VET Courses vs. Higher Education: Choosing the Right Path
Published 31 Mar 2023
Best Barista Courses in Melbourne: Take Your Pick
Kristen Michaelides A Barista is a great gig for students in uni working part-time, backpackers, or aspiring hospitality moguls with love for the artistry of coffee making and the joy it brings to 75% of Australians who drink at least one cup of coffee a day.
A barista must know not only how to make over 10 varieties of coffee, but also how to engage with customers and serve food and beverages efficiently. The technical skills can easily be learned through coffee training or barista courses but the soft skills required could only come from personality and experience. In order to make coffee art, you need to be dexterous and patient.
The hourly pay for a barista is around $25 per hour and could be a great stepping stone to a cafe or restaurant management career. In addition, your friends and family will certainly enjoy having a home barista deliver next level best coffees.
There are many affordable courses available in Melbourne, given the vibrant coffee culture. Depending on your preference or budget, you could pursue non-accredited or nationally recognised barista courses.
Nonaccredited Coffee Classes
A short course in coffee training will teach you how to froth milk, work a coffee machine from scratch, and make espressos and other commonly found coffees in many cafes.
Dukes Coffee Roasters
A maker of their own coffee beans and equipment offering various fun and bite-sized courses ranging from workshops to barista training including improving bar/cafe workflows at their wholesale training centre in Richmond, VIC
Barista Course Melbourne
Offers an interactive 4-hour barista course taught by experienced baristas for $84 and a coffee art course where you will be trained to make masterful latte art for those who have the basic barista skills
Coffee School
Offers 5.5 hour-barista and coffee art courses for aspiring baristas or coffee lovers with the option to get job referrals in the coffee industry for $110
Dukes Coffee Roasters
The 5 Day Master Barista Course is one of the most well-respected and comprehensive barista training course in Melbourne for those pursuing a long-term career path in the coffee industry with optional certification which requires passing 90% of both practical and theoretical examinations for $2100
Nationally Recognised Barista Training Courses
The nationally recognised barista courses which offer Statement of Attainment will include two units of competency: SITHFAB005 Prepare and serve espresso coffee and SITXFSA001 Use hygienic practices for food safety. Depending on the course, it’ll include a basic training that will help land you a job in the coffee industry in Melbourne. The following courses offer both units required to work as a barista.
Australian Barista School
5-hour course including the barista basics and more advanced skills such as milk texturing, etching techniques and fudge art-making for $145
Barista Basics
Offers two types of Barista Basics – Coffee Courses in CBD locations across Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney
- Barista Basics Mk1: 3-hour course where you will learn and refine your coffee making and serving skills for $120
- Master Barista Mk1 & MkII: 5-hour course taught by trained Certificate IV professionals with the first 3 hours focused on the basics and the last two hours spent on non-stop coffee-making including milk texturing and coffee art for $199
Coffee School
Offers a 5-hour course where you learn how to work and clean coffee machines and grinders for all the coffees on the menu as well as coffee art for $110
Oscar Academy
Offers 26-week Certificate II In Hospitality training where you can attain various units of competency such as:
- SITXFIN001 Processing financial transactions
- SITHFAB007 Serve food and beverage
- SITHFAB005 Prepare and serve espresso coffee
- SITXFSA001 Use hygienic practices for food safety for $999
Workplace Training Strategies
Offers a 1 month-Certificate II In Hospitality training program where you will learn all the product knowledge and venue operations management skills relevant to restaurants and coffee shops for $1500 (SITXFSA001 Use hygienic practices for food safety is a prerequisite)
How can I score a barista gig in Melbourne / Victoria?
The coffee industry in Melbourne is expected to grow at a rate of 2.6% year over year. The barista jobs at cafes, restaurants, bars, hotels, and other hospitality venues will also continue to grow.
After training, you should be able to easily find a gig even if you lack practical experience as a barista. Be a regular at cafes and restaurants where you want to work and build relationships with the staff so you can demonstrate your friendly and charismatic personality to the team.
Keep practising at home and create a portfolio of pictures and videos to showcase your coffee art skills to anyone you may come across in the coffee industry. It may also help if you have an RSA certificate to take on a broader range of responsibilities behind the bar.
Not sure which course to choose? Let us recommend the best courses to suit you!
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