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Written by Anna MuckermanAnna Muckerman

Barista CV Example & Writing Guide

Baristas don’t just make and serve coffee with a smile, no matter how busy and demanding the job, but they also make many a customer’s day. To put a smile on the hiring manager’s face when reading your barista CV, give a sense of how easily coffee shop visitors perk up their mood and warm up to the premises with you behind the counter.
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Barista CV Example & Writing Guide
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If you’re a coffee lover then a job as a barista might just be one of the most satisfying entry-level positions you could pick. Whether you plan to work in a trendy independent coffee shop, or one of the reliable chains, might affect how you write your CV. Luckily, you don’t have to figure it out alone. This barista CV example and guide will cover the following topics:

  • What does a barista do?
  • How to write a barista CV (tips and tricks)
  • The best format for your barista CV
  • Advice on each section of your CV (header, summary, work history, skills, and education)
  • Professional CV layout and design hints.
Expert tip

With dozens of occupation-specific CV examples for job seekers in the UK and beyond, Resume.io is an expert resource no matter your field or experience level.

What does a barista do?

Baristas are responsible for making all sorts of cafe drinks, but they also get to be social by greeting new customers and whipping up “the usual” for regulars. The word “barista” is borrowed from Italian, where it refers to a person who works behind the bar serving hot drinks, snacks and even alcoholic beverages. In the English language, however, baristas are most often employees who serve coffee and other drinks in coffee shops, cafes and restaurants. 

While baristas should be skilled when it comes to brewing espresso, whipping up cappuccinos and pouring creative lattes, modern baristas will almost certainly be asked to handle other tasks in the establishment including:

  • Blending cold drinks like iced coffee or smoothies
  • Heating up meal items or serving food to customers
  • Taking orders and processing register transactions
  • Cleaning up dining areas and making sure supplies are replenished
  • Stocking refrigerators and display cases
Statistical insight

Before the pandemic, the UK’s growing shortage of baristas offered excellent opportunities to learn and thrive in this profession. In 2019, the barista shortage was only growing, according to Insider.co.uk. The UK was on track to need another 40,000 baristas by 2023 on top of the already 160,000 already employed. But in January 2023, United Baristas painted a dimmer picture of job prospects. Owing to the recession. UK growth was forecast at -1.3% and 19% of coffee workers were seeking jobs. But thanks to robust financial performance of coffee businesses in 2022, the number of job vacancies was still encouraging — particularly in full-time roles at the senior shop level and in junior and middle management. 

How to write a barista CV

While a barista CV needn’t be complicated, it should be well-organised. Here are the essential components to include:

  • The CV header
  • The CV summary (aka profile or personal statement)
  • The employment history section
  • The CV skills section
  • The education section

While these CV sections will be standard no matter where you apply, the content of each should be updated to match the tone and needs of the employer. For example, if the job description emphasises a large customer service component, you may want to feature your key interpersonal skills in your summary and mention customer satisfaction successes in your employment history section.

These little changes might seem time-consuming, but if the competition for a position is tough, the slightest differences in how you portray yourself might just be the golden key to landing the interview.

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Knowing how to write a CV takes effort, but we help break down the mystery. Take a look at this detailed guide to learn more about how to structure, write, and design a job-winning CV.

Expert tip

If you’re planning to apply to a barista job with no previous experience, make sure to focus on transferable skills and personality traits used in former employment. Attention to detail, commitment to customer service or ability to follow instructions are all of value as a new barista.

Choosing the best CV format for a barista

The best CV format for a barista will likely depend on the amount of previous experience you have. If you’ve worked in other professional capacities before, even if you weren’t a barista, then the reverse chronological CV format is your best bet. This structure focuses on the employment history section where you can give more details about your past roles and accomplishments. The reverse chronological format is also preferred by hiring managers and the CV scanners built into most online application portals.

If you don’t have any previous experience to show, you may opt for the functional CV format. Here, your education and skills will take centre stage and you may not even include the employment history section at all. Be warned, though, hiring managers frown upon this structure and it can quickly make you look inexperienced. A better option is to use the hybrid format which combines a bit of both styles while still featuring a condensed employment history section.

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Your CV format will dictate which parts of your CV will stand out to an employer.

Expert tip

If you’ve never heard of a CV scanner before, you’ll want to prepare yourself for the challenge. Also known as applicant tracking systems, or ATS, these algorithms search your CV for keywords and rank it against the other candidates. Only the top-scoring are then passed to the hiring manager for review. You can minimise your chances of being filtered out with some simple steps:

  1. Take notice of any duties, skills or requirements emphasised by the employer — these are likely keywords programmed into the ATS.
  2. Place these keywords into the appropriate CV sections, making sure they are true for you and that the writing flows naturally.
  3. Use a resume format with common section headings like “Summary” or “Education” so the ATS knows where to look for information.

CV header

This is what your CV recipient will notice first — your name, occupation and contact information displayed prominently on the page. A distinctive header design can set your application apart from the rest and make it easier for the employer to get back to you at a later hiring stage — that is, with an interview invitation! The impact is even stronger if you match the header design on your CV and cover letter.

Barista CV summary example

The summary of your CV — sometimes called the profile or personal statement — is the place to make your sparkling personality shine — after all, no one likes to be handed their morning cup of java by a grumpy barista. It's the section to quickly explain all that you can bring to the establishment and the role. 

Highlight your top personality traits, key skills and work experience here. This is also one of the ATS’ favourite places to hunt for keywords, so don’t forget to include the most important ones like the name of the position and company, for example. 

See the summary from our barista CV sample below.

Adaptable CV summary example

Friendly and energetic barista with 9+ years of experience working in busy coffeehouses and cafes. Highly knowledgeable in creating a wide variety of coffee and tea beverages and committed to remaining up-to-date on the latest and greatest specialty drink trends. Proud to provide enthusiastic and efficient customer service.

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Expert tip

Get more inspiration for your summary and other CV sections from these other CV examples and writing guides: waitress CV sample, hospitality CV example, customer service CV sample, bartender CV example, and retail CV sample.

Employment history sample

The employment history section will likely take up the bulk of your CV and should be crafted with care. Since baristas often aren’t required to have industry-specific experience, it’s OK to list previous jobs that demonstrate customer service skills – even better if they were in the hospitality or food and beverage industry. 

First, create a subheading with the name of the position, the employer, the location and dates worked. Then, add four or five bullet points that describe your duties, skills and experiences. Make sure to quantify your accomplishments wherever possible by adding numbers, statistics or other quantifying details. Lastly, make sure your employment history section is listed in reverse chronological order, with your most recent (or current) position coming first. 

The employment history section from our adaptable barista CV sample illustrates how this is done.

Adaptable CV employment history example

Barista at The Common Coffee House, London
April 2017 - October 2023

  • Created upwards of 400 drinks per day, while engaging with customers to ensure their coffeehouse experience was pleasurable.
  • Developed a full understanding of coffee culture and shared relevant knowledge with guests.
  • Offered suggestions to guests for beverage and food pairing.
  • Replenished fridges and dry goods as needed so customer service was never disrupted by any staff running out of ingredients.

 

Barista at Bird's Nest, London
August 2014 — March 2017

  • Took orders, served guests and processed payments in a timely and orderly fashion, surpassing efficiency and overall performance targets.
  • Maintained full knowledge of the food and drink offerings I prepared and served to 350+ customers daily.
  • Prepared the cafe for opening and maintained a tidy and welcoming environment.
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CV skills example

The CV skills section might seem like the easiest part to write, but it’s worth taking a moment of reflection before brain-dumping all your attributes here. Since you only get a word or two to describe each ability, make sure to choose clear examples of your strengths and knowledge. Carefully check the job description and adding in employer-requested skills here, since this is one of the ATS’ best chances to pick up on keywords. 

Check out the skills section from our barista CV example below.

Adaptable CV skills example
  • Knowledge of Coffee Brews and Roasts
  • Customer Service
  • Knowledge of Brewing Machinery
  • Latte Art Food
  • Safety and Hygiene
  • Effective Time Management
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Expert tip

If you have previous experience as a barista or in the food service industry, you’ll want to include a combination of hard and soft skills in this section. That means listing your technical abilities like preparation of specialty coffee drinks or food safety practices along with your personality traits like a positive attitude and team spirit.

Barista CV education example

While baristas aren’t generally required to complete formal training, the education section of your CV gives a hiring manager valuable insight into your background and overall goals. You should list any degrees or diplomas in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent. List the name of the institution, dates attended and location. You can also include a degree-in-progress if you’re still studying.

The education section is a great place to add any awards, certificates or additional training you’ve completed. While these details might not be necessary for entry-level positions, they can help advance you into more niche barista roles. See the education section from our CV sample below.

Adaptable CV education example

GCSE, Regent High School, London 
September 2011 - May 2015

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CV layout and design

The layout and design of your CV can have more of an impact than you might think. Many entry-level candidates will apply with the same basic skills and personality traits, so an applicant who stands out in terms of professionalism and interest in the position can easily move to the forefront of the hiring manager’s mind.

Your barista CV layout and design needn’t be complicated — in fact, simple is usually better. It should, however, be attractive, neat and easy to read. Make sure to use the same font styles and sizes throughout the CV. You should also keep a balance of white space to text to avoid visual fatigue for the reader.

Expert tip

To avoid costly mistakes and save time, consider using one of resume.io's professionally-designed CV templates.

Key takeaways for a barista CV

  1. Baristas and other food service employees are in  demand, so now is a great time to prepare your CV.
  2. The reverse chronological resume format is preferable if you have any previous employment to show.
  3. Don’t forget to add employer-emphasised keywords throughout your CV, especially in the summary and skills sections.
  4. Check out our adaptable barista CV sample for a head start on your layout and design.
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