Top Barista Interview Questions
Q – 1 Tell me have you ever worked in a fast manner?
Ans- Yes- it is important to be thorough while being efficient. I do not want to make a beverage for some one that I know is not up to par because I cut corners, but I also want to promptly serve the customer. Running through each step with speed and quality is essential.
Q – 2 Tell me what do you like about coffee?
Ans- love everything about coffee. Each cup tastes differently. It is an art to prepare a good coffee. It fascinates me how many variations of coffee one can drink. There is always something new to discover with coffee.
Q – 3 Tell me do you like coffee? What are your favorite brews?
Ans- I love it. Every morning it wakes up me and my mother by smelling and tasting. My favourite taste is Bremmen, especially espresso. As for coffee brewers, I personally prefer the grind and brew types though I am comfortable in working with any other types.
Q – 4 Do you know what is a macchiato?
Ans- Traditionally, a macchiato is espresso marked with a small amount of foam. Many places now, it’s a short cappucino, foam poured in allowing art. At Starbucks this is specifically a cafe macchiato, but the popular caramel macchiato is an upside down vanilla latte drizzled with caramel.
Q – 5 Tell me have you ever worked in a coffee shop before?
Ans- No i have not, but i have worked in the beauty industry for 8 yrs. servicing people and making sure the end result of their service leaves them wanting to come back, so i can relate to working in a coffee shop.
Q – 6 Tell us would you give someone you knew a free coffee?
Ans- No I would not give someone I know a free coffee. It is not my business and I cannot go giving out things for free off my own accord. The only reason I would give out a free coffee is if I had made a mistake and my manager asked me to provide a free coffee to a customer.
Q – 7 Suppose you were late for a shift what would you do?
Ans- I have never been late to school or to work. I understand that my absence can cause problems for other colleagues. That’s why I always prefer to come to work thirty minutes before and not risk coming exactly on time, to risk traffic jams or other unexpected things.
However, if something extraordinary happened, I would notify my manager as soon as possible and kindly ask him to find a replacement for me, or to somehow organize the work of other partners until I arrive. I would apologize to all my colleagues upon my arrival and start working.
Q – 8 Do you have any questions for me then you can ask?
Ans- Always have some questions prepared. Questions prepared where you will be an asset to the organization are good. How soon will I be able to be productive? And what type of projects will I be able to assist on? Are examples.
Q – 9 Explain why do you want to work with us?
Ans- Your cafe has always been my favorite when it comes to coffee beverages. Having a high taste for coffee based products, I don’t easily like any coffee place and usually prefer to brew my coffee at home, but here, the coffee served to me always tasted like it was made by me, and I enjoyed it. It will be a great pleasure for me to work for you with the intention of increasing your efficiency and client base while maximizing your revenue.
Q – 10 Explain me about a time when you gave exceptional customer service?
Ans- When I volunteered at Cornwall Church, I was asked to serve pizza and drinks at one of the services. During that time, I tried my best to be gracious to every customer. When they’d ask what we had, I’d go all out and not only tell them what we had but what my favorite was and stuff like that. When they’d ask me where things were, I’d not only tell them but I would show them.
Q – 11 Tell me what kind of salary do you need as Barista?
Ans- A loaded question. This is a nasty little game that you will probably lose if you answer first. So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like, That’s a tough question. Can you tell me the range for this position?
In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard, will tell you. If not, say that it can depend on the details of the job. Then give a wide range.
Q – 12 Suppose a customer said they wanted a double double, what are they referring too?
Ans- Double double is a canadian term means a coffee two milk or cream and two sugar.
Q – 13 Tell me how will you maintain focus amidst the monotony of making and remaking coffee throughout the day?
Ans- Well, you say it is a monotonous task, but not so for a person like me who has a passion for coffee. I believe in 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 – 14 Tell me would you be upset if a customer orders three drinks and leaves no tip?
Ans- No, it is a customers choice to leave a tip or not, if he or she would like to leave a tip , thatd be great but if they were unsatisfied with service they have all rights to leave no tip.
Q – 15 Explain one instance when you had to work under great stress. How did you manage?
Ans- 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 – 16 Why did you leave your last job as Barista?
Ans- Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, co-workers or the organization. If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forward-looking reasons.
Q – 17 Tell me when were you not able to help a customer be completely satisfied?
Ans- During my retail experience, part of my job as layby attendent was to make customers fully aware of the terms and conditions of layby, and hope my coworkers did the same also. In one situation, a customer returned months after her completion date of her layby (which had been store cancelled) and wanted a full refund.
I was not able to give her a full refund (due to cancellation fees), but apologised immensely and helped her collect the items that were on layby again from around the store and finishing her purchase at checkouts.
Q – 18 Explain what is your favorite coffee? How do you like it brewed? What technique do you like the most?
Ans- My personal favorite is Arabica and in technique I’m addicted to espresso. As for coffee brewers, I personally prefer the grind and brew types though I am comfortable in working with any other types.
Q – 19 Explain me a time when you gave or received great customer service?
Ans- During my brief stint at Pier 1, a woman came in with her three children and demanded pomegranate-scented candles. I politely explained to her that we were out, and referred her to the 73 other types of candles we had available.
Unsatisfied, the customer brandished her coupon book and vocalized that if I don’t get her the pomegranate-scented candles promised on our website, she would call my manager and see to it that I was immediately laid off. As she explained this, her children improvised a game of tackle football in the artisan pottery aisle that I had so carefully arranged just moments earlier.
I enlisted a co-worker to attend to the woman while I ran to the adjacent Whole Foods, purchased a ripe pomegranate, crushed it with my bare hands, and used the extract to disguise an otherwise unscented candle. Simultaneously, I restrained the children with our brand-new Splendid Relaxation Mist, as patented by local catnip manufacturers, thereby saving both the pottery and the well-being of our other customers.
Needless to say, the angry woman bought both the candles and the mist and even gave me a recommendation for a promotion because I am always willing to go the extra mile to ensure a customer’s satisfaction, even if that mile is fraught with swampland and man-eating crocodiles. TC mark
Q – 20 Tell me how do you make a latte?
Ans- For me..1-3 shot of espresso in small, medium,and large with 0ne cm. foam on the top. it must be this drinks are light coffee and more milk added.
Q – 21 General Barista Job Interview Questions:
Ans- ☛ Are you good at multi tasking?
☛ Discuss a time where you had to solve or make a quick decision?
☛ What processes do you complete to ensure your barista area is clean?
☛ Has your boss ever asked you to do something that you didn’t want to do?
☛ What would you do in an emergency situation eg fire?
☛ What makes you stand out against the other job applicants?
☛ This position requires early starts can you maintain this?
☛ What made you want to become a barista?
☛ What espresso machines have you worked with?
☛ What is your work availability?
☛ Would you complete further training in the coffee industry?
☛ Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
☛ What is the difference between a latte and cappuccino?
☛ What would you do if you saw your fellow employee take money from the register?
☛ If you were late for a shift what would you do?
☛ What would your former employer say about you?
☛ When are you able to start?
☛ Why did you leave your last job?
☛ What kind of salary do you want?
☛ Do you have any questions for me?
☛ What is a mistake you have learned from?
☛ How can you be a successful barista?
☛ Tell me about yourself?
Q – 22 Fresh Barista Job Interview Questions:
Ans-
☛ Why do you think you have the skills to suit this role?
☛ What do you know about (coffee shop name) and the role we are looking for?
☛ Can you name 3 other products we sell?
☛ How do you think you cope under pressure?
☛ Are you good at taking praise from others?
☛ How would you provide top quality customer service? What lengths would you go to?
☛ How can you increase the sales of starbucks?
☛ Why do you want to work for us?
☛ If you were an object what object would you be and why
☛ Are you a team player?
☛ Do you prefer to work alone or with others?
☛ Can you work a flexible schedule?Tell me about a time you went out of your way to help a customer?
☛ Can you share an example of how you handled a difficult customer?What if the customer is wrong?
☛ What makes you a good fit for the position?
☛ Why should we hire you?
☛ Why Starbucks, Nero etc? (whichever the company you are applying for)
☛ Why are you best candidate for this job?
Q – 23 Professional Barista Job Interview Questions:
Ans-
☛ Tell about yourself and why you think you are successful barista?
☛ Why do you like to work as barista?
☛ What could you do not like to work as barista?
☛ What are your future steps after experience you’ll gain from your barista job?
☛ As barista, what training courses or extra education that you think will improve your work performance?
☛ What salary do you expect you’ll get from being barista employee?
Q – 24 Example Barista Job Interview Questions:
Ans-
☛ What are the main job duties and responsibilities of barista employee?
☛ What are the skills required for barista employee in order to success in his work?
☛ Describe the abilities you have in order to work with us as barista?
☛ What are the knowledge elements you obtained from your education, training and work experience would support your barista career?
☛ How would you describe (needed barista or your) work style?
Q – 25 Basic Barista Job Interview Questions:
Ans-
☛ Why would you like to work for us?
☛ What would you do if a customer wasn’t happy with a coffee you made them?
☛ Describe an experience when you felt stressed? How did you manage?
☛ How will you remain focused each day with the monotony of making coffee?
☛ Do you have a favourite coffee drink?
☛ Explain a time when you provided excellent customer service?
☛ If you served a friend would you give them a free coffee?
☛ What are your favourite coffee techniques you use?
☛ Has there been a time when a customer was not satisfied?
☛ Can you tell me what a Breve is?
☛ Have you positively influenced someone in your life before?
☛ How do you define excellent customer service?
☛ Do you have a good memory, can you memorise a list of ordered items?
☛ When a customer orders a double double, what does this mean?
☛ Are you able to work in a fast paced environment?
☛ Can you name some coffee milk alternatives?
☛ Would you be disappointed if a customer didn’t leave a tip?
☛ How would you make a latte?
☛ Why do you like to work in a cafe or coffee shop?
☛ What did you like most about your barista course that you completed?
☛ Do you have a problem with working weekends?
☛ Explain a situation where you worked well in a team?
Q – 26 Explain an example of a time in which you had to be relatively quick in coming to a decision?
Ans- During my uni study and experience, I had a field trip in which we had to set abboreal traps in particular groups. We were told we had a small amount of time in which to set a large amount of traps in a location of our choice. Not wanting to waste any time, I made a quick decision to set the traps in an area of scrub and slope, in order to sample more smaller species within the area.
Q – 27 As you know baristas start work early morning and their shift can last till late at night. Do you think you can handle the customer services part effectively this early in the morning and that late at night?
Ans- 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 – 28 Suppose opening shifts begin at 6am and closing shifts can expect to stay as late as midnight. Could you be outgoing and friendly with customers both early in the morning and late at night?
Ans- As a psychiatrically diagnosed “night person,” I would prefer later shifts. Closing up at midnight will be no problem at all because, as I like to say, the night doesn’t even begin until 1am. This might suggest that I am ill-equipped for opening up shop at 6, but don’t be fooled.
I have woken up that early to get to the airport on at least four separate occasions, and I have never missed a flight! As for my early morning demeanor, this one time freshman year.
I woke up at 5:30am in an abandoned lot on the outskirts of town covered in glitter and silly string and was amiable enough to negotiate a ride home from a gas station attendant and outgoing enough to talk my way back into my dorm even though I had left my purse with my keys and identification on a carnival ride.
This was an isolated incident but I assure you that even if a similar situation were to arise, I would be able to get to work on time, looking neat and bright-eyed, and will be functional, attentive, and respectful, especially if I am granted unlimited access to the espresso machine.
Q – 29 Tell me how well do you remember names?
Ans- I have tricks to remembering names well; finding a feature, article of clothing, or mannerism that I connect to the name as well as repeating it. This way, I can make ’em stick and connect ’em to a face and situation.
Q – 30 Explain how well is your memory? Have you ever had to memorize a list of items before?
Ans- Yes, while working at a cosmetic retail counter i would remember everything the customer came in for and go behind the counter and grab it all at once. this made for a more personal experience as i had more time to connect with my client instead of running back and forth for one item at a time.
Q – 31 Explain a situation in which you were able to positively influence the actions of others in a desired direction?
Ans- I never wanted to be a burden to my teammates back when I was in the office so I always help to whomever needed it back then as long as I could provide the help they needed. When I left the office, they told me they just realize how lucky they were and how easy it was when
I was with them and they were inspired how hardworking I was. In my mind, I was just trying to never be a burden but it grew into something everyone can adapt for an easy life. Always help!
Q – 32 Tell me how will you handle a customer who is not happy with the coffee you presented?
Ans- By not arguing, apologizing immediately and offering a preference based / customized cup, carefully brewed, and served promptly.
Q – 33 Tell me how would you know you were successful on this Barista job?
Ans- I am sure that I was successful. I have dreamt to work for your company and I can do anything to make my dream become true. And I am really interested in this job, for my passion not for money.
Q – 34 Why are you enthusiastic about working at Global Guideline?
Ans- Well sir, first of all, I truly love the decor. I could live here for weeks, and I might actually need to, because our apartment is having a bit of a bedbug epidemic. But really – I love these faux velvet diner booths. My Grandma Ruth once had a dress with this exact same print on it.
I loved her dearly until she died of gluten allergies, bless her soul. Thankfully, Global Guideline has gluten-free banana muffins, which were Grandma Ruth’s favorite! I am enthusiastic about working at Global Guideline, not only because of my passion for gluten-free baked goods, but because it will give me the financial security I need to finish my animated documentary about unicycle racing in the neuroscience community.
Q – 35 Tell me what was a time when a customer was not satisfied with your service and what did you do to remedy the situation?
Ans- One time I did not notice a customer and he had to wait for his order for about twenty minutes. When I finally came to him, he was extremely dissatisfied and said he would never ever come to our restaurant again. I strongly apologized for my behavior and offered him a free drink. He accepted it and came to our restaurant many more times.
Q – 36 Tell me have you ever had to do multiple tasks at once?
Ans- Yes; working in a grocery store, I would often be in the middle of writing labels as I ring some one out as well as answer a question of a different customer. I find that I am able to maintain a conversation while multi-tasking and politely finding a way to ask for a moment when duties call me away from the cashier position.
Q – 37 Tell me are you a self-taught barista, or do you have any training? Either way, how do you feel your training has prepared you for this career?
Ans- No, I am not a self-taught barista. I feel that my training ground has prepared me to be customer-oriented before doing the process of them teaching me to do the task I am assigned to or at. Because I believe the providing customer service is the biggest impact that any company could give to be able to be successful.
Q – 38 Tell me do you have any experience as a barista?
Ans- Yes. I have worked as a coffee brewer at Dunkin Donuts and enjoyed the experience immensely during the three years that I worked.
Q – 39 Explain what have you done to improve your knowledge that related to Barista position since the last year?
Ans- Try to include improvements that are relevant to the job. A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as positive self-improvement. Have some good ones in handy to mention in this circumstance.
Employers tend to look for goal-oriented applicants. Show a desire for continuous learning by listing your non-work related hobbies. Regardless of what hobbies you choose to present, remember that the goal is to prove self-sufficiency, time management, and motivation.
Everyone should learn from his mistake. I always try to consult my mistakes with my friends and relatives, especially with elder and experienced persons.
Q – 40 Tell me what experience do you have in this field and Barista position?
Ans- Speak about specific matters that are relevant to the position you are applying for. If you do not have any specific experience, get them as close as you can.
If you are being asked this question from your employer, you can explain about your experience. Tell the employer what responsibilities you were performing in your previous job. You can tell about the programs you have developed and modules you have worked on. You can also tell about your achievements in different programs.
Q – 41 Explain us what makes you stand apart from the other candidates?
Ans- My master’s degree in comparative literature has taught me that the human soul is infinite, but not as infinite as the human desire for frothy espresso drinks.
My quick, analytic mind can often anticipate what a customer is about to order before they even order it and my expansive knowledge of global folklore provides me with ample topics for witty banter to brighten customers’ days and distract them in case we run out of half and half.
Q – 42 As you know this job is a routine work. What would motivate you to do it well every day?
Ans- To be honest with you, I prefer routine jobs to creative jobs. Once I learn to do things, I do my job well and have a good feeling about it. Jobs where you have to learn to do new things every day are not really a good choice for me. I simply prefer to do routine jobs, enjoy my colleagues and talks with customers.
After all, a good working environment is more important for me than the fact if the job is routine or not. .
Q – 43 Explain me about a time when you worked a few hours straight without a break?
Ans- I worked from noon to six at the grocery store, right at lunch time and before dinner time. Those beginning and end hours were always the busiest and often, each individual customer would purchase multiple items. During the lull period, with the least concentration of customers, I would update prices, re-stock items, and maintain the store’s level of cleanliness in order to use my time well.
Q – 44 Tell me how do you keep focused while doing an easy task?
Ans- How I keep focused doing any task whether its considered easy or not is I have a constant list running threw my head of what needs to be done next and what I could be doing after to make my job environment a more friendly and inviting place.
Q – 45 Do you know what is a Breve?
Ans- Caffe Breve is an American variation of a latte: a milk-based espresso drink using steamed half-and-half mixture of milk and cream instead of milk.
Q – 46 Tell me a time when you provided impeccable customer services?
Ans- 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.