Resources
Coffee tips, brewing guides, and café insights from the team at Online Barista Training.
Coffee Theory
Coffee Brewing Fundamentals: Grind Size, Ratio, Water, Time & Extraction
At its core, brewing coffee is about using water to extract flavor from roasted and ground coffee. The quality of the final cup depends on the coffee itself, but also on how effectively we control a handful of important variables.
How to Cup and Taste Coffee like a Pro
Coffee cupping is the systematic process of tasting coffee in order to determine its unique characteristics and quality level. It is primarily used by those making decisions about which green coffee beans to purchase, but it can also be a learning tool for baristas or a fun activity for customers.
Choosing Coffee Beans for Your Cafe
When you start with great roasted coffee beans, you’re one step closer to serving the best coffee around.
Espresso & Extraction
How to Dial In Espresso: A Step-by-Step Guide for Baristas
Dialing in espresso is the process of adjusting your espresso recipe and grinder to get the best possible flavor from a coffee. It is one of the most important skills a barista can develop and an essential part of running a consistent espresso program.
Espresso Extraction Explained: Dose, Yield, Time & Brew Ratio
Espresso can seem complicated because a small amount of coffee is affected by several variables at once. Change the grind, dose, yield, temperature, or preparation technique and the espresso can taste noticeably different.
Barista Training
New Barista Training Checklist
Use this barista training checklist to guide new baristas through the essential knowledge and skills required to work confidently and consistently behind the bar.
How to Train Baristas: A Complete Guide for Coffee Shop Owners and Managers
A well-trained barista needs to know a lot more than how to pull a shot of espresso and steam milk. They need to understand the coffee they are serving, how the equipment works, what each drink should taste like, how to move efficiently behind the bar, how to take care of the equipment, and how to provide a great experience for customers.
Menu Development & Recipes
Coffee Shop Drink Recipes: Standards for Consistent Beverage Preparation
A great coffee shop beverage program isn't built around having the longest menu or the most complicated recipes. It is built around drinks that taste great, can be prepared consistently, and make sense for the customers and the business.
How to Build a Profitable Coffee Shop Beverage Menu
Every drink needs to work for the customer, the barista, and the business. It needs to taste great, fit the concept, be reasonably easy to execute, and sell at a price that supports a healthy margin.
