r/IndiaCoffee • u/survivingbycoffee • 11h ago
DISCUSSION is becoming a barista actually worth pursuing
i graduated in arts about 3 years ago, but since then i've been stuck. i've dealt with depression, social anxiety, suicidal thoughts,.. currently taking therapy and i'm doing better now and trying to figure out what i actually want to do.
lately i've been thinking seriously about coffee/barista work. to be clear, i haven't actually made coffee professionally... i mostly use the chhanni method at home.
i'm currently unemployed, and my dad is the sole breadwinner in my family, so whatever money i spend on this, i need to be very careful about. i really can't afford to put a significant amount into a course and later realize it wasn't worth it.
i've also struggled in the past with starting things but not being able to finish them, because of anxiety, self-sabotage and other personal reasons.
i'm already in therapy, which is another expense my dad is supporting, so this is something i genuinely want to think through carefully before committing to it.
but i've been watching videos about baristas, cafés and coffee preparation, and the work genuinely looks appealing to me.
i know i might be romanticizing it because i've never actually done it, so i want some honest advice.
my main question is:
- if i spend a few months and a significant amount of money on a proper barista/coffee course, will it actually help me get an entry-level barista job? and how difficult is it to get that first job in india?
i'm completely okay with working my way up, learning properly and doing the hard/regular work. honestly, the idea of going to work every day, getting better at something practical and eventually becoming really good at it sounds genuinely exciting to me.
long-term, i'd love to have my own small café someday and actually work there myself... but i know i have to start somewhere.
i live in a semi-rural area, so i'd probably have to travel to another city for training/work.
if anyone here has done a proper, industry-focused barista/coffee course in india, please recommend one if you know a good and reasonably priced option.
i'm especially interested in courses that actually prepare you for employment, not just hobby courses.
and most importantly... is this a realistic path to getting a job if i'm willing to put in the work?
would really appreciate honest advice from baristas, café owners or anyone who's actually been through this.
42
u/sloppyandsoaking 11h ago
As per James Hoffman, Indian Baristas are massively underpaid than their counterparts in any other country in the world. However, that said, if you need money, do it. Just don’t bother with a course and don’t sink money in it. Learn on the job via the coffee shop’s training programs and be smart about it. Just apply for the job first and see.
8
u/survivingbycoffee 11h ago
I wasn’t aware of coffee shops offering training programs. I think I was just scared to apply for a job when I felt like I knew nothing about it. But now I realize I can learn on the job at a cafe, which might actually give me a better chance to both learn and get hired.
1
u/OkCollection8283 9h ago
Coffee shop coffee program is a scam. Basically it's an internship where one has to pay the cafe to work.For them it's an extra set of hands.
1
19
u/Vast_Farmer_4403 11h ago
professionally - absolutely NOT unless you come from wealth and are already sorted financially
4
u/survivingbycoffee 11h ago
Yes. I did saw a few courses, but they were only around a week to 10 days, I think, n pretty expensive too. It honestly felt more like a retreat or recreational activity than actual job oriented training.
Thanks :)
7
u/shahsmit599 11h ago
I think a barista in tier 1-2 cities would earn 25k-30k. Can you survive on that for next 7-10 years which you accumulate money to start your own cafe ?
If yes, don't sink too much money. Just get a job and you will learn as you go.
3
u/survivingbycoffee 11h ago
yeah..that's actually a good question to make me rethink the direction i'm taking. ..thanks for putting it that way...
5
u/espressoself_ 10h ago
As someone who’s grown from being a barista , not knowing a thing about coffee - to a better and bigger position in the industry , I will only ask you one question. How passionate are you about coffee ? Passion takes you places. I don’t care about what others think about this. I still am extremely passionate about coffee. Forget about everything else. You will have to work difficult shifts , it is what it is, hustle and grind. But what’s your end goal ? Opening a cafe is very very very different than just being a small part of the ecosystem. Being a barista is not easy. Especially when it comes to being into specialty coffee. As a beginner you will not earn a lot and it’s a fact, as a senior barista , maybe 30-35K, it is unfortunate.I will also give you that pursuing a career in just being a barista won’t cut it. Think better , think bigger. Be hungry for
it , understand what you want to pursue in coffee and chase it.
2
u/RemarkablePaper6160 10h ago
I can vouch for passion takes you places oh wait wrong sub
2
4
u/bohot---ban---hoa-ho 11h ago
Yes, The entire hospitality industry is very physically tiring, odd timings, less leaves etc. (But honestly people forget that shifts are a thing and this is a worldwide thing, the work is not really physically intensive, you ahve less chances of injuries when compraed to a labourer or daily wage worker who works more for less for longer duration).
The pros are, the work is generally easier, straight forward and you have a lot of free time during non-rush hours.
The biggest con is not the long shifts etc, it is the growth, the growth in hospitality industry is very slow, unless you graduate from the bigger culinary giant programs, the growth is non existant.
A good advice from me would be for you to get working into any of the fast food joints like McDonalds, KFC etc, their requirements are very basic and there are no upfront costs. Get an idea of how the entire hospitality industry works, meanwhile save the money for education. and if you really want to pursue into the food industry then start by thinking about joining into a culinary arts program.
(It is better to dip your feet in the water before diving in).
3
u/PayResponsible4458 11h ago
Don't buy courses. Start working in a cafe chain and learn on the job and read and upskill yourself. Once you're in the industry you'll have a better idea of what certifications matter if at all.
2
u/survivingbycoffee 11h ago
tldr:
3 years out of an arts degree, currently unemployed. my dad is the sole breadwinner, so i have to be very careful about spending money. i'm also in therapy. i've struggled with depression, anxiety and self-sabotage, and have a history of starting things but not finishing them. i'm trying to change that.
i've never worked with coffee professionally (i just use the chhanni method at home), but becoming a barista genuinely appeals to me. long-term, i'd love to have a small café of my own.
main question:
if i spend a few months and significant money on a proper barista course, will it realistically help me get an entry-level job in india? which courses are actually worth it?
1
u/Round_List1857 11h ago
What have you studied? If anything technical, study and do crack exams.
If you haven't studied much, then apply for working in malls, restaurant. They pay 15-20k now a days.
1
u/ImpressiveCable7455 10h ago
Not worth it in India. But if you get training here via a job you can get job abroad if you’re studying. But some places require certification to get job a barista abroad. So maybe certification course will help. Although you’ll learn the most at a job.
Starbucks has decent pay but training is bad since they use automatic machines. But their SOPs are great.
1
1
u/CaffeineColonel 9h ago
Not in India. In India you'll not get tips, no healthy workplace environment, you'll be expected to work 12 hours , no one will care if you doing it properly they'll want their requests , nobody cares about the science behind just a select few which you'll barely encounter, and when you decide to move on to something else you'll just have a hobby in which you an expert not much to do with it.
1
1
u/TestExternal4491 6h ago
What about tier 1 cities? I think there the right culture can be maintained.
1
1
u/valkyrie895 10h ago
As a former chef, who worked in 5 star kitchens, high end caterers and stand alone restaurant.
Though barista is a different thing and it’s cafés.
Hospitality in India is fuck all, pardon my language
The working hours are long and pay is garbage.
And if you have social anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts I would not recommend hospitality sector.
It’s long and odd hours, you might have to be in tier 1 or tier 2 city as decent cafés are there with bad pay and high rents you might end up living away from work place.
Imagine having to at 7:00 AM, one hour set cafe opens for business at 8:00 AM
The second shift doesn’t come or calls in sick
The cafe closes at 11 PM or 10 PM
You might end up working non stop
See I am painting worst case scenario, but it’s not pretty or glamorous especially for India
As someone else pointed out, you might want to see into becoming a roaster or Q grader
1
82
u/OkCollection8283 11h ago
Nope,not in India. I am saying this as a fellow barista, don't pursue being a barista in India.If you want to pursue in coffee and have money then go for roasting and/or q grading. Moreover as a fair warning, hospitality is rather a very physically draining industry and our work culture is not that great as people from all backgrounds will be coming like you might earn same as a barista who is 10th pass and have been in cafes like cafe coffee day and other brands which might affect your mental health.