NATIONAL BARISTA DAY

NATIONAL BARISTA DAY

March 1 is National Barista Day on the National Day Calendar and we are raising our coffee cups to the creative souls who transform a simple cup of coffee into a work of art!

#NationalBaristaDay

For those who don't know, baristas serve both coffee and alcohol in Italy. Which makes sense why the word "barista" means "bartender" in Italian. The first recorded use of the word "barista" in relation to coffee was in 1938. The profession has grown beyond Italy to around the world as the rise of coffee shops everywhere. In fact, there are over 400,000 professional baristas working in the U.S. alone!

What is a Barista?

A barista is a coffee professional who prepares and serves coffee-based drinks for coffee lovers. It may seem like a simple thing to do, but in reality, a barista is a skilled coffee technician who takes the coffee experience to a higher level. They are a blend of chemist, artist, and community therapist. National Barista Day is the perfect time to celebrate these skilled people in the coffee house industry.

Baristas are masters of grinding and brewing the perfect coffee beans. They have an internal radar that helps them determine specific textures and temperatures of the different types of coffee drinks. They know the science behind creating coffee and have skill to implement their knowledge to provide the perfect cuppa.

4 Barista Components

Being a barista is far more than just pushing buttons on a machine. An average day of a barista requires known four main components to be successful:

  1. Espresso Theory: Managing "the extraction" of beans by balancing grind size, water temperature, and pressure to ensure the coffee isn't too sour or too bitter.

  2. Milk Chemistry: Learning how to "stretch" different types of milk (oat, almond, soy, and dairy) to create the "micro foam" necessary for the silky texture needed for the perfect coffee drink.

  3. The "Pour": Baristas spend months, sometimes years, perfecting latte art—transforming a simple drink into a canvas for hearts, rosettes, and tulips.

  4. The Social Hub: Barista's are the keepers of "I'll take the usual" and the architects of local community vibes. For many, the they're the first person they speak to in the morning. Baristas set the tone with their customers, creating a bond beyond coffee.

WAYS TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL BARISTA DAY

Of course you could celebrate National Barista Day by stopping in to your favorite coffee house and ordering a coffee from you favorite barista. But, if you really want to show your appreciation this year, here are a few ways to make your barista's day:

  1. Leave a slightly more generous tip than usual. It’s a direct way to say "I see your hard work."

  2. Extend a verbal thank you to your barista. "Thanks for starting my day right," goes a long way in a fast-paced environment.

  3. Instead of ordering the "usual", ask your barista for their favorite recommendation. Most baristas have a special recipe or coffee bean. Any barista will be grateful to be able to share their secret specialty drink with a customer.

  4. Take the time to visit with a barista (if possible). Showing interest in their profession can make them feel appreciated.

  5. Post a photo of your morning brew using the hashtag #NationalBaristaDay on social media. Don't forget to tag your favorite local shop to help them get some extra exposure.

HISTORY BEHIND NATIONAL BARISTA DAY

National Barista Day was established in 2019 by Almond Breeze to honor the professionals who use their products daily. What was intended to be used as a marketing campaign for their product, National Barista Day has turned into a global phenomenon.

Almond Breeze dubbed baristas the "hardworking bartenders of the morning," giving c credit to all those professionals who provide the essential fuel that keeps the world moving.