Barista Resume: 20+ Examples of Job Descriptions & Skills

From brewing delicious pots of coffee to knowing which desserts to pair alongside, you know you’d make a fine barista. And just like a Starbucks cup, this barista job’s got your name on it! But before you can don that cafe’s apron with pride, you need to tingle their taste buds like an exotic blend with the best barista resume yet. 

See a professional barista resume sample you can adjust and make your own and learn an easy formula for resume for barista jobs that will wow your future employer!

 This guide will show you:

• A barista resume example better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.
• How to write a resume for coffee shop that will land you more interviews.
• Tips and examples of how to write a, i.e., Starbucks barista job description for resume.
• What are some skills recruiters are searching for on the best barista resume examples.

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Before we begin, here are a few other food service-related resume examples:

• Starbucks Resume
• Food Service Resume
• Fast Food Resume
• Server Resume
• Fine Dining Resume
• Catering Resume
• Restaurant Resume
• Waitress Resume
• Bartender Resume
• Best Resume Examples for Any Job

Barista Resume Sample to Get You Inspired (Text Version)

That's one of the tastiest barista resume examples! But let's make find out how to make one that works just as well! Here’s our barista resume recipe:

1. Structure Your Barista Resume Template Properly

A barista resume written without a properly formatted template is like old coffee left in a drip carafe—Bland and bitter. To serve up an aromatic and flavorful barista resume, ensure its layout is structured just right before you start writing.

Here’s how to format a barista resume template:

• Layout: stick with reverse-chronological order.
• Subheadings: use bold title headings so cafe managers find what they want quickly.
• Fonts: choose the best resume fonts which are legible and standard.
• Font size: keep font size to 11–12pt in general text, and 2–4pts larger for titles.
• Margins: keep a 1” margin on all sides of your coffee barista resume.
• Line spacing: use single line spacing in the body text of your cafe resume.
• Sections: don’t skimp on white space—it makes your resume easier to read. 
• Filetype: export your resume in PDF format, unless they specifically say otherwise.

And, here’s a brief outline on what a barista resume should include:

• Header: include relevant contact details at the top of your Dunkin Donuts resume.
• Introduction: write a compelling paragraph that gives your professional background.
• Work experience: document your previous work history and past job duties.
• Education: add your academic history and any school-related accomplishments.
• Skills: give a list of relevant cafe skills and barista skills for a resume.
• Extra sections: cafe awards, food service certifications, second languages, etc.

Read more about resume formatting: How to Select the Ideal Resume Format

One trick to writing an irresistible Dunkin or Costa Coffee resume? Start from the middle. Save writing the barista resume heading statement for the end. This way, you’ll have a better idea of what key items to include in this topmost section.

2. Start With a Barista Resume Work Experience Section

Employment of food and beverage servers, including baristas, is expected to increase 9 to 11% between 2021 and 2031. That comes out to over three-quarters of a million (775,300) new hires in the United States alone. Meaning—Coffee shop managers have a latte choose from.

You’ve got to get your resume work history section just right to have a shot at your barista job interview.

Here’s how to write a great job experience section on a resume for a coffee shop:

• Start with your most recent job title and go back in reverse-chronological order.
• For each job you’ve held, list your position title, the company’s or cafe’s name and location, and the dates you were employed there.
• Give several bullet points detailing your job responsibilities tailored in a way that is relevant to this particular barista job.
• Give one or two numbered achievements to prove how capable you’d be as their next barista or cafe supervisor.
• Begin each bullet point entry with an action verb for maximum impact.

Here are two barista job description examples for experienced baristas:

Barista Resume Examples (Experienced Barista Job Description)

See the differences? The first one has plenty of detailed job duties neatly arranged like macarons in a refrigerated display case. Plus, a numbered achievement proves to the cafe manager how talented you are.

What if you don’t have barista experience yet? No worries. All you need to do is list your past job responsibilities in a way which is most relevant to this prospective barista job.

Check out these two barista job description resume samples:

First-Time Barista Resume Examples (No Experience Barista Description)

The second one is as bland as robusta. The first one, however, has just the right ingredients served up just right.

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Read more about adding work experience onto a resume: Tips for Creating a Resume’s Work Experience Section

3. Highlight Your Education on Your Resume for a Coffee Shop

Unless you’re applying to become a cafe supervisor or a Costa regional manager, you don’t need a college degree for barista jobs.

However, you do need to document your education correctly if you want a chance at landing the job. So, if you have plenty of experience, just give the reader the basics on your education:

Barista Resume Education Sample (Candidate With Experience)

But— 

When you have less experience (or none at all) as a barista, give them more relevant details to bolster your case, like this:

Barista Resume Education Sample (Entry-Level)

When you haven’t finished your college degree yet, add high school below as a second entry, just like in this example.

However, if you have a degree from university, omit your high school diploma from your Costa shift supervisor resume or Dunkin Donuts resume.

If your education area is more impressive than your work experience, swap their places so the restaurant manager gets the yummiest bits first.

Read more about adding high school or college degrees onto a resume: How to Add Your Academic History Onto a Resume

4. List Barista Skills on a Resume Relevant to the Cafe Position You’re After

When preparing, say, a gingerbread latte, you’ll add a bit of ginger, a pinch of cinnamon, and perhaps a touch of nutmeg (unless you just use a premade syrup). You probably wouldn’t add banana or coconut.

Point is, you’ll add just the right spices.

Well, if you want to bring out the flavor on your barista resume, include just the right skills. You can’t list every skill in your arsenal, just like you don’t add every ingredient in the cabinet into a single beverage.

So— 

Here’s how to add the perfect touch of barista skills onto a resume:

• First, identify the various skills you have related to making coffee, serving customers, and working at a cafe.
• Next, get out the barista job description and look through the job requirements portion—that’s where you’ll find the most important resume keywords they’re looking for. 
• In the skills section, include 5–10 of the most relevant skills, those which were identified in both of the above steps.
• Include both hard skills and soft skills in your barista resume skills list.

Have a look at these common skills for baristas and cafe jobs:

25+ Necessary Skills for a Barista Resume

1. Customer Service Skills
2. Latte Art & Milk Steaming
3. Food Safety and Hygiene
4. Coffee Bean Grinding
5. Espresso Machine & Tamping
6. Knowledge of Coffee Brews & Roasts
7. Brewing Coffee Manually & Automatically
8. Speed and Efficiency
9. Arithmetic & Cash Handling
10. Point-of-Sale System (POS)
11. Ability to Work Well Under Pressure
12. Food & Beverage Pairing
13. Fast-Paced Work
14. Friendliness & Tact
15. Stock & Inventory Management
16. Time Management Skills
17. Problem Solving Skills
18. Verbal Communication Skills
19. Decision Making Skills
20. Organizational Skills
21. Collaboration & Teamwork Skills
22. Project Management Skills
23. Computer Skills (for POS and Cash Registers)
24. Interpersonal Skills
25. Technical Skills (Operating Kitchen Machinery)
26. Critical Thinking Skills

Have a look at these example barista skills resume sections:

Barista Resume Skills Example (Experienced Candidate)

Skills for Barista Resume Example (No Experience Candidate)

Easy as a Nespresso machine, right?

Whether you’re a coffee-cupping whiz or just starting out, always choose the barista skills which perfectly match the cafe job description.

5. Show, Don’t Tell: Include Additional Sections to Your Barista Resume

You’ve got the base for a good Dunkin or Costa resume so far. But how can you make it great?

Additional sections.

Extra resume sections help you stand out among all the other resumes for barista jobs. Here are a few top examples of additional sections to include on a barista resume:

Barista Resume Samples: Extra Sections

1. Industry Certificates or Licenses
   A barista course will help secure the job at the cafe, especially if you don’t have barista experience. Do you have a food handling license? Add that to your resume for barista gigs, as well.

2. Volunteer Work
   Having unpaid volunteer experience under your belt is awesome, especially if it’s relevant to barista jobs. Worked in a shelter’s food kitchen or volunteered serving students at a school cafeteria? That’s great experience to add to your coffee-making resume.

3. Knowledge of a Second Language
   Proficiency in a second language is valuable now more than ever before. If you’re applying in a neighborhood where customers speak a foreign language in large numbers, knowing that language definitely gives you the edge over other barista candidates.

4. Passions & Pastimes
   As an ambassador for the cafe, the cafe owner wants to see baristas who are well-rounded. Show off your interests and hobbies on a resume for barista jobs to give them a taste of your full self.

6. Compile the Best Bits Into a Barista Resume Objective or Summary

Now, it’s time to crown your barista resume with that dollop of whipped cream on top—The resume heading statement. It comes in two flavors: the summary statement and the objective statement.

Are you an experienced coffee craftsperson? Use the resume summary. The barista resume summary gives the cafe owner or restaurant manager a quick glimpse into your bean-brewing background. Include a numbered win or two to show them how talented you really are.

Here are two barista resume example summaries:

Barista Resume Examples (Summary Statements)

The wrong example is a watered-down cup o’ joe, while the right one is a bold caffè ristretto. It’s detailed, tailored to one particular barista job description, and it includes a number for the win.

Now— 

What if you’re new to barista jobs? Use a resume objective. A career objective is great when crafting a resume with little experience. It shows some passion for the barista job and a statement of your career goals. However, it also includes a quantifiable achievement to help seal the deal. 

Here are two barista resume objective examples:

Barista Resume Examples (Objective Statement)

As in the barista summary statement, show rather than tell. Personalize your opening statement to one specific job. And, if you have numbers to back up your claims, make sure to include them!

Need help with writing your heading statement? Have a look at this guide: How to Start a Resume

7. Do Write a Barista Cover Letter

Would you serve a cappuccino without frothing the milk first? Well, a resume without a barista cover letter is the same—Not ready to hand over. Cover letters are very important, whether for an entry-level barista resume or a Peet's shift supervisor resume.

Here’s how to write a cover letter for barista jobs:

• Learn how to format your cover letter before beginning.
• Write a cover letter opening statement which draws the reader in from the start.
• Talk up your barista experience, cafe skills, customer service, and other related talents.
• Prove you’re as good as you say by using numbered accomplishments.
• Learn how to end a cover letter right with a powerful closing statement and CTA.

The cover letter is king. In an industry where hundreds of generic resumes get thrown across the counter every month — the cover letter is what makes you stand out. Something with personality that explains why you'd fit that particular cafe’s ethos and vibe.

Want a few more ideas for how to make a cover letter that’ll earn you that cafe job interview? Check out this guide: 35+ Best Tips for Writing a Cover Letter

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Key Takeaway

Let’s summarize how to write a barista resume:

• Format your barista resume template right by using the best font, font size, line spacing, and resume margins. 
• Document your work history with detailed bullet points, numbered achievements, and relevant information.
• List your coffee-making skills and abilities on a barista resume.
• Give a brief description of your academic history, and go into more detail when you have less barista experience.
• Add extra sections onto your resume for barista jobs, such as certifications, awards, or hobbies. 
• Go back to the top and write a compelling barista resume objective or summary.
• Remember to include a barista cover letter before you send in your application.

Well, that’s our guide. We’d love to hear from you: 

• What are the biggest challenges you face when writing a barista resume? 
• Need help parsing the barista job description for resume keywords?
• Do you have any stories of barista jobs or cafe job interviews you want to share?

Let’s chat here in the comments, and thanks for reading!

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This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines. We’re committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.

Sources

• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/food-preparation-and-serving/food-and-beverage-serving-and-related-workers.htm#tab-6