Is There Really a Future for Baristas! Is High Income Possible in the Coffee Industry?!

Being a barista is perhaps one of the most desired careers for those born in the 90s and 2000s. In the past year, many coffee shop owners have noted that over 60% of barista resume submissions come from career changers. When asked about their reasons, the answers invariably revolve around "loving coffee" or feeling "exhausted from previous work."

First and foremost, I'm not discouraging anyone from entering the coffee industry. For any industry to develop further, it needs professionals from diverse fields to expand its horizons.

For example, improving coffee quality requires agricultural research talents; optimizing coffee equipment and adding more functions requires mechanical engineering expertise, and so on. However, the prerequisite is not just an interest in coffee, but also the dedication to deeply understand everything related to coffee.

Loving coffee and having career development opportunities in the coffee industry are two different things. The longevity of any job depends not only on passion for the work but also on dedication to mastering it.

The Reality of Being a Barista

With so many people wanting to switch careers to become baristas, perhaps they've been misled by chain coffee shop recruitment practices, believing that all coffee shops are willing to hire beginners and provide relevant training; or perhaps they've grown numb to their previous jobs and see coffee shop staff appearing relaxed, thus harboring high expectations for the barista profession.

Is being a barista an easy job? Certainly, some aspects are easier than others, but this depends on the practitioner's attitude and their desire for continued development. Easier work naturally yields fewer rewards, but intense effort doesn't necessarily guarantee better outcomes—what matters most is moving in the right direction.

Career Potential in the Coffee Industry

Someone once posed a "soul-searching question" to me: clarify this industry's potential—can baristas earn high incomes? Do baristas really have career prospects? The answer is inevitably yes—otherwise, how would this industry have developed? It couldn't possibly thrive on the average monthly salary of 4-5k that many perceive.

"Barista" is merely a collective term for all positions in the coffee industry—anyone engaged in coffee-related professions can be called a barista! If we limit this profession solely to brewing coffee, career development indeed becomes challenging. This seemingly therapeutic and "simple" process of brewing coffee has led many to overlook the underlying effort required.

We see many people gain fame through coffee brewing competitions and witness various impressive coffee extraction methods, yet few contemplate why these approaches are used, which coffee beans they suit, or what special characteristics they bring to the coffee. This process requires extensive coffee knowledge and deep understanding of everything from coffee cultivation to extraction.

Of course, brewing coffee can be a hobby without reaching such professional levels. However, if you want to become a barista, you must approach this work with a professional mindset.

Addressing Disappointment in the Profession

The latter part of the "soul-searching question" mentioned above was: there's nothing wrong with loving coffee, and nothing wrong with wanting to pursue this career. Success离不开热爱 (success离不开热爱 - cannot be separated from passion), but why do so many people become disappointed with the barista profession?

Disappointment in this job typically stems from two reasons: salary expectations and unmet expectations. The former is determined when accepting the position; the latter occurs when many who love this profession believe that being a barista only requires knowing how to brew coffee, only to discover that limited opportunities exist for development with just brewing skills... However, due to disappointment, many label this profession as "having no future."

For professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style)

For more specialty coffee beans, please add FrontStreet Coffee on private WeChat, ID: qjcoffeex

The True Potential of the Coffee Industry

The coffee industry truly has enormous development potential, with numerous positions available as targets for career changers. Being a barista encompasses more than just brewing coffee, and learning professional coffee knowledge isn't limited to working in coffee shops.

If you genuinely want to switch careers to coffee and plan to develop in this industry, start by learning about coffee knowledge, understand the industry's overall development, and finally decide on a suitable position. If you merely like/enjoy brewing coffee, want to learn more brewing skills, or think this profession is easy—let me offer some advice: please don't make the career change.

Let's reframe our perspective: "Escaping poverty is as important as drinking coffee."

Visiting coffee shops for exchanges and sharing with friends can also improve your brewing skills. Having a job that sustains your lifestyle while keeping coffee as a relaxing passion might be a better choice.

Image source: Internet

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