Whether it’s Starbucks you’re applying at or a local hipster café you’ve got your sights set on, coffee shop interviews tend to have a pretty set structure. As a result, it can be relatively easy to prepare for them as long as you know what to expect going in.
In general, interview questions at coffee shop jobs ask you about customer-service skills and teamwork. They’ll also ask about any prior coffee experience you might have.
Still, the interview process at a coffee shop is a little more nuanced than just that. If you’re ready to learn how to ace interview questions at coffee shop gigs, keep reading. As a former barista myself, I’ve covered everything you need to know to help you land that job.
What to Know Before Starting the Process
The first step to getting started as a barista is to actually get yourself an interview in the first place. This means filling out an application for the job.
With big coffee chains like Starbucks or Peet’s, you can head to the careers section of their websites to apply for barista positions. One thing I’ll say is that even if you plan to do this, it’s nice to head into your coffee shop and ask if they’re hiring. This helps baristas put a face to the applicant and shows that you’re a local candidate who’s interested in working at the store.
Local coffee shops will sometimes still have paper applications, or they may use job sites like Indeed to find candidates. If you’re interested in applying for a job at a local, independent coffee shop, you’ll have more luck walking in and asking for an application. Sometimes, these applications can be tough to find on your own, so if there’s a specific shop you want to work at, it’s best to head in and ask.
How to Prepare for a Coffee Shop Interview
Before heading into a coffee shop interview, there are a few things you’ll want to do. For one thing, you’ll need to make sure to dress appropriately.
Coffee shops, like many other retail positions, tend to have pretty laid-back dress codes. However, don’t let this fool you into thinking you can show up in ripped jeans and a crop top to your interview! Although you don’t need to wear a full suit, wear smart-casual clothes that look polished. A pair of khakis or a nice sundress can go a long way in making a good impression.
Secondly, it pays to do a bit of research, not just about the coffee shop, but about coffee in general. Having some knowledge about different filtration methods or the types of coffee your local shop usually brews can make a good impression on hiring managers at cafés.
Finally, make sure that you’ve prepped some questions and answers ahead of time before going into your interview. I’ll break down a few common questions a little bit later to help make this step easier for you.
What Not to Do at Your Coffee Shop Interview
When it comes to coffee shop interviews, there are a couple of things that you don’t want to do. For one thing, don’t go to your interview hungry. Even if you love chowing down on your local café’s croissants, it’s best to save that for a day out with your friends. Showing up with a rumbling stomach is not a good look for an interview!
Secondly, many coffee shops will offer you a free beverage during your interview. Many people don’t realize that this is actually part of the interview. What you order tells the interviewer a lot about you and what you know about coffee.
My advice would be to order a pour over of a blend of coffee you know the shop has. This shows that you’re genuinely interested in coffee and that you know different filtration methods. Both of these are skills you’ll need if you wind up getting the job.
Lastly, when many people go in for a coffee shop interview, they make the mistake of not asking for contact details. Getting an email or a phone number after your interview gives you a way to follow up about the position after the interview. Not only does this help you figure out if you’ve got the job or not faster, but it also shows interest and makes it easy to send a thank you note later.
12 Common Interview Questions at a Coffee Shop
Now that you know how to apply and prepare for a job interview at a coffee shop, let’s get into the questions. Although these aren’t all the questions you might be asked at a coffee shop, they are a few of the most common.
1. How Do You Handle Stress at Work?
Coffee shops are busy places, especially during the early mornings. It’s not uncommon for coffee shops to get extremely hectic—and stressful—during these morning periods.
Many interviewers ask you how you handle stress to see if you’d thrive in this kind of environment or if it wouldn’t be the best fit.
If you get asked this question, the key here is to show the interviewer that you can stay calm while under pressure. Let them know about a few strategies you have for keeping your cool, even when the going gets tough at work.
2. How Would You Deal With an Upset Customer?
It’s all too common for customers to get upset over their coffee, especially during the early morning shift. After all, for many, their morning cup of Joe is what gets them through a stressful day at work!
Knowing how to handle upset customers is going to be a big part of your job if you wind up working at the coffee shop, which is why many managers will ask you how you’d handle the situation.
In general, you’ll want to let the interviewer know that you would stay calm and ask questions to diffuse the situation. You can let them know that you’d offer to remake their drink or take other action according to store policy.
3. What’s Your Favorite Drink and Why?
This question is similar to how some coffee shops will offer you a free drink before your interview. It gives the hiring manager a chance to learn more about your interest and knowledge of coffee as well as learn more about your personality.
This is a great chance to let your past coffee experience or any knowledge you have shine. You can even offer a couple of drinks that you like, stating at the end which one is your favorite out of all of them.
4. Why Do You Want to Work Here?
Hiring managers want to know that their employees are excited about working at their company and being successful. This is especially important in customer-facing roles, such as being a barista, where your attitude can make a big difference in beverage sales.
When answering this question, try to be specific. Don’t just talk about how much you love coffee—talk about how much you love their coffee. Find a way to compliment the coffee shop and to showcase what makes them special and why you’re drawn to working there.
5. Do You Have Any Previous Coffee Experience?
If you’ve got any previous experience working with coffee or even with food in general, this is a great time to share it. The more coffee experience you have, the easier it’s going to be to train you to make great coffee.
Besides coffee experience, you can also mention any retail, food-service, or customer-service experience you’ve had. Although these aren’t specifically coffee roles, they still translate well to the fast-paced environment of a coffee shop.
6. What Motivates You?
Interviewers like to know what gets you out of bed in the morning. It helps them learn more about who you are and how they can keep you driven to do your best at work.
If you get asked this question at a coffee shop interview, try to tie your answer back to the position you’re applying for. For instance, you could say that you’re motivated by seeing happy customers or by completing checklists.
You’ll want to avoid mentioning that benefits or money motivate you. These kinds of answers can turn hiring managers off, showing that you’re only there for the cash and not because you care about the job.
7. What Is Your Availability Like?
Coffee shops can have a wide range of opening hours, depending on where the shop is located. Cafés on college campuses, for example, tend to be open late at night to help cramming students. Coffee shops in busy downtown areas, on the other hand, tend to be open early-mornings for the commuter crowd.
Before applying for a job at a coffee shop, make sure you’ve got some flexibility in your availability. Most cafés will require you to either work early mornings or nights or will ask you to help out with weekend shifts. The more available you can be, the more likely you are to get the job.
8. Do You Visit This Café Frequently?
One way that hiring managers can tell if you’re passionate about the job you’re applying for is by seeing how often you swing by their coffee shop. For instance, if you’re applying at Peet’s but you usually hit up Starbucks, you’re probably not going to be as motivated for a job at Peet’s!
If you get asked this question, be honest, but try to show that you’re interested in this particular café for a reason. Let the hiring manager know what attracted you to this coffee shop and why you want to work there.
9. Are You Good at Memorization?
Working at a coffee shop involves memorizing different drink recipes and instructions. Plus, since many coffee shops have menus that change seasonally, you’ll need to be able to memorize new menu items constantly.
Showing a hiring manager that you’re good at memorization can show them that you’ll be able to keep up with the changing menus. It also shows that you’ll be able to learn how to prep drinks correctly and quickly for customers.
10. Are You Comfortable With Being on Your Feet for Long Periods of Time?
Coffee shop positions, like many other food service positions, require you to be on your feet for extended periods of time. During rushes, you might not get to sit down for several hours, which can be draining.
Hiring managers will often ask how comfortable you are with being on your feet for long periods of time to see if this type of work environment will be a good fit. If you’re not able to stand up for ongoing mounts of time, you probably won’t be the right pick for the job.
11. What Coffee Preparation Methods Are You Familiar With?
Although you don’t necessarily have to have prior knowledge of coffee preparation to work at a coffee shop, it can certainly help. As a result, many hiring managers at cafés will ask what types of coffee preparation methods you already know how to use.
The more detail you can provide here on any preparation methods you have, the better. Knowing how to operate an espresso machine is also a great start as it shows you’ve got a good foundation for learning the ropes at your new position.
12. What Would You Do During a Slow Day at the Coffee Shop?
While coffee shops certainly have their rush periods, they’ve also got slow periods as well. During these times, hiring managers want to know that you won’t be standing around twiddling your thumbs.
If you get asked this question, the best response is to tell the manager you’d focus on cleaning the café or organizing storage. Coffee shops constantly have a need for cleaning and deep cleaning, so showing you’d be willing to jump in and help when there’s an opportunity will work in your favor.
13. Would You Offer a Free Drink to a Friend if They Came In?
Some coffee shops have policies that allow workers to have a free beverage on their shift while others don’t. However, many baristas will give out free drinks to friends anyway. The trouble with this is that it results in lost revenue for the business.
Hiring managers want to know that their workers won’t give out freebies or take actions that are unethical on their shift. If you get asked this question, be sure to let the manager know that you wouldn’t do this and that you would ask your friend to pay for their drink like any other customer.
Closing Thoughts: Land Your Next Job as a Barista
Becoming a professional barista is an honor for many people. In fact, there are people who make it their whole careers, going on to win awards at international coffee competitions!
Whether you’re looking to become the next Barista Champion or you just want a part-time gig that’s close to home, landing your next job at a coffee shop depends on being prepared for the interview. The above questions are some of the most common that you might find when being grilled about the job.
So, now that you know what types of interview questions to expect and how to answer, it’s time to throw on your apron and turn on the hipster soundtrack. With these interview prep tips up your sleeve, you’ll be whipping up cappuccinos in no time.