What is the typical role of a barista in a café?

The typical role of a barista in a café primarily revolves around preparing and serving coffee and espresso-based drinks. This includes grinding coffee beans, brewing coffee, and expertly crafting espresso drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, and mochas. Baristas are often trained to understand the complexities of different coffee beans, brewing methods, and flavor profiles to provide customers with high-quality beverages.

While managing inventory and supplies, overseeing café staff, and creating new menu items are important aspects of running a successful café, they are usually responsibilities assigned to café managers or other roles rather than the barista. The barista's focus is mainly on the front-line experience, ensuring that every cup of coffee they serve meets the standards of quality and presentation expected in a café setting. This specialized knowledge and skill set is what distinguishes the role of a barista as the face of the coffee preparation and service experience.