A guide to calibrating your espresso recipes
In coffee shops across the world, one of the most common challenges baristas face is ensuring that espresso extraction remains consistent throughout each day. Ultimately,...
Shaun is a contributor based in South Africa and Co-founder of the Red Band Academy.
A Barista’s Guide to a Successful Work Shift
Are you a new barista unsure of how to manage your shift? Or an experienced barista who sometimes finds things getting disorganised behind the bar?...
Barista Basics: How to Texture Milk in 14 Steps
Milk texturing is probably the toughest thing to learn as a new barista or trainee. Yes, you’ll encounter harder tasks later on in your coffee...
Barista Basics: How to Make an Espresso in 14 Steps
Espresso: roughly 30 ml of coffee goodness. An amazing espresso can be complex, full-bodied, and sweet. It can be the best thing about your day....
Barista Competitions: What Do You Need to Be a Coffee Champion?
Barista competitions are the epitome of barista excellence. Whether it’s a regional, national, or world championship, they will stretch you to your limit. By participating,...
Barista Blues: Why Are You Sick of Your Job & What Can You Do?
Has being a barista started to feel like a drag? Do you have to force yourself to smile at customers? Does work leave you tired...
Coffee Shop Etiquette: Table Hogging & Other Faux Pas to Avoid
We’ve all had a coffee shop visit ruined by a rude customer – or seen one ruin a barista’s day. So how do we make...
Barista Excellence: How to Stay in Love With Coffee
As a barista, you have a rare opportunity: to work in a job you love. I may be biased, but I believe there’s no more...
Why You Should Organise a Coffee Event – And How to Do It
Every thriving coffee community needs events. They allow people to meet, discuss, and collaborate. They provide a platform for innovation. They help professionals to improve...
Baristas, Here Are 5 Ways to Stay Motivated About Coffee
There comes a time in most baristas’ lives when coffee just isn’t exciting any more. Great pours don’t inspire you. You put that little bit...
Coffee Skills: The Daily Routines of a Specialty Barista
Want to be the best barista you can be? A few weeks ago I wrote about the need to find your passion, to further your education,...
Coffee Skills: What Makes a Great Barista?
As baristas, we should aim to stand out. I’m not talking about being the centre of attention, but something else – something about the way...
How to Grow a Generation of BariSTARS: 6 Steps
Coffee is a wonderful thing – but, as a barista and coach myself, the ultimate satisfaction comes from mentoring the next generation of baristas. It’s...
AFCA in Action: Tackling Gender Inequality in African Coffee Farming
Did you know that women make up 75% of Africa’s coffee farming workforce? Africa produces a vast variety of uniquely delicious coffees. From the shores...
How Do You Tackle Youth Unemployment? A Barista Academy
Early in 2013, three of us sat down for a chat and a coffee. By the time we’d finished our coffees, we had a plan...
6 Days, 26 Hours: Preparing for Your 1st Barista Competition
Imagine you have your first ever barista competition in two weeks. Feeling daunted? We’re not surprised – but that doesn’t mean it’s an impossible task....