Top 8 Tips On How To Hire The Best Baristas For Your Cafe
As the world rebounds from the global pandemic, it seems that in it’s wake, a new crisis has emerged: a staffing shortage that feels like a pandemic in its own right. With many workers forced to return home and fewer skilled individuals available, the hospitality industry—cafes in particular—is facing an unprecedented challenge in hiring staff.
Finding good people can be tricky at the best of times, but with the talent pool dramatically reduced and the demand for high-quality coffee at an all-time high, it’s never been more difficult to find the right staff.
So, how do cafes attract the best baristas, and what strategies do they employ to retain them? To find out, we reached out to some of our most successful cafe partners, renowned for their exceptional service and quality, to learn their secrets for building a great team and reaping the rewards. Below, we’ve compiled our top 8 tips on how to hire the best baristas for your cafe.
1. Work with PREMIUM Coffee Brands
Baristas—the artisanal masters of the coffee world—thrive on their passion for coffee. Their enthusiasm is especially evident when they have the opportunity to work with premium coffee brands. Access to high-quality beans not only enhances the quality of coffee served, but also allows these skilled professionals to fully express their craft. Each coffee they prepare becomes a testament to their skills and dedication. This fosters a sense of pride in their workplace and motivates them to represent the brand positively. Furthermore, top-tier coffee brands often provide various levels of support, such as barista training and technical assistance, further enhancing their skills and knowledge.
2. Have a Frequent Rotation of Coffees
The process of brewing coffee, while seemingly simple, can become repetitive and mundane for baristas. However, many baristas find great excitement and joy in their work when they have the opportunity to work with a diverse range of coffee beans. Discovering and experimenting with new flavours regularly keeps their job engaging and stimulating. Implementing a frequent rotation of beans, or allowing baristas to experiment with various brew methods and coffee gadgets ensures they remain interested and driven to innovate. This approach leads to an enhanced coffee experience for customers and a more fulfilled and motivated barista team.
3. Optimise Your Workflow
Being a barista can be both repetitive and physically demanding. Therefore, it’s crucial to streamline tasks to make them as efficient and manageable as possible. This can significantly improve job satisfaction and productivity. Efficient workflow practices will enable your baristas to serve high volumes of coffee effortlessly. New technologies, such as automated tamping or milk steaming, can significantly reduce physical strain while improving efficiency. Not only will this enhance employee satisfaction, but it will also enable them to focus more on customer service and other vital aspects of the business. Ultimately, this leads to a better customer experience and a more successful cafe business.
4. Offer Training and Personal Development
While hiring experienced baristas is ideal, waiting for the perfect candidate can sometimes be counterproductive. This process can take months and potentially lead to wasted time and resources. Instead, consider investing in training for passionate individuals who are eager to learn and grow in the role. There’s an old saying, “skills can be taught, but attitude cannot.” Cafe operators are reporting far better success with nurturing and developing staff members as opposed to trying to hire the “perfect” barista. Additionally, providing existing staff with opportunities for skill enhancement through training and courses will keep them motivated and engaged. Employees are more likely to remain with the company if they feel they are continuously learning and growing.
5. Keep Them Challenged and Empower Creativity
To break the monotony of coffee-making, it’s important to provide opportunities for baristas to learn, experiment, and try new things. This introduces variety into their routine and encourages professional growth. Additionally, challenging baristas to find new or better ways to do things and giving them autonomy in their roles will keep them more motivated to embrace their jobs. This can lead to more productivity and happier staff members. These initiatives can drive greater staff loyalty, as they feel valued and involved in the continual improvement of their workspace. Being part of a dynamic environment excites the team and makes them proud of their work, contributing directly to the overall success of the cafe.
6. Ensure ADEQUATE Staffing – Avoid Overworking
Being a barista is no easy feat, and piling them with an unreasonable amount of work is the quickest way to staff burn-out. To avoid this, it’s essential to set a realistic level of work and have an adequate number of staff members on board. This not only ensures smooth operation but also maintains a pleasant working environment. Overwhelmed staff can experience stress and dissatisfaction, leading to a decline in service quality and loyalty. Therefore, ensuring that everyone on the team is happy, not overworked, and able to deliver high-quality service is paramount to the success of the business.
7. Reward Your Staff
The best way to make your staff feel valued and important is to reward them for their hard work. This includes both fair financial remuneration and workplace incentives. By providing a salary that your barista is comfortable with and feels is worthy of their efforts, they will have much more respect for the workplace and be inclined to work harder. Not to mention, alleviating financial stress, which can be a big driver for career changes.
It’s equally important to recognise their hard work and celebrate their achievements. This can be done in many ways, and sometimes all it takes is a simple thank you! You can also opt to head out for a team lunch or dinner, or provide small gifts for little wins. This can help foster a sense of unity and camaraderie.
8. Offer Career Progression
In addition to rewarding your staff, it’s important for your staff to know that there are opportunities for growth within the workplace, both personally and professionally. These don’t have to be huge jumps, but as long as there are small incremental advancements in their career, they will continue to thrive. By providing career progression, your barista will feel as if they are continually learning new skills and gaining knowledge. This will keep them happier and more likely to stay longer. Offering opportunities for professional development, such as courses that enhance existing skills, benefits the business and demonstrates a commitment to staff’s personal growth and career progression.
TIME TO implement
We hope you’ve enjoyed our top 8 tips on how to hire the best baristas for your cafe. In a competitive industry where the quality of your coffee and service can set you apart, attracting and retaining top-tier baristas is crucial. By implementing these strategies, you can build a dedicated, skilled, and motivated team that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of your customers. Remember, a happy and engaged barista is not just an employee—they’re an ambassador for your brand, creating memorable experiences for every customer that walks through your door.
Additional Resources
Do you need other resources for improving your cafe? Check out some of our links below!