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Barista Interview Questions and Answers

Q: Do you have any experience as a barista?

A: Yes. I have worked as a barista at McDonald’s. I
enjoyed the experience immensely during the three
years that I worked.

Q: What type of work have you performed as a

barista over the years?
A: As a barista, I have promoted coffee consumption
by determining customers’ specific tastes and then
providing suggestions for lattes, espresso, and
cappuccinos.
Additionally, I prepared coffee blends according to set
recipes and those that I have created myself, along
with ensuring a comfortable environment for all
customers within the establishment.

Q: Do you feel that is it important to be an

excellent communicator while working as a
barista? Give your reasons.
A: Communication skills are essential while working
as a barista because reaching out to customers to
determine their specific interests in coffee, and to
provide them with what they are looking for is
imperative. People take their coffee seriously, and it is
up to us baristas to make sure that they receive what
they want!

Q: What can you tell us about your customer

service skills that will convince us that you are an
excellent choice to hire as a barista?
A: When it comes to customer satisfaction, I am a
force to reckon with. Providing the best possible
customer service is my daily mantra while working. I
believe that the way I handle customers and their
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orders says a lot about my professionalism and ability

to provide them with precisely what they are looking
for.

Q: Tell us about a time when the provision of

excellent customer service from your end,
resulted in positivity for the establishment.
A: There was a time when a regular customer asked
me if I would brew him a coffee blend that was not
part of the menu. While this was strictly forbidden by
the manager, as we had to stick to specified recipes
to ensure quality blends, I had to decline initially. But
on his insistence, I asked the manager for a special
favor. The manager relented that one time. Little did
we know that this new concoction would become our
“special” in the coming weeks!

Q: How do you handle adversity from customers?

A: While working as a barista is nothing like working
as a bartender, we do have our share of irate
customers. I keep my cool and try to resolve issues
before they become crises.

Q: On a busy day, how do you decide which

customer to serve first?
A: That is a question that I have been pondering over
for a while now. Priorities are usually dependent on a
first come first served basis. However, if a large order
is given to me, which will take a longer time to
prepare, I do try to fit in a smaller one if there is time,
like when the water is boiling or the coffee is brewing!
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Q: What necessary skills do you believe a barista

should possess to work at this position
successfully?
A: Apart from communication skills, it is crucial for a
barista to be customer-focused, understand food
safety procedures, and possess excellent sales skills.

Q: As far as operations of a coffee bar are

concerned, what have been your duties?
A: Ensuring that the coffee bar is well-stocked is
foremost. Routinely cleaning and clearing the counter,
performing routine and preventative maintenance on
coffee grinding and brewing equipment, reporting any
safety hazards to supervisors, and ensuring prompt
and timely delivery of supplies from vendors have
also been part of my work in the past.

Q: How will you handle a customer who is not

happy with the coffee you presented?
A: By not arguing, apologizing immediately and
offering a preference based/customized cup, carefully
brewed, and served promptly.

Q: Describe one instance when you had to work

under high stress. How did you manage?
A: During work at the previous café, it so happened
once that we ran out of high-quality coffee beans. I
handled the situation by remaining calm and by
extensive praising and promotion of the regular bean
we had to use that day.

Q: How will you maintain focus amidst the

monotony of making and remaking coffee
throughout the day?
A: Well, you say it is a monotonous task, but not so
for a person like me who has a passion for coffee. I
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believe in the customized coffee making, and each

cup I brew is a new piece of art as far as my expertise
is concerned. My focus is automatically refreshed with
each new cup.

Q: What is your favorite coffee? How do you like it

brewed? What technique do you like the most?
A: My favorite coffee is Arabica, and in technique, I
am addicted to espresso. As for coffee brewers, I
prefer the grind and brew types though I am
comfortable in working with any other types.

Q: Baristas start work early morning, and their

shift can last until late at night. Do you think you
can handle the customer services part efficiently
this early in the morning and that late at night?
A: The smell of coffee can wake me up at any time! I
have a friendly disposition, and if given enough
breaks, I can work efficiently both early in the morning
and late at night.

Q: Describe a time when you provided impeccable

customer services.
A: A regular customer at my previous place of work
wanted a particular coffee blend on the day that we
were out of it. When I informed him that we were out
of it, he got a bit angry. Not wanting to lose him as a
client as he was quite a touchy person, I asked him to
wait an extra ten minutes, took permission from my
manager and rushed to the market myself to buy the
blend.