Becoming a Barista

This year I started working at my uncles (lets call him 'John') bakery/cafe so that I can have experience as a barista to get a job closer to home. I'm awkward and shy talking to people I don't know and creating coffee for someone makes me nervous as hell. I practiced making shots and heating up the milk for myself and now its time to make coffee for people!

Last week, John had to leave the shop early making me the only one available to make coffee for customers. At this very moment I want to disappear into a black hole and never return.

He tells me, "90% of the time a customer will order a cappuccino, flat white or a latte, you will be fine!" he reassures, making my anxiety levels decrease by 5%.

John leaves and I go over the list of coffees to get familiar with the names. The only problem I have is how to pour the milk into the cup a certain way and how to make more or less froth!

Calming myself down, a woman walks in with her child in her arms and her own personal mug. I can do this, I tell myself. That is until she speaks.

She orders, "Can I have a Chai Latte with Almond milk please,"

I am dying on the inside.

What ever the universe was throwing at me, a big smack in the face was not hard enough to shock the dread out of me. I wasn't told or shown how to make a 'chai latte' by my uncle or anyone else at the bakery so I figured it out by myself.

Hiding my panic from the woman I get the chai and read the instructions of how to make it.

Another thing, I DON'T KNOW THE PRICE OF 'bring your own cup' ! I know the normal prices and there was no one I could ask. Almond milk is extra and I had no idea what to charge her - was it a small or large? So I made up a price...

Throughout the day I made more coffee for customers and I did get better till someone ordered a flat white and a latte. Which ever cup had froth after I poured it, I named the latte.

Right now I am laughing writing this but at the time I was so freaken nervous and anxious about making coffee that now I am ready to go back and try again!

UPDATE! I now know how to pour milk for the different coffee's! Yay!