Explore
Cafe & specialty coffee
Barista
The most romanticized low-wage job in the country.
Typical pay
$26k-$45k including tips
How you get in
On the job, days to weeks
Outlook
Steady; specialty and management roles are the upside
Baristas make espresso drinks and run cafe service. Specialty coffee is a genuine craft with real depth; the pay is what it is, and the difference between shops is enormous.
A day in the life
- 5:30aOpen, dial in the espresso grinder
- 6:30aMorning rush — drinks, register, and pastries at once
- 9:30aRestock, brew batch coffee, clean the machine
- 11:00aSecond rush, then a slower midday
- 1:00pBreak, then cupping or training on a new roast
- 3:00pClose down, backflush the group heads, cash out
How to get in
Get hired and learn on bar
Duration
2-6 weeks
Cost
$0 — paid training
Credential
None; food handler card in most areas
- Apply anywhere — cafes and chains hire continuously
- Learn espresso extraction, milk texturing and workflow
- Choose a specialty shop if craft matters to you; a chain if benefits do
- Large chains often provide health coverage and tuition assistance for part-timers
Specialty coffee career
Duration
1-4 years
Cost
$500-$5,000 for certifications
Credential
SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) certifications
- Work at a quality-focused shop and learn dialing, cupping and origin
- Pursue SCA Barista and Brewing certifications
- Compete in barista competitions to build a reputation
- Move toward head barista, trainer, roaster or green buyer
Barista to cafe owner
Duration
3-8 years
Cost
$80,000-$400,000 to open
Credential
Business licensing and food safety certification
- Learn the bar, then the back office — ordering, costing, scheduling
- Manage a shop for someone else first and prove the numbers
- Build savings and a concept with a defined neighborhood
- Coffee margins are thin; undercapitalization is the usual cause of failure
What people love
- · Hired with no experience anywhere
- · Genuine craft depth if you pursue it
- · Some chains offer benefits and tuition assistance
- · Strong social environment and regulars
What wears people down
- · Low wage; tips vary enormously by shop
- · Very early mornings
- · On your feet with repetitive wrist strain
- · Rude customers before anyone has had coffee