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We believe the answer is No. While
a machine may replace the repetitive,
manual tasks — the most vital part of a
barista’s job is not something that can be
Photo / designecologist
replaced: machines do not feel the joy
when making coffee, people do: interacting
with humans cannot be replaced. New
technologies will still require people and
the correct balance between these two
aspects will better the working conditions
of a professional barista. As it is happening
in many industries already, Francesco
predicts there will be a huge and deep gap
between the educated operators and the
uneducated ones, a separation that will be
underlined by working conditions and
consequent wage, coffee shops will adapt
to different service systems but will al-
ways require a barista capable in terms
of hospitality, management and review
of the raw materials and of finished
product. As it seems right now, baristas’
future is in the hands of the baristas
themselves, and it won’t require only the
skills to prepare an espresso or a cappuc-
cino but much more knowledge of coffee,
service, business and how to be a great
conversationalist.
Being a young barista has always came YOU NG, VERSATI LE, B EAUTI FU L.
with many struggles. Many generations be-
fore current baristas enjoyed different kinds Prima is the new 1-group espresso coffee machine from
of coffee and developed the industry in their the Eagle One family. It is eclectic, versatile, and created for
own way facing the hardships of the time. the new generation of coffee shops, micro-roasters, and
homes. Its researched and ergonomic design,
Endangered species cussion that comes at a time where many industries have Despite the challenges young baristas face NEO engine – New Engine Optimization, maximum energy
been ‘disrupted’ by technology — Uber, Airbnb & Amazon now, they will too bring something new to efficiency in an even more compact space brings the
Compared to the rest of the world, China started to come to mind — is the same thing about to happen to the the industry, like it was dome by their pre- VICTORIA ARDUINO coffee experience worldwide.
recover the business since March 2020. Most of businesses local barista? The technology certainly has come a long way. decessors: Generation X introduced popu-
were already back to normal by May. Still, some of them More and more we see equipment that is capable of things larized espresso, millennials brought the
could not survive the crisis. “Honestly, we couldn’t do much that were laughable only a few years ago: there are fully third wave and the new industry standard
with coffee business, but it was actually a good time to rethink automated coffee machines that are capable of producing a for quality and sustainability and young www.victoriaarduino.com/eagleoneprima
our own career path. If being a coffee professional is really beautifully balanced espresso. It precisely doses and grinds baristas to come will most likely change the Follow Victoria Arduino on
what we want, and how should we empower ourselves with the beans. It pre-compresses the coffee into a barista-tight industry by adapting it to the digitalization.
knowledge, it is a great time to learn,” says Jeremy. puck. It extracts the coffee and measures the extraction They will be the next generation of barista
With everything happening in the world right now, parameters against a predetermined recipe. If an error is champions and the face of sustainability.
digitalization took a new turn and became even faster than found, it starts over again by changing the grind size, just What we must do as coffee professionals is
ever before. The lockdown showed us how fragile can be like a barista would. The result is delicious, and it gets one encourage this generation and be open
HoReCa as a business and how uncertain can be the future thinking: will we see a day when the skill of a barista will be minded. The future of coffee is in the hands
for baristas. Is the barista an endangered species? It’s a dis- superseded by the repetitive accuracy of machines? of young baristas.

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