Why training is an important tool for keeping consistency between your baristas
Training is an important tool to maintain consistency between your baristas. But why? A barista is key to the success of your business as they are producing the coffee for customers. Although there are various types of baristas within the industry, training needs to be a key focus in developing consistency amongst staff to ensure that no matter who makes the coffee, customers are satisfied with their coffee made by any barista on shift.
Why train baristas together?
The Significance of Training Baristas Together:
Whilst in your business, you may have anywhere from 2- 10 baristas –depending on the size and staff turn-over there won’t be two baristas that make coffee the same. This is where training comes in, whether from yourself as the owner, a senior barista or your coffee company. Every barista I have worked with or trained has always had a different style to myself, but it’s important to train as a group every 3-6 months to ensure that all baristas know the parameters of the coffee and to keep up the standards that are required. Otherwise, issues may arise when customers come to order coffee and see that they don’t like the barista on shift because he/she made the coffee different to the barista yesterday.
How does it improve consistency? Why do we need consistency?
Enhancing Consistency: Understanding the Need:
Consistency, defined as “the quality or condition of being consistent,” is fundamental in the art of barista coffee-making. Various factors come into play when creating that perfect cup, including grinder adjustments, grind weighing, distribution, tamping, extraction, milk frothing, and coffee pouring. No two baristas are identical in these aspects, but by conducting group training, you encourage collaboration, knowledge sharing, and skill improvement among your barista team.
This collaborative approach fosters a cohesive unit of baristas dedicated to learning and growing together. Through common training, they develop a shared understanding and aim for uniformity in their coffee creations. The absence of such consistency may result in customers discerning differences in their coffee experiences with various baristas, which could lead to preferences for one barista over another, affecting your business’s customer retention and reputation.
In Summary
In Summary: The Benefits of Regular Barista Training:
Frequent training sessions for your baristas yield several benefits, including:
- Enhanced Coffee Quality: Regular training ensures a consistent and high-quality coffee experience for your customers.
- Customer Satisfaction: By reducing variations in coffee preparation, you minimize customer favoritism, leading to increased customer loyalty.
- Standardization: Consistent training methods and parameters set the bar for your staff, creating uniformity in coffee preparation.
- Skill Development: Training fosters growth and improvement among your barista team, creating a cohesive and motivated work environment.
In conclusion, investing in the training of your barista team is an investment in the success and reputation of your coffee business. Don’t hesitate to prioritize training, as it not only improves your coffee but also nurtures a unified and skilled team that can drive your business forward.
