Coffee shops look for speed, consistency and friendly service, plus care with milk alternatives and allergens. This example is for a barista in a busy independent café, with the number of drinks per shift, the machine and the training they have done. It works for chain coffee shops too.
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Example barista CV
A fictional person, employers and figures, to show the format. Replace every detail with your own.
Barista with two years' experience in a busy independent café, making up to 400 drinks on a Saturday. Confident dialling in espresso, steaming milk for latte art and keeping the queue moving with a smile. Careful with allergens and milk alternatives. Looking for a head barista role.
Espresso and dialling in, Milk steaming and latte art, Speed during the rush, Customer service, Allergens and milk alternatives, Cash handling, Cleaning and machine care
A barista personal statement to adapt
Barista with two years' experience in a busy independent café, making up to 400 drinks on a Saturday. Confident dialling in espresso, steaming milk for latte art and keeping the queue moving with a smile. Careful with allergens and milk alternatives. Looking for a head barista role.
Key skills for a barista CV
Espresso preparation - Dialling in, consistent shots and knowing when the grind needs changing.
Milk steaming and latte art - Silky milk and a neat pour, for dairy and plant milks.
Speed - Keeping drinks moving during the morning rush.
Customer service - Remembering regulars and keeping the queue friendly.
Food safety and allergens - Clean handling, labelling and knowing what is in each item.
Cash handling - Tills, card payments and cashing up.
Cleaning - Back-flushing, cleaning the grinder and closing down properly.
What a UK barista CV needs
Drinks per shift and type of café - Busy chain, independent speciality shop or kiosk, and how many drinks you make.
Machine and coffee knowledge - Espresso machine experience and any barista training, such as SCA courses or your employer's training.
Food hygiene and allergens - A Level 2 food hygiene certificate and allergen training. Many cafés sell food with full allergen labels.
Opening and closing - Say if you are trusted to open or close on your own.
Availability - Early mornings and weekends are what most coffee shops need.
Achievement bullets to adapt
The figures are invented to show the format. Use your own.
Made up to 400 drinks on a Saturday while keeping ticket times short.
Dialled in espresso each morning to keep shots consistent.
Opened the kiosk alone at 6am, including deliveries and set-up.
Suggested a loyalty card that most morning regulars now use.
Trained three new baristas on milk steaming and latte art.
Barista CV questions
How do I get a barista job with no experience?
Show customer service, speed and reliability from any job, school or volunteering, and say you are keen to learn. Some cafés and chains train new baristas from scratch.
Should I list coffee qualifications?
Yes, if you have them. SCA courses or your employer's barista training show you take the craft seriously, but they are not usually required.
How long should a barista CV be?
One page. Keep it to your cafés, your speed and your availability.