As coffee educators, we field a lot of questions from potential students about barista courses. What should I look for in a barista course? Is investing in barista training worth it? How do I find barista courses near me?
Barista training can take your coffee skills (and coffee shop) to the next level. Baristas are the backbone of every great coffee business. It is crucial baristas are equipped with comprehensive training to craft excellent, consistent coffee and espresso drinks.
That’s why we’ve put together answers to your frequently asked questions about barista courses–and how to find the best ones. Use this article as a guide to understand the importance of barista training and figure out what type of barista education is right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions about Barista Training:
Who should take a barista course?
We designed our 2-Day Barista Training Course to offer comprehensive barista training for people with any level of coffee experience:
- Coffee shop owners
- Coffee shop managers
- Working Baristas and Staff
- Aspiring Baristas
- Home Enthusiasts
For many, learning the science, chemistry, and mechanics of a good cup of coffee is the first step in a lifelong coffee journey. Is coffee is your passion, career, or both? Either way, you can benefit from barista training.
Why invest in quality barista training?
Your coffee shop only has one opportunity to make a great first impression with customers. And, most of that responsibility will fall on your baristas, their customer interactions, and their ability to make great drinks consistently and efficiently. In other words, your baristas can make or break the experience for the customer.
We often write about the importance of investing in quality barista training, especially for coffee shop owners, managers, and staff. These articles from our blog speak to the importance of investing in quality barista training:
Barista Training and Coffee Education
Are Barista Training Classes Worth It?
Barista Training vs. Quality Barista Training. Don’t Pay the Price by not Paying the Price
What should I look for in a barista course?
In addition to helping you make great drinks, what else should a barista training course cover? Not all barista training courses are created equal. Before you invest your time or money, make sure the barista course you choose provides:
- Coffee history, science, and education
- Developing your coffee and espresso tasting palate
- Comparison and proper use of various machines and their parts (espresso machines, grinders, and more)
- Machine cleaning and maintenance
- Various brewing systems, like French press, Chemex, Aeropress, Clever Dripper, professional automatic drip brewer, and cold brew
- Consistently updated curriculum, using new coffee innovations and technology
- Efficiency and consistency
- Optimum brewing for specific coffees
- Troubleshooting off-tasting results
- Controlling for individual factors that affect taste (grind size, water quality, brewing equipment, storage and freshness)
- Recipes
- Milk (and milk alternatives) steaming and texturing
- Pouring techniques
- Customer service training
How do I find the best barista courses near me?
Now that you know what to look for in a course, let’s figure out where to find one. For many, finding the right barista training course may involve some travel to a training facility. A barista’s job is hands-on, and the highest level of training requires practice with the equipment and a trainer who can walk you through, step-by-step.
Our own students come from all over the world to experience our comprehensive, hands-on barista training in Arlington, Texas. We’ve served local Texans, North Americans from small towns and big cities, and international students. We’re a part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, with easy access to both Dallas Fort Worth and Dallas Love Field airports.
If you’re driving from a nearby city or flying in from out of state, visit our Plan Your Trip page for recommendations for hotels, restaurants, and local coffee shops.
If there aren’t barista training courses near me, can I find quality training online?
We understand traveling isn’t always an option. Coffee education might feel safer or more accessible at home until traveling is right for you. If that’s the case, it’s possible to access coffee business education, brewing tutorials, and recipes online until you’re comfortable accessing in-person barista training.
For aspiring coffee shop owners, we recommend our 1-Day Coffee Business Live Online Class. It teaches you everything you need to know about opening a coffee shop, step-by-step (without our interactive, hands-on barista training.) We also offer coffee tutorials for baristas and home enthusiasts on our blog:
How to Make Better Tasting Cold Brewed Coffee at Home
How to Set Up Your Home Brewing Station
The Texas Coffee School French Press How to Guide
A Texas Coffee School Guide to Making Better Tasting Coffee with a Chemex
And more…
Where else can I learn about barista training?
Don’t overlook one of your best coffee education resources: your local coffee shop! If you love the way your local baristas make drinks, interact with customers, and teach you about coffee, talk to them about how they received their coffee education. If you’re a North Texas local, here are a few of our favorite coffee shops with outstanding baristas in Dallas, Plano, Fort Worth, and Arlington:
Window Seat Coffee
Civil Pour
Novel Coffee
Inclusion Coffee
Avoca Coffee
Roots Coffee House
Stupid Good Coffee
Oddfellows
XO Coffee Co
Honeylu’s Coffee Co
1418 Coffee
Register for nationally recognized, comprehensive, professional coffee courses:
We’re proud to provide our students with the most comprehensive, up-to-date, professionally run coffee education and barista training courses in the nation. Join our classes from near or far to launch your coffee business or career. Click here to learn more about our classes and upcoming dates.
