Barista
An 8-step barista roadmap: bar hygiene and machine safety, Vietnamese Robusta and Arabica beans, grinding and pulling espresso, milk steaming and latte art, phin filter, cold brew and pour over, and machine maintenance. Afterwards you can work in cafes and coffee chains or run a coffee cart. Suits sociable people who care about every cup.
Start here
Step 1: Bar hygiene & espresso machine safety
One short lesson per step, 10–15 minutes on a phone. No sign-up needed.
Hands-on roadmap
Roadmap
- Step 1Lesson
Bar hygiene & espresso machine safety
Hand hygiene, color-coded cloths, keeping fresh milk cold; safety around steam wands, boiling water and machine electrics; daily opening and closing routines.
No English content for this step yet.
- Step 2Lesson
Vietnamese coffee beans & roast levels
Dak Lak Robusta, Cau Dat and Son La Arabica, peaberry, Moka; washed, natural and honey processing; light to dark roasts; roast dates, degassing and one-way valve bags.
Requires: Bar hygiene & espresso machine safety
No English content for this step yet.
- Step 3Skill
Grinding & pulling espresso (dial-in)
18 g dose, 1:2 ratio, 25–30 seconds; adjusting grind by sourness or bitterness; distribution and tamping; spotting under-extraction, over-extraction and channeling.
Requires: Vietnamese coffee beans & roast levels
- Step 4Skill
Milk steaming & basic latte art
Steaming milk to 55–65C with fine microfoam for lattes and cappuccinos; pouring heart, tulip and rosetta; dairy and oat milk; fixing big bubbles and scorched milk.
Requires: Grinding & pulling espresso (dial-in)
No English content for this step yet.
- Step 5Skill
Phin coffee, white coffee, cold brew & pour over
Brewing with a Vietnamese phin filter, iced milk coffee, white coffee, salt coffee and egg coffee; cold brew steeped 12–18 hours; V60 pour over at 1:15.
Requires: Milk steaming & basic latte art
- Step 6Skill
Peak-hour bar flow & machine maintenance
Bar layout, making several drinks at once, talking to guests and calling orders; group flushes, backflushing, soaking portafilters, gasket changes, descaling; reporting odd pressure.
Requires: Phin coffee, white coffee, cold brew & pour over
No English content for this step yet.
- Step 7Project
Project: 8-drink menu & 100-cup trial shift
Build an 8-drink menu with recipes and cost per cup, run a 100-cup trial shift in a cafe or coffee cart, and track serving time and repeat customers.
Requires: Peak-hour bar flow & machine maintenance
No English content for this step yet.
- Step 8Assessment
Skills test & barista job applications
A 15-minute practical: 2 espressos, 2 cappuccinos, 2 latte art lattes; tasting and bar cleanliness scored; a bean knowledge quiz; a CV and latte art video for applications.
Requires: Project: 8-drink menu & 100-cup trial shift
Articles
ArticleVietnamese phin coffee: ratios, bac xiu and salted coffee for a barBrewing great Vietnamese phin coffee comes down to four numbers: about 20–25 g of ground coffee, water at 92–96°C, a 30-second bloom and a drip time of 4–6 minutes. Master those fo…
ArticleBarista salary in Vietnam 2026: pay by level and how long to trainHow much does a barista earn in Vietnam? As a 2026 reference, a new barista typically makes about 5–7 million VND a month plus tips, while a lead barista or bar supervisor earns ab…
ArticleHow to pull an espresso shot: 1:2 ratio, 25–30 seconds and dial-inPulling a proper espresso starts with an easy recipe: 18 g of ground coffee in, about 36 g of liquid coffee out (a 1:2 ratio), in 25–30 seconds. But those numbers are only a starti…