What should baristas wear

This post is part of a series where we ask pros about big questions in coffee. Dress codes can affect not only morale, but also service style and customer perception of both the space and the product. The Question: What are the pros and cons of a loose or strict dress code? Days where one barista wears a button-down and the other wears an oldish T-shirt and a hat puts a weird dynamic on a bar shift in terms of respect from guests.

On the other hand, benefits to a looser dress code are more individual freedom, less opportunity for accidental sexist and transphobic language to be used in handbooks, and more comfort behind bar from your baristas. We were allowed to wear jeans or any color pants as long as they had no holes, and shirts had to have a collar and long sleeves, solids or tasteful stripes but not plaid.

At the time I was a bit short on money, so it was stressful to drop money on work clothes. Now, I have the ability to wear whatever I want, and that usually means T-shirts, which are definitely more comfortable. I think staff are happiest when they can wear whatever they want because it allows for expression.

Being comfortable at work is priceless. I also think it helps for customer morale, because they feel like the barista across the counter is a regular person, which makes the shop feel more approachable. Being asked to not wear something that exposes a lot of skin e. We were two baristas at the same coffee serving pop-up event. I worked the morning shift and she did the afternoon shift. The organiser said everything was smooth and the coffee tasted good! I handed over to the barista for the afternoon shift, briefed her on my espresso recipe and tasted her coffee.

A few hours later, we received some complaints from customers that the coffee tasted awful in the afternoon. Now, they are just laymen when it comes to coffee.

They have no knowledge of what quality of coffee means. I swear, I double checked her coffee again, and it was hardly different from what I served in the morning. That day I was wearing a full barista outfit, while she wore a simple black waitress-style shirt. I have no intention of judging any barista on their skills through how they are dressed.

But the painful truth is, your customers do. As we all know, first impressions influence us. Psychologists have found that we make judgements about others based on our initial observations. Our taste buds are biased. The brain always tricks us. It makes a judgement even before we actually taste the coffee. I know this sounds unrealistic. But this is how we act all the time.

Now, you might think this is very superficial, but I am sure you want to get a coffee from a barista who is well-dressed. I am going to explain why. A well-dressed barista has better energy. Working as a barista and barista trainer, I do find that dressing up gives a higher positivity level and confidence.

This will directly link to how a barista serves a coffee, and how confident they are in their brews. It projects a professional image. I believe a dress code has its meaning.

Take a look at Starbucks' policies and standards page to get a sense of what the company expects of its workers. It will give you a good idea of how to answer different questions that might come up in the interview. Know the date when you're available to start work. The store's schedule may be flexible, but the interviewer will want to know about your availability.

They will also want to know if there are certain days or hours you can't work because of school or another commitment. You should also come ready with questions to ask the interviewer about the work atmosphere or the job. Skip a formal outfit. Unless you're interviewing for a corporate role, you can hold off on a suit. Aim for business casual instead. Make sure your appearance is neat. Most likely, the role you're interviewing for involves working with food and customers, so having a neat and tidy appearance will be appreciated by interviewers.

Don't forget to bring along essentials. Instead of showing up empty-handed, have a copy of your resume along with a pad and paper so you can take notes. Accessed July 26, Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads.