The Perky Occupation of the Barista Quiz

Answer: Italy

A barista is a specialist trained in the art of making espresso, as well as other coffee based drinks. The word comes from Italian and is a term for a bartender who serves alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks of all kinds. In English the word is used to denote someone who serves coffee drinks only. Being a quality barista takes time, training, and skill. Most training takes place using a commercial espresso machine, which can be notoriously difficult to use.
A skilled barista is trained in the many steps of making coffee drinks, from grinding the beans, to serving the finished product.

Answer: Texas Coffee School

Considered one of the finest facilities in the U.S. for teaching the barista
skills, the Texas Coffee School is a top-of-the-line facility located in Dallas, Texas. There are other facilities where interested parties can take such classes, but usually this is an occupation that is learned on the job and takes a lot of practice to improve your skills. A true barista will treat every cup of coffee he/she makes as a work of liquid art.

Answer: Moka pot

The moka pot is a stovetop coffee maker that originated in Italy. It was designed for making an espresso-like coffee. It is a steam-based coffee-maker invented in 1933 by barista Alfonso Bialetti. When purchasing a moka pot, make sure to buy a quality stainless steel moka pot. Most baristas will not use an aluminum moka pot, even though they are cheaper, as any aluminum coffee make will leave a very distinct flavor in brewed coffee.

A moka pot makes coffee by passing hot water, which has been pressurized by steam, through the coffee grounds.

Answer: Spittoon

A spittoon is often used when coffee cupping. This practice is very similar to wine tasting but the liquid involved in coffee instead. A spittoon is used for spitting the coffee out after tasting it, so that the after-flavors can develop in the mouth. Usually many small cups of coffee, all different, are presented so that they can be judged against one another. Coffee cupping helps a barista fine-tune their palate, but as with all food and drink, taste is a matter of opinion.

Answer: Latte art

Latte art is one of the skills that is learned by most baristas. It involves making designs in the foam of a latte, which is a coffee drink made by pouring steamed milk into a hot cup of espresso. It is not as easy as a layman might think. Fresh milk must be used, the temperature of the steamed milk vs. the temperature of the espresso is important.

The quality of the espresso machine used is important as it controls the quality of the foam on the top of the latte. A quality barista can make a latte that looks too pretty to drink. Almost!

Answer: Irish coffee

This kind of glass is used for Irish coffee, a delectable mix of coffee, whiskey, and sugar, all topped with cream. As with all drinks there are many variations, but these are the base ingredients in almost all recipes to be found. The cream floats on top of hot whiskey, coffee, sugar mixture as opposed to mixing in with the other ingredients.

The coffee mixture is drunk through the cream. Irish coffee is served in a clear glass with a handle, like this one, or in a clear goblet-style glass. There are claims that Irish coffee was invented to warm up cold American passengers that were departing from Ireland.

Answer: Vietnam

Vietnamese iced coffee is known as Ca phe da and is a tasty choice for those who like to indulge in iced coffee. The basic recipe involves very finely ground Vietnamese grown coffee. Each cup is brewed individually using a small metal French drip filter.

It is then poured into a glass containing sweetened condensed milk in a ratio of approx. two parts coffee to one part milk. This is mixed and then poured over cracked ice before serving.

Answer: Norway

Known as WBC by coffee connoisseurs, The World Barista Championship is the premier barista competition. The competition involves serving 12 coffee beverages in 15 minutes. Four of these must be espresso, four must be cappuccino, and four signature drinks. No alcohol is allowed in these signature drinks but it gives the baristas room for creativity.

The competition originated in 2000 and has evolved into a world-wide contest that is now held in a different country every year. It is considered the ultimate recognition if you are a barista.

Answer: Coffee beans

These are a few of the many types of coffee beans. They are also some of the most popular. Coffea arabica is often thought to be the first coffee species to be cultivated and has been grown for over a thousand years in parts of Ethiopia. Coffea canephora has twice the caffeine as Arabica, is usually more robust and is grown in many areas of the world. Liberica is thought to have originated in Liberia, but is now grown mostly in the Philippines, Java, and Indonesia.

Answer: Demitasse

Demitasse cups get their name from a French term which means 'half cup'. It is a reference to their diminutive size. Usually made of white porcelain with matching saucers, the cups are often seated in silver frames and may come with matching scalloped spoons.

Many coffee houses design their own unique demitasse cups, which are exclusive to their business and can sport any color or design desired by the owner or barista.