The best baristas do way more than just make coffee.
1. Dial in delicious coffee, obviously
Delicious coffee comes first.
That means not just following the brew recipe from your coffee roaster. Those recipes are more like guidelines than actual rules. A head barista should be able to dial a coffee in so it tastes awesome.
Head baristas should also know how to program the coffee machine and grinder. Honestly, I’m amazed how many head baristas are afraid to change the settings on an espresso machine or grinder.
Google it, find the operator manual and have a practice run after service.
2. Build instant relationships with customers
Good hospitality people know a big part of the job is about people, not just product. Head baristas are no exception.
Customers don’t come back just because your coffee tasted good. They come back because they like you and want to see you again.
So head baristas need to balance the technical side of the job with looking up from the docket rail and actually talking to customers. Learn their names. Build a relationship.
3. Train junior staff
Real head baristas help junior staff learn new skills.
It’s easy to hog the machine, but don’t. When the rush is over, pull a junior onto the machine and get them started on shots. In time, move them on to milk.
That frees you up to walk the floor, hand coffees to customers and build those relationships.
4. Do the basic servicing yourself
Group head seals wear out over time, and a lot of baristas just put up with it until a technician comes and saves them.
But seals are cheap and take less than 5 minutes to replace. Google your machine’s model and search for the matching group head seal.
Next time a technician services your machine, watch what they do. Then you can handle it yourself.
Dialling in great coffee, building real relationships, raising the team’s skills and maintaining the equipment. That’s what separates a head barista from someone who just makes coffee.