# Barista

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{{Short description|Person who prepares and serves coffee drinks}}
{{Distinguish|Barrister}}
{{About|coffee-house employees|the 2015 documentary film|Barista (film)|the espresso bar chain|Barista Lavazza}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}}

[[File:Gwilym Davies.jpg|thumb|200px|Gwilym Davies, [World Barista Championship](/source/World_Barista_Championship) winner 2009]]
A '''barista''' ({{IPAc-en|b|ə|ˈ|ɹ|iː|s|t|ə|,_|-|ˈ|ɹ|ɪ|s|-}} {{respell|bə|REE|stə|,_|bə|RIST|ə}}, {{IPA|it|baˈrista|lang}}; {{literally|bartender}}) is a person, usually a [coffeehouse](/source/coffeehouse) employee, who prepares and serves [espresso](/source/espresso)-based [coffee](/source/coffee) drinks and other beverages.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Barista |encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/barista |access-date=12 December 2025}}</ref>

==Etymology and inflection==
The word {{lang|it|barista}} comes from [Italian](/source/Italian_language), where it means a "[bartender](/source/bartender)" who typically works behind a counter,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/barista|title=barista {{!}} Origin and meaning of barista by Online Etymology Dictionary|website=www.etymonline.com|language=en|access-date=2019-11-06}}</ref> serving hot drinks (such as [espresso](/source/espresso)), cold [alcoholic](/source/Alcoholic_beverage) and non-alcoholic beverages, and snacks.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thespruceeats.com/what-is-a-barista-765030|title=What It Means to Be a Barista|website=The Spruce Eats|language=en|access-date=2019-11-06}}</ref> The Italian plural is {{lang|it|baristi}} for masculine ({{literally|barmen|bartenders}}) or {{lang|it|bariste}} for feminine ({{literally|barmaids}}), while English and Spanish use "baristas".

==Application of the title==
[[File:Linea doubleespresso.jpg|thumb|Exemplary [espresso](/source/espresso)-making is essential to a barista's role. The term ''espresso'' comes from the Italian ''esprimere'', which means 'to express', and refers to the process by which hot water is forced under pressure through ground coffee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.philips.it/c-e/ho/articolo/caffe/suggerimenti-caffe/come-preparare-un-caffe-espresso-perfetto.html|title=Qual è il caffè espresso perfetto e come va bevuto?|access-date=13 June 2022|language=it}}</ref>]]
[[File:Latte at Doppio Ristretto Chiang Mai 02.jpg|thumb|[Latte art](/source/Latte_art) is a visible sign of a trained barista and well-frothed milk.]]

Baristas generally operate a commercial [espresso machine](/source/espresso_machine), and their role is preparing and pulling the shot; the degree to which this is automated or done manually varies significantly, ranging from push-button operation to an involved manual process. Good manual espresso-making is considered a skilled task. The preparation of other beverages, particularly milk-based drinks such as [cappuccino](/source/cappuccino)s and [caffè lattes](/source/Latte), but also non-espresso coffee such as drip or press pot, requires additional work and skill for effective frothing, pouring, and [latte art](/source/latte_art).

The barista is usually trained to prepare coffee by the roaster or shop owner. Experienced baristas may have the discretion to vary the preparation or experiment.

Beyond the preparation of espresso and other beverages and general customer service, skilled baristas acquire knowledge of the entire process of coffee to effectively prepare a desired cup of coffee, including maintenance and programming of the machine, grinding methods, roasting, and coffee plant cultivation, similar to how a [sommelier](/source/sommelier) is familiar with the entire process of winemaking and consumption. A barista can acquire these skills by attending training classes, but they are more commonly learned on the job.

==Competition==
Formal barista competitions originated in Norway,<ref>Wendelboe, Tim (1 May 2005). [http://www.coffeegeek.com/opinions/professionals/05-01-2006 The Future of the World Barista Championship.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120130024/http://coffeegeek.com/opinions/professionals/05-01-2006 |date=20 November 2012 }}. "CoffeeGeek.com". Retrieved 25 November 2006.</ref> and one such is the [World Barista Championship](/source/World_Barista_Championship)s, held annually at varied international locations.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.worldbaristachampionship.org/|title = World Barista Championship}}</ref> The knowledge sharing at WBC is credited with spreading the beverage [espresso and tonic](/source/espresso_and_tonic) to North America.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |title=Deep Dive: What Is an Espresso Tonic? {{!}} Trade Coffee |url=https://www.drinktrade.com/blog/education/what-is-espresso-tonic |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=www.drinktrade.com |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Commons category-inline|Baristas}}
{{Portal|Italy|Drink|Coffee|Wine}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Coffee|nocat=1}}
{{Coffee in Italy}}
{{Cuisine of Italy}}
{{Authority control}}

Category:Baristas
Category:Coffee culture
Category:Coffee in Italy
Category:Coffee preparation
Category:Food service occupations
Category:Hospitality occupations

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Barista](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barista) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barista?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.