The Barista – a dying profession?
The coffee space has been booming for the last few years as coffee culture takes hold within South African life. Sadly. COVID-19 has had a profound impact on an industry that was once deemed bulletproof. Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of their safety and so it’s only natural for their preferences to change.
The barista Run-down
But what does that mean for the barista? A large part of the experience is the human element. If you’re a regular at your local coffee spot, it’s likely that your barista not only knows you by name but also knows how you drink your coffee. Stacey Moss, our Managing Director talks about the future of this profession.
The barista, or the magician, as we like to call them, is the face of coffee. There is so much more to a barista than just the technical skills. Consumers love coffee, but they love the experience more. A barista indulges the senses of the end user through sight, taste, touch, smell and sound.
A good barista is knowledgeable about the coffee they’re serving and understands the complexities behind it. They use this information to engage with the consumer. They also use this information as a tool to upsell and encourage them to buy additional products or try different blends.
Covid-19’s ongoing impact
Local coffee shops and restaurants rely on their barista to provide the best cup of coffee and so even though occupancy in these establishments is not nearly where it should be as a result of COVID, the job of the barista in this industry remains safe.
Baristas at office coffee shops on the other hand are worse affected. Companies are continuing to reduce the number of staff that physically have to go into the office and so the need for coffee spots in these spaces is becoming dwindling.
Automation
I believe that we will start to see an even bigger uptake in automated coffee solutions. I think work environments were always going to move in this direction but, COVID has certainly accelerated the shift towards low touch economy solutions.
With safety of employees being the number one priority, I imagine that automatic vending solutions using app based technology will become more popular than ever before.
Not only is this perceived as the safer solution, but it’s also seen as a means to cut costs. If businesses go in this direction, it eliminates the need to pay someone to operate the equipment, as well as potentially reduces wastage.
With that said, the product received is important but, how the customer feels receiving it is far more significant. Which to me, highlights that there is still a need for the barista.
Anything but average
Magical coffee is an artisanal craft and it’s the barista that adds to the overall experience. Unfortunately, it’s an underrated occupation but, we have always viewed it as a superstar profession. It’s a profession one creates employment opportunities while bringing that special touch to the paying customer.
Without the barista we would be drinking average coffee and learning a lot less about the story behind each cup.
