What’s that gorgeous aroma? It must be the latte you’re whipping up for the next customer in line! Or is that a specialty tea from the seasonal menu? Either way, all your coworkers know they can count on you to handle transactions and keep up with sanitation as effectively as you serve each guest with a smile.
But how do you create a cover letter that packs in all that incredible value? What will make your accomplishments as a barista sound their best?
After helping baristas like you for years, we’ve put together some time-tested tips, three barista cover letter examples, and our free cover letter generator to help you get that dream job—pronto!
Copy this text for your barista cover letter!
123 Fictional Avenue
Austin, TX 76208
(123) 456-7890
September 10, 2023
Lucas Rossi
Austin Travis County Integral Care
123 Fictional Lane
Austin, TX 76208
Dear Ms. Hill,
As an individual deeply fascinated by the world of coffee and the finer nuances of espresso extraction, I invest my weekends experimenting with creative latte art, and perfecting milk texturing, while exploring one-of-a-kind coffee spots around Los Angeles. This isn’t merely a pastime for me—my heart finds great joy in this artisanal craftsmanship. Now, I’m excited to bring this same warmth and passion into my role as your new barista at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.
At my previous gig at Cafe Gratitude, I got into the grove of espresso extraction, latte art, and milk texturing, using high-quality equipment like La Marzocco espresso machines. Through tireless dedication and meticulous practice, I consistently produced visually appealing and flavorful beverages that contributed to a 62% increase in loyal customer base and a 16.3% boost in sales.
Working downtown at the Pie Hole allowed me to meet a host of coffee fanatics just starting their journey as baristas. I loved being the go-to person, advising them on the artistry and technicality of espresso and latte crafting. My heart swelled with pride when we reduced training time by a whopping 67%. Furthermore, our patrons seemed to love our work, as customer satisfaction scores rose by 4.7%.
In addition to my experience and skills, working as a barista at Blue Bottle Coffe in Santa Monica revealed the importance of maintaining excellent teamwork and communication among staff members. I took the initiative to introduce weekly team meetings to assess performance, fostering a 6.3% increase in efficiency and an 11.8% bump in customer satisfaction rates.
With my robust coffee-making experience, in-depth knowledge of espresso extraction, and proven track record in team development, I’m confident in my ability to contribute to the success of Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf as a skilled Barista. I look forward to discussing how my passion and expertise can enhance your customer’s coffee experience and contribute to the enriching atmosphere of your establishment.
Sincerely,
Kira Ivanov
Enclosures:
Resume
Application
2 letters of recommendation
Certifications
Why this cover letter works
- Emulate how Kira tailors her barista cover letter to the hiring establishment’s needs by showcasing a deep fascination with coffee brewing. Further, underscore how your passion aligns with the potential employer’s needs.
- More importantly, prove your competence, highlighting how your skills and previous work experiences match the job requirements. Better yet, narrate an instance where you nurtured beginner baristas.
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Copy this text for your barista no experience cover letter!
123 Fictional Avenue
Chicago, IL 60018
(123) 456-7890
September 10, 2023
Avery Jones
Dunkin’
123 Fictional Lane
Chicago, IL 60018
Dear Mr. Jones,
I dedicate my free time to learn and explore various brewing methods and the specifics of Point of Sales (POS) systems. This self-educational pursuit stems from a profound admiration for the transformative power of a well-brewed coffee experience. With this passion and inherent knowledge, I’m thrilled to apply for the entry-level barista role at Dunkin’, a brand I’ve grown to admire and respect.
As a part-time cashier at Andersonville Galleria, I managed the register, handled cash transactions, and maintained accurate account records. Despite only being a part-time role, my dedicated approach helped achieve a 3.7% reduction in cash discrepancies. A volunteer program at Caffé Streets familiarized me with the intricacies of grinder operations and POS systems. This experience allowed me to master the art of using a commercial coffee grinder to produce a variety of grind sizes.
As a library assistant at Harold Washington Library Center, I constantly interacted with a diverse clientele, honing my interpersonal and communication skills. This role enhanced my ability to manage customer needs efficiently, skills I’m confident translate seamlessly into a barista role at Dunkin’.
I look forward to using this self-acquired knowledge and skills to elevate the coffee experience for Dunkin’s customers in Chicago. Thank you for your time, and I hope to connect with you soon.
Sincerely,
Akio Tanaka
Why this cover letter works
- The lengths this candidate went to familiarize themselves with coffee brewing will no doubt strike a chord with a recruiter reading their barista no experience cover letter.
- While you lack professional experience in this field, refer to instances where you effectively applied transferable skills like communication, customer services, interpersonal, POS systems, and coffee equipment. Subtle casualness is excusable here.
Copy this text for your Starbucks barista cover letter!
123 Fictional Avenue
Denton, TX 75001
(123) 456-7890
September 10, 2023
Mia Davis
Starbucks
123 Fictional Lane
Denton, TX 75001
Dear Ms. Davis,
Starbucks’ humble beginnings at Seattle’s historic Pike Place Market in 1971, selling fresh-roasted coffee beans and aromatic spices, have inspired my journey in the field. As an experienced barista with deep-seated skills in Espresso preparation and dialing-In, and milk steaming, I’m incredibly excited to further your mission of providing the authentic Starbucks’ experience from your Denton, TX store.
As a senior barista at Denton’s passion-driven local fave, Duino Coffeehouse, I was responsible for consistently rendering quality beverages and ensuring our guests receive an unmatched coffee experience. I was diligent in dialing-in our espresso machine, resulting in a 43% decrease in beverage preparation time. Moreover, I introduced innovative textured milk steaming techniques, contributing to a 37% improvement in customer satisfaction.
My stint at Jupiter House allowed me to fully understand the importance of latte art in elevating the coffee experience. I creatively enhanced our latte presentations, increasing our Instagram followers by 49% over a period of 9 months and significantly boosting in-store visits.
But it’s not just about serving coffee. At Café Brazil, I channeled the Starbucks spirit of nurturing humanity through a community project. By hosting charity events with loads of fun latte art competitions, we raised $6487 for local charities, and our customer engagement shot up by 32%.
I look forward to bringing my skill set, innovative mind, and commitment to exceptional customer service to Starbucks. As a passionate advocate for coffee culture, I’m eager to contribute to Starbucks’ commitment to quality and community engagement. Thank you for considering my application. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss my experiences in greater detail.
Sincerely,
Youssef Abidi
Why this cover letter works
- Showing your enthusiasm for Starbucks and its values and admiration for its successes goes a long way to add interest to your Starbucks barista cover letter.
- Attention to detail in brewing beverages, ability to multitask (taking orders, engaging customers, and making coffee), and customer skills are key to solidifying your candidacy. A subtly casual, friendly tone is welcome.
Related cover letter examples
How to Brew Your Perfect Barista Cover Letter
Just as you make each drink to order, your cover letter should match the “flavor” of each company you apply to! Pay attention to how the job description and company site are written and reflect any standout keywords like “unmatched coffee experience” or “Point of Sales.”
It’s worthwhile to do a bit of homework and investigate any social media accounts to learn more about the coffee shop you’re interested in. See what their values are, so you can show how you already jive with them!
Writing a memorable greeting and intro
Your greeting is like the “handshake” of your barista cover letter, so it should address a person directly. Again, it’s worth the added homework to find a name! Who, exactly, is hiring?
Your opening paragraph should also slip in a couple of your qualifications for why you fit their open job role to hook the reader: They should want to see what else you can pull off with those brewing skills!
What you don’t want is to come across as unenthusiastic with no clear qualifications, like in this opener:
Looking . . . not good:
Hi to whoever’s hiring, I’m stoked to work at your cafe; I really like coffee. I make it a lot too so I’d be great at this.
This next opener is way better at demonstrating an eagerness to learn and work as part of a specific company’s team. It also lays out why the applicant would be great at the role!
This one’s a winner!
Dear Mr. Jones,
I dedicate my free time to learning and exploring various brewing methods and the specifics of Point of Sales (POS) systems. This self-educational pursuit stems from a profound admiration for the transformative power of a well-brewed coffee experience. With this passion and knowledge, I’m thrilled to apply for the entry-level barista role at Dunkin’, a grand I’ve grown to admire and respect.
Writing awesome body paragraphs
Your cover letter is for telling a story about how your professional journey has led you through successful milestones that make you the ideal hire today. Remember when your attention to detail and efficiency as a barista made a big difference.
Work some credentials in there too, if you have them. Something like a Food Safety Manager Certification will make your letter way more compelling! But one of the most important details that will transform your stories of rush hours and seasonal menus is metrics.
When you use metrics like employee ratings, customer satisfaction percentages, and budget savings, your body paragraphs say way more about the difference you’ve made at work.
Example of a well-rounded body paragraph
Pull a body paragraph from one of the cover letters above (doesn’t have to be the same cover letter that you got the opener from)
Closing and signing your barista cover letter
Your closing paragraph is for all your finishing touches. Much like the whipped cream on top of a blended drink, things just wouldn’t be the same without it! Start off by giving one last, super-quick overview of your skills, sort of like you did in your intro.
Use the closing paragraph to present a call to action by asking the reader to contact you for more details. You can also take this opportunity to thank them for the time they spent reading your letter.
If not, say thank-you as your professional signoff. If you chose to say so in the closing paragraph instead, use a different formal signoff.
Don’t be vague, informal, or disorganized in your closer:
Sheesh!
Thanks I hope I can work with you soon. I’ve been making coffee forever so I can start soon.
Bob
This closing paragraph addresses the company and its values, and describes alignment with them before expressing enthusiasm for the role that invites further contact:
That’s better!
With my robust coffee-making experience, in-depth knowledge of espresso extraction, and proven track record in team development, I’m confident in my ability to contribute to the success of Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf as a skilled Barista. I look forward to discussing how my passion and expertise can enhance each customer’s coffee experience and contribute to the enriching atmosphere of your establishment.
Sincerely,
Kira Ivanov
You can add a little line that reads “Enclosures:” and then list whatever you include! This could be your barista resume, professional letters of recommendation, original application sheet, or copies of additional certificates.
This is another job for the job description! Check it over again and really try to match that tone. Are they an upscale establishment? Are they an artsy local coffee shop with open mic events?
Do some investigation and see what the company posts about, what they believe in, and what defines them. Look for ideas, values, or pieces of inspiration that you resonate with and use them to lead into what makes you a unique, good fit.
