A barista prepares and serves coffee and other drinks, looks after customers at the counter and keeps the coffee station clean and stocked. Typical barista duties include opening the café, dialling in the espresso grinder, making drinks to recipe, taking orders and payments, serving food, cleaning machines and equipment and checking stock. In busy outlets such as airport terminals, stations and office cafés, speed and consistency matter as much as latte art.
This guide sets out a complete barista job description, the skills needed, UK pay, training routes and a template employers can copy.
What does a barista do day to day?
The National Careers Service lists preparing the outlet for opening, greeting customers, taking orders and payments, making and serving drinks and snacks, cleaning work areas and coffee machines, and checking and ordering stock as the core daily tasks. A shift usually looks like this:
- Opening: switch on and flush the espresso machine, calibrate the grinder, set up milk, cups and the food display, and complete opening checks.
- Service: take orders, make drinks to the standard recipe, serve food, handle payments and keep the queue moving.
- Between rushes: restock cups, lids, milk and beans, wipe down surfaces and clean the steam wands.
- Closing: back-flush the machine, clean grinders and blenders, record waste, cash up and leave the station ready for the next shift.
Barista duties and responsibilities
- Preparing espresso-based drinks, filter coffee, teas and cold drinks to recipe.
- Steaming and texturing milk, including plant-based alternatives.
- Taking orders and payments accurately using the till or app.
- Serving food and following allergen procedures.
- Cleaning the espresso machine, grinders, fridges and counter to the cleaning schedule.
- Monitoring stock and helping with deliveries and stock counts.
- Keeping the customer area tidy, including tables and the condiment station.
- Following food safety, temperature control and health and safety rules.
Key barista skills
- Customer service: friendly and quick, remembering regulars and their orders.
- Consistency: making every drink to the same standard during a rush.
- Multitasking: taking the next order while milk steams and a shot pulls.
- Hygiene: keeping milk jugs, wands and surfaces clean to prevent contamination.
- Hand skills: tamping, pouring and handling hot equipment safely.
- Selling: suggesting food pairings or seasonal drinks.
Barista roles in different settings
| Setting | What is different |
|---|---|
| High street café | Regular customers, latte art and product knowledge |
| Airport and station outlets | High volume, early starts, airside security vetting for some sites |
| Office and corporate cafés | Predictable peaks, hospitality for meetings and events |
| Events and mobile coffee | Portable machines, outdoor set-up, very fast service |
Barista roles airside at airports such as London Luton and Stansted need an airport ID pass, which involves background and counter-terrorism checks. Our guide to airport ID passes and vetting explains the process.
Barista pay in the UK
The National Careers Service gives a typical salary range of £19,000 for starters to £24,000 for experienced baristas. Hourly pay must be at least the National Minimum Wage: from April 2026 that is £12.71 for workers aged 21 and over, £10.85 for 18 to 20 year olds and £8.00 for under-18s and apprentices, with the adult rate rising to £13.21 in April 2027. Tips must be passed on to staff fairly under the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act.
Training and qualifications
No qualifications are required. Most employers train baristas on their own recipes and machines. Options for building skills include Level 2 Food Hygiene, college courses in barista skills and food and beverage service, apprenticeships such as Food and Beverage Team Member (Level 2), and courses through the Specialty Coffee Association.
Career progression
Experienced baristas can become shift leaders, store managers and then area managers in coffee chains. Others move into training, coffee buying and roasting, or open their own coffee business. Our store manager job description shows what the next step involves.
Barista job description template
Job title: Barista
Reports to: Store / Café Manager
Location: [Outlet]
Hours: [Full-time / part-time], early, late and weekend shifts
Pay: £[rate] per hour plus share of tips
Main responsibilities:
- Prepare and serve drinks and food to brand standards.
- Provide fast, friendly service and handle payments accurately.
- Keep equipment and the café clean to the cleaning schedule.
- Support stock control and deliveries.
- Follow food safety, allergen and health and safety procedures.
About you: Friendly, organised and happy to work at pace. Coffee experience helps but full training is provided.
Need baristas or café staff for a busy site?We provide trained food and beverage teams for airports, offices and events.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main duties of a barista?
Making and serving coffee and other drinks, taking orders and payments, serving food, cleaning equipment and keeping the counter stocked.
Do you need experience to become a barista?
No. Most employers train new starters. Customer service experience is a helpful bonus.
How much do baristas earn in the UK?
Typically £19,000 to £24,000 a year, and never less than the National Minimum Wage, which is £12.71 an hour for those aged 21 and over from April 2026.
Is being a barista stressful?
Peak times are busy, but clear routines, good teamwork and practice make it manageable.
What does a barista do at an airport?
The same core tasks, with higher volumes, early starts and, airside, extra security vetting before starting work.
Staff your café with WWSG
We supply reliable baristas and food service staff for terminals, offices and events. See our food and beverage services or contact our team.