What is Barista?

A barista is a person who prepares and also generally serves espresso-based coffee
drinks. In the United States, the term barista is also often applied to coffee shop
employees who prepare both espresso and regular coffee drinks.

A barista is an espresso machine “coffee artist” who has extensive knowledge about
coffee and prepares, decorates and serves drinks to the customer.

Although the term barista technically refers to someone who has been professionally
trained in preparing espresso, it may also be used to describe anyone with a high level
of skill in making espresso shots and espresso drinks, such as lattes and cappuccinos.
In their field of activity, baristas require a knowledge of coffee blends, coffee roasting,
how to operate and maintain espresso machines, froth milk and much more. Knowledge
such as this can be acquired in barista courses.
Generally, baristas working in coffeehouses, coffee shops, or coffee bars operate
commercial espresso machines (rather than home espresso machines). While their job
may sound simple, commercial espresso machines range in difficulty.

Some are manual and require immense skill, training, and ability to adapt to the nuance
of each batch of coffee, the day's weather conditions, the drinker's preferences, and
other factors. A barista is also often a master of “latte art” who creates images in the
cappuccino when pouring the milk foam on to the espresso.

Word Origin
The word barista originated in Italy, where it means a "bartender" who serves alcoholic
and non-alcoholic drinks, including coffee and espresso drinks.
The Italian term is gender neutral when singular. In English, it is gender neutral when
singular or plural (baristas), but in Italian, it is gender-specific when plural, either the
masculine "baristi," which means "barmen" or "bartenders," or the feminine "bariste,"
which means "barmaids."

Barista (m/f) is the Italian word for barkeeper. The Italian plural form is baristi (m) or
bariste (f). The term was initially adopted in English, where its meaning changed
slightly.
In the United States, this term is limited to servers of coffee-based beverages and does
not include those that prepare and serve alcoholic beverages. While a barista in Italy
serves all kinds of drinks, the term in English-speaking countries refers to an individual
who prepares and serves espresso-based drinks with an air of professionalism,
primarily in coffee shops. The term subsequently entered the German language with
this meaning.