Want to learn how to brew the perfect cup of espresso yourself, or learn how to turn your simple cappuccino into a work of art including latte art?

From an elegant but good espresso to a cappuccino with latte art, an experienced barista can do it all. When are you a barista and how do you become one? In this blog you can read all about the art of coffee making.

What is a barista?
We know the barista as a coffee specialist, call it a coffee artist, but what does the word actually mean? Literally translated from Italian, barista means "bartender. So in Italy the barista serves all kinds of drinks, in other countries we know a barista mainly as someone who is knowledgeable about coffee.

Barista coffee - making coffee like a barista?
The cappuccino you order at your corner coffee shop always looks like a work of art. But being a good barista requires much more than the latte art technique. In fact, just having good coffee (beans) does not guarantee a good cup of coffee. The tastiest cup is made with a good, professional machine. A good piston machine with a freestanding bean grinder is the best choice for this. Still the options are then enormous, this is for example a good entry-level model to make delicious coffees with. The next step is to buy a coffee grinder, because freshly ground beans make the most delicious coffee! You can grind by hand, but there are numerous electric models, such as this Demoka coffee grinder, for example. Tip: Don't skimp on your coffee grinder. You determine the quality of your cup of coffee with your coffee grinder and less with your espresso machine. A cheap grinder has small grinding discs and therefore produces lower quality coffee grinds.

How you brew the grinder makes the difference between a perfect espresso with a powerful flavor and a cup of sour coffee that might as well have come from an instant vending machine. Even the tastiest coffee beans can be ruined this way.
Of importance, for one thing, are the settings of the grind: too coarse will cause the coffee to brew too quickly, and too fine can cause your coffee to not brew at all, or too little. In addition, the time of grinding is important: the piston holder should not be too full, and not too empty.

After grinding, use a tamper to properly press the coffee. There are all kinds, sizes, and barista accessories in this as well. Note that it is important that the top does remain straight, or the water will not flow evenly through the coffee. This is called channeling in technical terms.

We mentioned it before: good coffee beans alone are not enough, but of course they are important. And coffee beans are available in countless flavors, qualities, and from different countries.
The degree of roasting also makes a substantial difference. You have undoubtedly seen it written on a pack of coffee beans or ground coffee: medium roast or dark roast. Here, for example, you'll find different types of beans you can get started with, and then it's a matter of discovering what suits your taste.

And, have you grown to admire the barista at your favorite coffee shop?

Becoming a baristaWe
've just explained all the barista tools you need, and given tips on which ones are best to use. But even more fun is to learn by doing. So if you're still wondering: how do I become a barista? Then we advise you to take a barista workshop (also called barista course or barista training), such as our special Boot coffee workshop!

Here you will learn how to make the best use of your tools and the coffee machine, because ultimately you are making this investment to make that perfect cup of coffee. Of course you will also learn to froth milk, choose the right beans and optimize the extraction time.
We also share the tricks to create the most beautiful latte art on your cappuccino.

Have you become enthusiastic? Then of course you can always do a barista training. But after the workshop you will have a great basis for making a fantastic espresso, cappuccino or latte macchiato at home.