How to show barista skills on your CV

By Sophie · Published 30 October 2026

Barista know-how

Espresso preparation

Describe the drinks you prepared and the equipment you used.

On your CV Prepared espresso and Americano orders using a commercial espresso machine.

Milk texturing and latte art

Mention the milk drinks you made and any latte art you used in service.

On your CV Steamed dairy and oat milk for cappuccinos and flat whites, adding heart patterns to lattes.

Customer service

Give an example of how you helped customers choose or adapt an order.

On your CV Explained milk alternatives and helped customers choose drinks from the café menu.

Food safety and allergen awareness

Describe a hygiene or allergen procedure you followed during service.

On your CV Checked the café allergen guide before answering customer questions about cakes.

Stock rotation

Show how you checked dates or replenished supplies.

On your CV Rotated milk and pastry stock by date during morning deliveries.

Opening and closing procedures

Name the tasks you completed at the start or end of a shift.

On your CV Cleaned the coffee machine and restocked cups at the end of each shift.

Qualities for café work

Prioritising during busy service

Describe how you organised orders when several customers needed serving.

On your CV Grouped takeaway drink orders by collection time during the morning rush.

Attention to drink specifications

Give an example of how you checked or followed a customer’s order.

On your CV Checked cup labels before preparing drinks with alternative milks.

Clear communication with colleagues

Show how you passed useful information to a colleague during service.

On your CV Told the kitchen team about changes to food orders before preparation.

Reliability on shift

Mention a regular responsibility you were trusted to carry out.

On your CV Opened the café on Saturday mornings and prepared the counter for service.

Tools and equipment

Commercial espresso machine

State what you used the machine for and any routine cleaning you performed.

On your CV Used and backflushed a two-group espresso machine during café shifts.

Coffee grinder

Describe how you adjusted or maintained a grinder as part of drink preparation.

On your CV Adjusted the grinder setting during morning setup to improve espresso extraction.

EPOS till

Explain the transactions or order changes you handled on the till.

On your CV Entered food and drink orders on an EPOS till and processed card payments.

Qualifications

Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering

List the qualification with the awarding organisation and completion date if you hold it.

On your CV Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering, Highfield Qualifications, 2023.

Level 2 Award in Barista Skills

Give the qualification title, awarding organisation and completion date if you have earned it.

On your CV Level 2 Award in Barista Skills, City & Guilds, 2022.

Barista training

Name the course provider and describe the practical training you completed.

On your CV Completed an in-house barista course covering espresso extraction and milk steaming, 2024.

Choose barista skills for the role

Read the job description and note the tasks the employer expects you to handle. A busy takeaway coffee shop may emphasise quick service and till work, while a café with a food menu may place more emphasis on allergen queries and table service. Start with the requirements that appear most relevant to your experience.

For each requirement, find a task you have actually completed. If the role asks for espresso preparation, you could describe the drinks you made and the machine you used. If it asks for customer service, an example of helping someone with an order gives the recruiter something specific to assess.

Experience from a bakery, restaurant or shop can also be useful. Handling payments or following cleaning routines can show relevant skills when you are applying for your first barista role.

Where to put skills on your CV

Use a short skills section near the top of your CV for the abilities most relevant to the job. Names such as espresso preparation, milk steaming and EPOS till operation are easy for a recruiter to scan. Add a little detail where it helps, such as the types of drinks you have prepared.

In your employment history, support those skills with bullets under the job where you used them. Include your job title, employer and dates, then describe the work you did. A bullet about restocking milk during opening shifts, for example, gives context to a stock control skill.

Put completed courses and qualifications in a separate training or qualifications section. Include the provider and date where you can. If you are currently studying, say so and give the expected completion date.

Keep your examples accurate and specific

A long list of personal qualities gives a recruiter little evidence to work with. Choose examples from your shifts instead. You might explain how you kept track of orders during a busy period or passed a customer’s dietary question to a colleague.

Avoid naming equipment you have never used or claiming a qualification you have not completed. If you have observed a task during training, make that clear. You can also mention a skill you are learning when it is relevant, provided the wording reflects your current experience.

Check that dates and job titles are consistent, and use the employer’s terminology where it accurately describes your work. Before sending your CV, read each bullet and ask whether you could explain it at interview. CV Ajuste can help tailor your CV to an advert using the facts you provide.

Official source on this job: Barista job profile, National Careers Service