The coffee scene has propelled over the last few years, and gone are the days that being a barista is but a part-time stint; it is, in fact, a full-fledged career for many. We sat down with Harry Grover, owner of Forty Hands, to ask him some of the criteria that he looks for when he is hiring a barista.

“Most of the staff that we have hired did not have much experience prior to joining us. It is a profession that you don’t really have to have any background. You just need to find the right people who are truly passionate about what they are doing,” Grover says.

At Forty Hands, a new staff needs to work the floor – wash cups, serve tables, do anything and everything – for a few months before they even get a chance to go near the espresso machine. Grover explains his rationale behind this: “I want to see people’s dedication. In order to be a good barista, you need to have the right attitude and work ethics. I am more inclined to hire someone who has worked at KFC for a long period of time than to hire someone who has experience at another café for only 3 months. If they can commit to doing all the crap jobs, then we are more than willing to teach them everything that we know.”

To sum up the chat with Grover, here are some of the things that you should know and possesses in order to be a good barista.

READ ON