How to Write a Barista Resume (With Steps and Examples)

By Indeed Editorial Team

Published 16 May 2022

The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers, researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed's data and insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey.

A barista primarily prepares and serves a variety of coffee-based drinks like espressos, mochas and cappuccinos. A job as a barista requires specialised skills and training and a well-written resume can be essential to showing a recruiter your suitability for the role. Knowing what a good resume looks like and how to tailor it to a barista role may help you progress in your career. In this article, we discuss how to write a barista resume and provide detailed resume examples to use as a guide.

How to write a barista resume

Knowing how to write a barista resume can enhance your job application. Baristas are experts in all aspects of the coffee-making process, from grinding beans, to preparing espresso shots, to steaming and pouring milk. You may follow these seven steps to write a resume for a barista:

1. Choose a suitable format

Choosing a suitable resume format means you can highlight your strengths to potential employers. The three most common formats include reverse chronological, functional and combination. Reverse chronological is the most common and may be ideal for candidates with several years of relevant work experience.

A functional format allows you to emphasise skills that make you a strong candidate for the role. If you've just finished studying or have minimal experience, this format may work well. The third option is a combination format, which focuses on both skills and experiences. This type of format can be effective if you have a diverse job history or if you're seeking a role with a broad skill-set. For example, a position as a barista may require customer service skills and familiarity with POS (point of sale).

2. Add contact details

Including your personal details is essential for your application to progress further. Your contact information and personal details sit at the top of the page. Include your first and last name, phone number, email address and home address or state. You may also include a professional title, such as Cafe Barista.

To avoid any simple mistakes, proofread your contact details before you submit your resume. Make sure the information is current and includes a professional email address. Accurate personal details ensure the recruiter can contact you easily to ask further questions or organise an interview.

3. Write a professional summary

A professional summary is an introductory paragraph at the beginning of your resume. It typically comprises two or three lines and introduces your professional status. It often begins with your professional title and years of experience. Next, the summary may outline relevant achievements or skills and the reason you're interested in the position.

A second option is to write a professional objective, which gives more focus to relevant skills than professional experience. It may be a good option for recent graduates with minimal experience or those seeking a change of career. It may note one or more specific skills, such as table service, that you can apply to the advertised position.

4. Include work experience

For candidates with some experience, this section typically forms the main body of the resume. It gives you the opportunity to list past roles and achievements. Only include those job titles relevant to the advertised position. For example, you may mention hospitality or customer service roles. To create a resume that's easy to read, set out each position in a consistent format. Begin with the job title, so the recruiter can see at a glance why you may suit the role.

Next, give the company's name and its location if relevant. Beneath this, note the dates of your employment, including the year and month. The last part is to list the achievements and responsibilities of each role. To show the recruiter how you can contribute as an employee, highlight quantifiable achievements, rather than simply listing duties. For example, your barista role required efficient, high-volume delivery of coffees during peak times.

5. Include education

An education section is important if you're just starting your career. While it's usually unnecessary to include secondary schooling details, your tertiary education can show your work ethic and industry knowledge. For a barista role, this may be a certificate or diploma qualification, such as a Diploma of Hospitality Management.

For each qualification, include the name of the institution and any noteworthy achievements. These may be excellent marks, scholarships or unit awards. If you already have several years of professional experience as a barista, it may not be necessary to include an education section.

6. Mention relevant certifications

While it's not typical for a barista role to require tertiary education, recruiters may request other certifications. If you're looking for your first position, you may include any formal training, such as a Barista Certificate. This shows recruiters that you have coffee-making knowledge and skills.

Other relevant certifications may include a Food Safety Certificate, a current Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) or evidence of a Police Check. It's typical for recruiters to list the certifications on the job posting. You may mention them in a separate heading on your resume, in bullet point form.

7. List skills

The last section to consider on your resume is your skills. They show your suitability to succeed in the role. This section also allows you to meet the keywords in the job posting. Employers receive many resumes and only have time to consider each briefly. Therefore, a skills section that meets keywords is more likely to catch their attention.

For a barista position, you may list technical skills such as latte art and adjusting machine and grinder settings. Your soft skills may include customer service, teamwork and time-management. Breaking your hard and soft skills into distinct categories may help the recruiter better assess your suitability.

Resume examples for a barista position

Here are two resume examples to use as a guide:

Functional resume example

This may suit a recent high-school graduate or someone looking to change careers. They're hoping to secure a barista position in a medium-sized cafe. As they've limited work experience, this resume follows a functional format, which emphasises their education and skills:

Lucy Smith
+61 4 3254 7888 | lucysmith45@email.com | Camberwell, Melbourne

Professional Summary
Hard-working university graduate with an arts degree from Milltown University and a Barista Certificate from Coffee Craft, Melbourne. With 3+ years of study and experience in hospitality, have developed a strong work ethic, excellent time management and strong verbal communication. Looking to apply these skills to the barista position at Latte Lounge Cafe.

Education

Bachelor of Arts (Politics)
Pemble University, December 2021

Certificates

Barista Certificate, January 2022
Responsible Service of Alcohol, 2020
Food Safety Certificate, 2019

Work Experience
Food and Beverage Attendant, March 2020-current
MicroGreen, Richmond, Melbourne

five-plate carry table service
preparing and serving beverages, including beer, wine and cocktails
taking orders and plating and delivering meals in a fast-paced environment
keeping bar areas tidy
forming positive connections with regular customers

Cafe All-Rounder, January 2018-February 2020
Cafe Rasselas, Camberwell, Melbourne

stocked and cleaned food display cabinets
prepared and served cold beverages
took customer orders and responded to customer queries

Skills

FOH, POS, five-plate carry, cocktail making, espresso and milk steaming, verbal communication, teamwork

Reverse chronological resume example

This is relevant for candidates with more than three years of industry experience. They're seeking a new barista position at a larger and busier café. As they've some work history, this resume follows a reverse chronological format:

Sam Wells
+61 5 3200 7658 | samwells_5@email.com | Clayton, Melbourne

Professional Summary
Driven and passionate barista with 3+ years of experience in inner-city cafes. Proficient latte artist with a proven history of high-quality espresso-making in busy environments. Seeking to apply coffee-making skills and excellent customer service to the full-time barista position at Riverside Restaurant.

Work Experience

Head Barista, March 2018-current
Café Culture, North Melbourne, VIC

setting, adjusting and correcting machine and grinder settings
tailoring espresso-making to particular orders of customers
responding efficiently to high-volume of coffee orders
providing occasional table service in busy periods
responsible for increasing coffee sales by 20% over 1 year of employment

Barista, September 2015-October 2017
CoolCat Jazz Bar, Melbourne, VIC

prepared and served hot drinks and alcoholic beverages with a small team of bar staff
made sure FOH areas were well-presented and maintained a clean working environment
processed orders and balanced cash at the beginning and end of each shift

Cafe All-Rounder and Kitchen Hand, April 2012-July 2014
The Good Cup, Fitzroy, Melbourne

prepared basic sandwiches and plated and served meals
maintained a clean and well-functioning kitchen area
assisted barista with preparation of coffee, including grinding beans and preparing espresso shots

Education
Diploma of Hospitality Management
Holmes Training Provider, Melbourne