The Morning Routine of a Barista: Opening the Café
(And How You Can Copy the Ritual at Home)
1. Lights On, Music Up
The first thing a barista does: flip the lights and start the playlist. It’s not just ambiance, it sets the tone. Some go for lo-fi beats, others keep it mellow and jazzy.
2. Dialing In the Espresso Machine
-
Flush the group heads
-
Check water pressure and temperature
-
Run calibration shots
-
Taste test until the espresso hits just right (slight tweaks to grind size or dose if needed)
This step alone can take 10–15 minutes of full focus.
3. Calibrating the Grinder
Beans change daily depending on:
-
Roast age
-
Humidity
-
Even weather
- The grinder needs adjusting, too coarse and your espresso is sour, too fine and it’s bitter.
4. Weighing & Prepping Beans
-
Beans are weighed for each shift to avoid waste
-
House blend, decaf, and any specialty roasts are all labeled and loaded
-
Most cafés prep for rushes with 2-3 hoppers filled and ready
5. Cleaning & Resetting the Bar
-
Milk pitchers cleaned and chilled
-
Steam wand wiped down and bled
-
Rags sorted: one for milk, one for surfaces, one for portafilters
-
Counters sanitized, pastry case refreshed
6. Register Setup & First Transactions
-
POS tested
-
Till counted
-
IPads prepped
First customers are often regulars, so every detail matters.
How You Can Copy the Ritual at Home
Even without an espresso machine, you can:
-
Pick your music
-
Weigh your beans
-
Take time adjusting your pour-over grind
-
Prep your space so it feels intentional
-
Make your first cup the event of the morning