barista

IPA/bəˈriːstə/
KK[bɑrˈistə]IPA/bəˈriːstə/

barista — noun

  • baristasingular
  • baristasplural

1. someone working behind a cafe counter who prepares coffee drinks for customers.

1.nounB2
Definition

someone working behind a cafe counter who prepares coffee drinks for customers.

Example

Lisa asked the barista for an iced oat latte before class.

ask the barista for + drink

At the airport cafe, Caleb watched the barista steam milk carefully.

watch the barista + verb

Common collocations
  • ask the barista
  • skilled barista
  • trained barista
  • work as a barista
  • the barista made my latte
  • the barista steamed the milk
Synonyms
  • cafe worker

    broader term; may include staff who do many jobs besides making coffee

  • server

    focuses on serving customers; does not always imply preparing coffee

Grammar Patterns

work as a barista

ask the barista for + drink

the barista made + drink

Usage Note

Usually refers to a worker in a cafe or coffee shop, especially one who prepares espresso-based drinks. If the person mainly carries food to tables or clears dishes, words like 'server' or 'cafe worker' are often better.

Common Mistakes

The bartender at the coffee shop made me a cappuccino.
The barista at the coffee shop made me a cappuccino.
a bartender serves alcoholic drinks at a bar, while a barista prepares coffee drinks.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Barista' usually means a cafe worker who prepares coffee, especially espresso-based drinks, and often speaks with customers at the counter. 'Server' is broader and mainly emphasizes bringing food or drinks to customers, especially at tables. 'Bartender' belongs to bars and mixed alcoholic drinks, not coffee shops. 'Cafe worker' is a general label for anyone working in a cafe, while 'cashier' focuses on taking payment rather than making the drinks.

server ↗bartender ↗cafe workercashier ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • ask the barista for a drink
  • order from the barista
  • the barista steamed the milk
  • work as a barista

Prepositions

Etymology

ItalianEnglish

Borrowed into English from Italian 'barista', a word for a person working at a bar or counter. In modern English, the meaning narrowed to someone who prepares and serves coffee drinks in a cafe.

First known use

1982

1982, in the meaning defined above