Most coffee shop owners put off hiring a manager for too long, but it’s easy to understand why. Hiring a manager requires a ton of trust. A manager is essentially a surrogate “you” as a coffee shop owner. How do you even begin to find someone who can do what you do?.
A lot of coffee shop owners worry too much about finding a “mini” version of themselves and not enough about whether the person can do the job. It is perfectly fine, even desirable, to have a manager who does things a little differently than you. If you’re willing to let your vision change, a good manager can help your business grow.
Perhaps most importantly, you’re hiring your manager to make your life easier. Your job as a manager is to make sure that things like training, employee feedback, inventory, and reporting are taken care of. People who run a business sometimes feel bad about asking for help, but if you don’t, you’ll quickly become burned out. Being honest about the fact that running a coffee shop is hard and would be better with two people will make it easier for your manager to hire someone.
With all of that in mind, here are some questions we think are a pretty good way to tell if someone will do well as a manager. Like our barista interview questions, they’re concretely related to the job at hand. Remember that the most important thing is that the potential manager can do the job, not how much you like or dislike them.
A note on open ended questions: Most of these questions here are all very open ended. Open-ended questions can help because they let the candidate use their own examples, but keep in mind that interviews are stressful in their own way. If a job candidate can’t think of a good example, that doesn’t always mean they’re not right for the job. As the interviewer, it helps to have some examples ready to ask the candidate questions about or to give them a made-up situation to answer. If you ask open-ended questions without taking into account how stressful an interview can be, you might miss out on some great hires.
So you landed an interview for a Barista Manager position? Congratulations! As you know, this role is so much more than just brewing coffee. Barista managers are the backbone of a cafe, overseeing everything from inventory to training staff.
This interview is your chance to prove you have the skills and experience to excel in this fast-paced management role. But don’t let the nerves get to you! I’ve put together this comprehensive guide covering the most common barista manager interview questions you’re likely to face.
With insights from my years of experience as a cafe manager, this guide will help you craft winning answers and highlight why you’re the ideal candidate. So read on to learn how to impress hiring managers and brew up success in your upcoming interview!
Why Do You Want This Role?
This question tests your motivation for becoming a barista manager. Make your passion clear by highlighting aspects of the role that appeal to you. For instance, you may enjoy the fast-paced environment, managing a team, or interacting with customers. Share an anecdote about a positive experience that sparked your interest. Convey enthusiasm and align your answer with the company’s values.
Sample Answer: I’ve always loved the energy and camaraderie of a bustling cafe. After starting as a barista and working my way up over the past five years, I realized my true passion lies in operational management. I love empowering staff, delighting customers, and ensuring everything runs smoothly. This role would allow me to blend my interests in coffee and leadership to help your cafe thrive.
What Experience Do You Have as a Barista Manager?
Hiring managers want proof you can handle this multifaceted role Discuss your relevant experience managing inventory, training staff, handling customer complaints, and implementing operational changes Quantify your achievements such as improving sales or reducing waste. Emphasize transferable skills like communication, adaptability, and problem-solving.
Sample Answer As the barista manager at Caffe Corto for the past three years I oversaw inventory scheduled 10-15 staff members, and handled customer concerns. I improved profit margins by 10% through inventory control and boosted customer satisfaction by implementing feedback surveys. I’m proud of creating a welcoming and efficient cafe environment. My ability to juggle competing priorities will enable me to succeed in this role.
How Do You Ensure Excellent Customer Service?
Customer service is crucial for any food/beverage business. Demonstrate how you maintain high standards through staff training, soliciting feedback, and leading by example. Share how you turn negative experiences into lessons and opportunities for improvement. Emphasize that customer satisfaction is your top priority.
Sample Answer: My strategy focuses on communication and engagement. I train staff thoroughly on our service philosophy and standards. We implement comment cards to identify areas for improvement. I also encourage staff to engage customers in friendly conversation to personalize their experience. When issues arise, I probe respectfully to understand the customer’s perspective and find a satisfactory resolution. My goal is building loyalty through exceptional service.
What Are Your Strengths as a Leader?
This question aims to gauge your self-awareness and leadership abilities. Discuss strengths aligned to the barista manager role like mentoring, communication, multitasking, and problem-solving. Provide relevant examples such as resolving conflicts, implementing new processes, or driving sales through incentivizing staff. Stay humble and focus on how your strengths positively impact the team.
Sample Answer: I believe my greatest strengths are approachability, transparency, and leading by example. I maintain an open-door policy so staff feel comfortable providing feedback and discussing concerns. Through clear communication, I ensure everyone understands expectations and processes. And I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty, working alongside staff during rushes which boosts morale. My collaborative leadership style fosters a supportive, productive environment.
How Do You Coach Underperforming Staff?
Barista managers must know how to address poor performance constructively. Discuss using empathy, active listening, goal-setting, and positive reinforcement. Share how you identify root causes, like lack of training, and provide support. Convey your ability to give constructive feedback while maintaining rapport. Make clear that your priority is nurturing talent.
Sample Answer: My first step is to have a private, compassionate dialogue focused on understanding causes and challenges. I provide concrete examples of where expectations aren’t met, then we mutually establish attainable goals for improvement. I ensure regular check-ins and on-the-job guidance to facilitate progress. My aim is creating an environment where staff feel invested in their growth. Coaching with patience delivers results.
What Food Safety Protocols Do You Implement?
Food safety is serious business. Demonstrate your knowledge by discussing procedures like storing perishables properly, monitoring temperatures, cleaning equipment, safe prep, and allergen precautions. Share how you ensure policies are followed consistently through training, reminders, and leading by example. Convey that you stay current on regulations.
Sample Answer: Maintaining food safety standards is a top priority for me. All staff undergo mandatory training on safe food handling. We adhere to meticulous cleaning procedures and monitor all refrigeration units daily. I perform regular audits to identify any potential issues early. And I implemented color-coded cutting boards to avoid cross-contamination. My diligent approach ensures we meet and exceed all health regulations.
How Do You Optimize Operations During Rush Hours?
This tests your ability to balance speed and quality under pressure. Discuss strategies like having highly skilled staff for key roles, prepping ingredients ahead of time, streamlining processes, and maintaining open communication on the floor. Convey your ability to prioritize tasks, multitask, and keep spirits high despite the chaos.
Sample Answer: When things get hectic, preparation and composure are key. I strategically schedule our most seasoned staff for peak hours. We prep batches of our top-selling items ahead of time. I ensure roles are clearly defined so everyone knows their responsibilities. With upbeat energy, I lead by example – lending a hand wherever needed. My ability to anticipate needs and respond effectively allows us to deliver excellent service even during rushes.
What Challenges Have You Faced as a Barista Manager?
Employers want to know how you handle adversity. Choose an example that highlights strengths like problem-solving, resilience, and calm under pressure. Explain the difficulty and how you addressed it. Share what you learned and how the experience made you a better leader. Keep it positive.
Sample Answer: One challenge I faced was frequent evening staff callouts disrupting operations. To address this, I cross-trained all staff so we had backups for every role. Implementing an incentive program for filling last-minute needs also improved our responsiveness. This taught me the importance of building bench strength and flexibility into staff planning. The result was increased agility in the face of unexpected change.
Why Should We Hire You?
This is your chance to summarize why you’re the perfect candidate so don’t be shy! Restate your most relevant skills and experiences. Share how your values and work ethic align with the company. Convey genuine enthusiasm and passion for the role. Let your uniqueness shine through to create a memorable impression.
Sample Answer: With over seven years’ experience managing cafes, inventory, and staff, I have the proven ability to oversee high-volume store operations successfully. My dedication to excellent service, team development, and continuous improvement will enable me to make immediate contributions. I’m excited to bring my customer-focused outlook and cafe management expertise to take your operations to the next level. I’m confident my skills make me the ideal candidate for this position.
What Are Your Salary Expectations?
Research typical Barista Manager salaries beforehand and have a range in mind based on your experience level and local job market. You can let the interviewer know you’re flexible on compensation and focused on finding the right role fit. Reiterate your passion for the job itself as motivation.
Sample Answer: Based on my background and qualifications, I’m targeting a salary in the range of $45,000 to $55,000 annually. However, I’m open to negotiation if the overall compensation package aligns with the scope of the role. More than salary, I’m interested in finding the right long-term opportunity where I can add value through my skills.
Do You Have Any Questions for Us?
Always ask insightful questions! This demonstrates your engagement and interest in the company/role. Inquire about challenges they want to overcome, training/growth opportunities, workplace culture, management style, new initiatives, or daily responsibilities.
Sample Questions:
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What attracts team members to your company culture and work environment?
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How will my performance be measured in this role? What are the key metrics or KPIs?
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What professional development and training opportunities are available for barista managers?
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What are the top priorities or goals you’d like the new barista manager to focus on?
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What can I clarify or expand on regarding my qualifications?
Final Tips to Ace Your Interview
With preparation and confidence, you’ve got this! Here are some final tips to ensure interview success:
Research the company and your interviewers. Understanding the company’s offerings, brand, culture, and competitors shows commitment.
Tell me about a time you’ve experienced a big change.
How did you handle it? What, if anything did you learn from it?
This question is more about how the applicant sees personal growth, while the last question was more about day-to-day problems. Any worker who wants to get better is a good worker, but a manager needs to want to get better more than a barista does. The applicant should be able to show you how they deal with problems and make the best of them.
For your own example, starting your business could be the perfect thing to pull from. There must have been a lot of big changes when you first started. How did you get ready for and deal with them? What did they teach you? It could be what made you want to hire a manager in the first place. “I tried to take on a lot and realized I need support to make this work. ”.
Tell me about a time you had to make a decision quickly without all of the information.
How did you handle it?
Coffee shops are fast paced, no way around that. A manager is under constant pressure to make quick decisions throughout the day. If you work in a coffee shop, you might have a problem with a customer, an ingredient running out, a piece of equipment breaking, or any of a number of other things. Your boss needs to be able to deal with stress and make smart choices at the right time, just like you.
In a good answer to this question, the candidate would set the scene and then talk about what they were thinking and what they did. You can certainly evaluate their solution, but it’s more important to hear their process. That’s a good sign if they quickly think about what could happen and pick the one they think will work best or be least bad.
As an example, you could say, “Our machine broke down while we had a line of customers waiting in line. I told everyone about it and suggested other drinks that person could try if they didn’t want to risk our broken machine that day.” ” Was that the best solution? Maybe, maybe not. But what matters is a decision was made quickly. You can always come back later to think about what to do better the next time.
BARISTA Interview Questions And Answers (Starbucks, Costa Coffee Barista Jobs!)
FAQ
How to prepare for a barista interview?
What type of questions are asked in a manager interview?
How do I prepare for a barista interview at a coffee shop?
Prepare for your next interview at a coffee shop by learning common barista interview questions and how to answer several of them.
What questions do barista interviewers ask?
Interviewers ask general barista interview questions to help them understand why you have an interest in the role and to gauge your personality. Some of these questions include: “Why do you want to work for our coffee shop?” “Do you have a favourite and least favourite drink to make?” “Introduce yourself.”
What is the purpose of a barista interview?
The purpose of your barista interview is to show an employer that you have a lot to contribute to their team. Employers ask this question to see what you hope to accomplish in this role. Prior to your interview, think about why you are a quality candidate.
What questions do hiring managers ask a barista?
Hiring managers may prefer baristas with an in-depth understanding of the coffee industry and its trends. They ask this question to learn how you stay up to date with industry changes. State that you know the coffee industry is dynamic and discuss the importance of staying current. Outline what you do to track trends.
