Sitcoms often describe a barista job as something everyone can do. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Every human being is, in fact, capable of boiling water and grinding beans.
In the same way, I am able to put the orange ball through a metal hoop, but you don’t see NBA agents calling me.
By Jozo Salmanić – Croatian barista with 15 years of experience.
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Being a good barista is all about skill, dedication, and practice.
You have to love coffee to be a great barista.
And all great baristas should have a certificate, as a monument to their skills.
I have for you 10 amazing reasons to become a certified barista.
When you read the last one, you will already make your decision.
You should become a certified barista, too – here are 10 great reasons why
But first, what does it mean to be a certified barista?
It means you have taken a barista course and passed strict tests about your duties as a barista, and your knowledge of coffee.
The testing usually includes theoretical knowledge about coffee, practical tests – making the coffee, and your workplace duties, from customer service to hygiene.
Still not convinced? Here are 10 insanely convincing reasons to become a certified barista.
Coffee is a lucrative business…
In 2022, the global coffee market had a revenue of US$433.60bn, according to Statista.
Most of that money came from the US – $85,160.00m. And those numbers keep on rising.
The average person consumes almost 11.5 gallons of coffee annually, and somebody has to make it.
That somebody might just be you.
And if you do it well, it can be a lucrative career choice.
…and this market is far from saturated
We are living at the peak of the third-wave coffee, according to Julio from the Perfect Daily Grind.
New bars, roasters, and coffee companies are founded every single day.
And yet, the market is nowhere near saturation.
There are no “old” baristas with decades of experience out there.
The industry is still young, and certificates can launch you to the top.
From manager positions to opening your own little coffee place.
You cannot learn everything on the go…
I met a whole lot of great baristas who never set foot in any barista training course, or owned a certificate.
Heck, some of them even won championships.
However, most of them were planning to become certified.
Why bother, you ask?
A certificate means you know what baristas should and shouldn’t do, as mentioned in this Barista Training Academy article.
It sets you apart from college kids looking for a part-time job.
Certification means you are professional in your field, and others must respect you.
…and you can get a certificate even if you have no experience
A certificate doesn’t serve only as a final monument to your finely tuned barista skills.
Even people with zero experience can become certified baristas in “2 weeks to 2 months, depending on how much time you have”, states this ConsumerFiles article.
That is the whole point of this story. You can become a certified barista if you show will, dedication, and a desire to learn.
That’s how you kickstart your career.
A certificate means more money…
Let’s be honest for one second. Most baristas are not swimming in dollars, and you rarely see one driving a Tesla.
With a certificate and experience, you can earn more than a decent salary in your field of work.
Without the certification, things don’t look that great, according to Talent.com.
But with a certificate, you become qualified to work at better-paying restaurants or coffee shops.
That usually means even more effort from your side, but the pay suddenly becomes more than adequate.
…and more chance to level up
When you have a barista certificate, it means you are willing to learn and put effort to excel at your job.
That’s why certified baristas don’t stay too long at their positions unless they want to.
You can become a coffee shop manager, or roaster, or get a job at a coffee import/export company.
Even better, you can put your skills and contacts to good use, and open your own coffee place.
Much better than just earning a living wage, as defined by Global Living Wage.
Having an international barista certificate opens more doors…
You are not a tree, my friend.
Life is a long journey, and perhaps next month you will be in Spain, France, or Australia, and you will need a job.
The international barista certificate means the employer doesn’t have to take your word for it when you tell him you know how to work as a barista.
Different countries might have different coffee drinks, but the basics are the same everywhere, from Washington to Vanuatu.
…and getting an SCA certification means you stand out
Specialty Coffee Association Barista Certificate Program is the most respected barista course in the States.
And trust me, the rest of the world respects it very well.
SCA certificate means you successfully passed their “modular, skills-based training program”, as stated on the SCA webpage, and you know almost all there is to know about coffee.
No coffee snob can catch you off guard. You are part of the elite now.
You can attend a free online barista course with a certificate…
There are lots of barista courses online, especially on Udemy, that can teach you the secrets of the trade.
This is great if you are studying or already have a job, so you don’t have enough time to attend the courses in person.
These courses are affordable, and you can even find free ones.
Most of them rely on video lessons to teach you and show you all the hows and whys of the trade.
Of course, you will have to practice actual coffee-making by yourself.
…and barista training is crazy fun
If you didn’t like coffee and everything about it, you wouldn’t sign up for barista training.
But you did. And imagine all the fun things you will learn, from growing coffee, picking it, and roasting it.
All the way to properly brewing your favorite drink.
The only thing better than the training is showcasing your skills to family and friends.
Who can say no to a perfectly brewed cortado or flat white?
I know I can’t.
Photos by waneshih and Bhuwan Bansai
