Barista phone screen questions
Barista hiring is about speed on bar, warmth at the register, and whether the candidate can open at 5:30. Coffee skill can be taught; showing up for the opener and staying friendly through a line out the door mostly cannot.
Eight questions, and what to listen for
Ask them in this order. The first two sort the pool; the middle ones show judgment; the last ones settle logistics before anyone books an interview.
- 1
Tell me about your coffee or café experience: what kind of shop, and what did you make?
Listen for: Shop type, volume, and drinks. High-volume chain experience and specialty experience are both useful, in different ways.
- 2
Have you pulled espresso shots and steamed milk on a commercial machine? Walk me through a latte.
Listen for: Dose, tamp, shot time, steaming to the right texture and temperature. Someone who has done it describes it in steps without stopping to think.
- 3
How do you handle a morning rush with a line out the door and mobile orders stacking up?
Listen for: Sequencing drinks, communicating with the person on register, staying friendly. Listen for a system.
- 4
Tell me about a time a customer said their drink was wrong. What did you do?
Listen for: Remake it without argument and keep it moving. Defending the drink is a red flag.
- 5
Have you handled cash and a POS like Square or Toast?
Listen for: Yes with specifics, or a willingness to learn.
- 6
Are early openings workable? Our openers start at 5:30am.
Listen for: A direct answer. Openers are the hardest shifts to fill.
- 7
Do you have a food handler card, or can you get one before your first shift?
Listen for: Yes or a willing yes. Many states require it for café staff.
- 8
How many hours a week are you looking for, and when could you start?
Listen for: A number and a date. Part-time and full-time candidates need different schedules.
Red flags on the call
- Cannot describe making a basic espresso drink when claiming experience
- Openers not workable for an opening role
- Argues with the customer in the wrong-drink story
- Flat or curt on the phone
Keep it short
Five questions, four to six minutes. Barista candidates are usually applying to several jobs at once; a screen they can finish between shifts gets finished. Save the deeper questions for the interview, where the candidate has already answered these once.
Ask whether the candidate can perform an essential task with or without reasonable accommodation; do not ask about disability or medical history. Avoid age, family, religion, national origin and other protected characteristics. See the EEOC's hiring-question guidance.
Run this exact screen for every barista who applies
Create a role in PhoneScreen with these five questions, share the link, and every candidate gets the same screen the moment they call. You read the scorecards. First 10 screens are free.
- 1Tell me about your coffee or café experience: what kind of shop, and what did you make?
- 2Walk me through making a latte on a commercial machine.
- 3How do you handle a morning rush with a line out the door and mobile orders stacking up?
- 4Are early openings workable? Our openers start at 5:30am.
- 5How many hours a week are you looking for, and when could you start?
Common questions
Should we hire baristas with no coffee experience? +
Often, yes. Many shops train from scratch and care more about customer service and reliability. If you do, keep the espresso question but read it as interest, not skill, and lean on the rush and wrong-drink questions.
Do baristas need a food handler card? +
In some states and counties, yes. Oregon, for example, requires a food handler card within 30 days of hire. Check your state and local rules, and ask on the screen so new hires get the card before or soon after they start.
Screening for restaurants · More roles: line cook, restaurant server, dishwasher, bartender, restaurant host, forklift operator · Why the same questions for everyone