability to build rapport with your existing team
• Natural customer service instincts
• Team communication style that matches your café culture
• Enthusiasm that's authentic, not forced

Competence - What they bring:

• Coffee knowledge or willingness to learn quickly
• Previous customer service experience (any industry)
• Ability to multitask during busy periods
• Basic math skills for handling transactions

Think culture add, not culture fit.

Instead of hiring people who fit your current team's mold, look for candidates who can:

• Connect with a wider variety of customers
• Bring fresh perspectives and new ideas
• Add skills or experiences your team is missing
• Help your café grow and evolve

Create an attractive work environment:

• Offer flexible scheduling that avoids "clopening" (closing then opening)
• Provide ongoing coffee education and training opportunities
• Build team meetings around collaborative problem-solving
• Focus on work/life balance - it's what younger workers value most

Remember, the best hires often have great attitudes over extensive experience. Look for people who are genuinely excited about coffee, enjoy helping others, and want to grow with your business.

Barista Interview Questions That Matter

With limited interview time, focus on questions that reveal character, passion (and technique!) for coffee, and customer service instincts. Here are the most telling questions to ask barista candidates:

Coffee knowledge and passion:

• "Tell me about your favorite coffee. What makes you love it?"
• "Walk me through your step-by-step process for making the perfect cappuccino."
• "How do you stay current with coffee trends and techniques?"

Customer service abilities:

• "Tell me about a time you made a customer smile."
• "How do you handle conflict when a customer makes unreasonable demands?"
• "Describe a situation where you had to multitask during a busy period."

Work style and teamwork:

• "How would your previous teammates describe you?"
• "Tell me about a time you faced a big work challenge. How did you overcome it?"
• "What type of work environment do you thrive in?"

Culture and growth potential:

• "What drew you to working with our business specifically?"
• "What skills are you hoping to develop in this role?"
• "Where do you see yourself in the coffee industry in two years?"

What to listen for: Look for specific examples rather than generic answers. Great candidates will share stories that show problem-solving, genuine care for customers, and enthusiasm for learning. Pay attention to how they talk about previous coworkers and challenges—it reveals their attitude and professionalism. You could even use an interview scoring system to evaluate candidates consistently.

Red flags (which lead to hiring mistakes!) include bad-mouthing previous employers, inability to give specific examples, or showing up unprepared without researching your café.

The best barista interviews feel more like conversations. Ask follow-up questions and give candidates space to ask about your business, training, and growth opportunities.

Create Better Work Schedules for Your Barista Team

Once you've hired great baristas, keeping them happy (and reducing turnover!) means creating schedules that work for their lives. Coffee shops face unique scheduling challenges—early morning rushes, weekend demands, and varying customer traffic throughout the day.

Don'ts: Clopening, Holiday Burnout, Coverage Overwhelm

Don't fall into the "clopening" trap—scheduling the same person to close and open back-to-back creates burnout fast. Rotate holiday shifts fairly among team members instead of always asking the same reliable people. Build systems for shift trades and emergency coverage before you need them, and always communicate schedules well in advance so your team can plan their lives around work.

Homebase Tips: Set up conflict warnings to catch clopening schedules before you publish. Use blackout dates during busy periods and advance notice requirements for time off requests to maintain fair coverage.

Create Schedules Your Team Will Love

Post schedules consistently on the same day each week, at least one week ahead. Allow automated shift swapping so baristas can coordinate their own trades with manager approval. Track everyone's availability and build shifts around school schedules, second jobs, and family commitments. Plan for peak times by scheduling your strongest team members during morning and weekend rushes.

Homebase Tips: Use scheduling templates to create consistent weekly schedules in minutes. Enable self-service shift trading and open shift claiming so your team can manage their own coverage with your approval.

Smart Scheduling Saves Everyone Time

Instead of spending Sunday nights frantically calling people to cover shifts, invest in tools that let your team manage their own schedules. When baristas can request time off, claim open shifts, and trade with teammates through an app, you spend less time playing scheduling referee and more time growing your business.

Allison Folks, owner of Apple Creek Coffee Co, puts it perfectly: "I really love how user friendly both the manager and employee sides of Homebase are. No more paper time cards, calendars for time off requests or long chat messages for shift trades!!"

Homebase Tips: Set up automatic shift reminders via text and app notifications. Use real-time schedule updates so you can make changes from anywhere, and let your team access schedules on their phones instantly.

Post, Interview, Hire: Bring on Your Next Barista with Homebase

You've got your barista job description ready—but where do you post it? How do you manage dozens of applications without losing your mind?

The hiring process doesn't have to be overwhelming. As Shelly Betz, owner of Modern Chiropractic Center notes: "I love that when I have hiring needs I can create the job on Homebase and then they do all the work posting it to various sites."

Homebase Hiring Assistant helps you focus on candidates who actually match what you're looking for. Instead of reading every application, you get a shortlist of top candidates with their responses summarized. No more guessing if someone's qualified—you'll know the best fits before you call them.

From job posting to first day: Create and post jobs across multiple boards with one click. Screen applicants with custom questions. Schedule interviews and send digital onboarding packets. Then transition into scheduling and team management—all in one app.

Ready to hire smarter? Try Homebase free for 14 days.

{{banner-cta}}