Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Barista?

By: Talin Vartanian
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Barista?
Image: Cecilie_Arcurs / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

We have to give credit to baristas, who make a wide variety of coffee drinks on a daily basis. In this quiz, we'll take a look at 35 questions regarding coffee terminology, including roasts, brews and popular names of coffee drinks. After all, if you want to become a barista, you have to know almost everything about coffee!

First thing's first: if you want to become a barista, you have to know how to profile a roast of coffee. Known as "roast profiling," this is a technique that is used to determine the quality of a particular roast. Rate, temperature and time are used for this type of profiling, and is sometimes conducted by the roast master.

You also have to know what certain types of tools are used for. For example, do you know the difference between a grinder, boiler, tryer and a moka pot? Or, do you know what a steam wand is used for? A steam wand in particular, is used to froth up milk using compressed steam from the boiler.

This quiz will look at various types of coffee terminology that will put you in the place of a barista! Think you know what a caffè mocha and a flat white is? Try this quiz now to see how well you do!

Which of these is NOT part of 'roast profiling?'
Packaging aesthetics
Packaging aesthetics is not very important when it comes to roast profiling. Baristas need to know how to 'roast profile' using temperature, time and the rate of roasting.
Rate
Time
Temperature

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Which of the following is NOT part of a Caffe Latte?
Espresso
Milk foam
Tea leaves
Caffe Lattes don't contain any tea leaves. These are made with steamed milk and espresso, with a layer of milk foam on top.
Steamed milk

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Which type of coffee roast contains a lot of oil?
Light
Medium
Dark
Dark roasts contain a lot of oil and is usually very strong and bitter in flavor. These types of roasts are also not very acidic in nature.
Coffee roasts don't have any oil

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What does "first crack" mean?
The coffee bean "pops" as moisture is released from within
When moisture is released from inside the coffee bean, it "pops" to a larger size. This is known as "first crack."
It's another way of saying "roasted coffee"
It refers to the first batch of brewed coffee
It refers to the harvesting of coffee beans

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What is a tryer?
It's a tool that is used to steam milk
It's a tool that is used for "roast profiling"
A tryer is used for roast profiling, which is often done by the roast master. A tryer is also part of the drum roaster.
It's a tool that is used to filter coffee
It refers to a tray that holds coffee cups

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An "American" coffee roast refers to what color?
Brown
A rich brown color refers to an American-style roast. This is due to the light color of the coffee bean.
Black
Dark green
Dark red

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Vienna, Full City and City+ are all types of...?
Brewing styles
Cities
Beverage names
Roast levels
There are many types of roast levels, including Full City, Vienna, City+ and French roast. Each type of roast refers to the first or second crack of the coffee bean.

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A "continental" roast is also known as a...?
Vienna
A Vienna roast has the nickname "continental" roast. This type of roast is also full-bodied with popularity in Northern Italy.
American
City
French roast

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Coffee "on the rocks" is also called...?
Frappe
Cuppa
Iced coffee
Iced coffee is also called "on the rocks," because you're pouring coffee over a cup of ice cubes. You can also add bitters, mint leaves, sugar and cream in this as well.
Flat white

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Espresso has _______ origins.
American
Spanish
French
Italian
Espresso has Italian roots and is featured in a number of popular coffee drinks, including a cappuccino and a caffe latte. It's typically served hot, but may be served cold as well.

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If a customer wants a "cappa," what are they asking for?
Caffè macchiato
Latte macchiato
Cappuccino
A cappuccino is also called a "cappa," and is made with double espresso, steamed milk and foamed milk. It can also be garnished with cinnamon.
Caffè Americano

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If you add skim milk to a latte, what does it become?
Short latte
Skinny latte
A skinny latte is prepared with skim or nonfat milk. This is also made with espresso, foamed milk and a lot of steamed milk.
Soy latte
Latte macchiato

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A _______ ________ is known as "stained milk."
Latte macchiato
A latte macchiato's translation is "stained milk," because the steamed milk is "stained" or added with espresso. There is also typically a layer of foamed milk on top as well.
Caffè mocha
Caffè macchiato
Flat white

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Where do coffee seeds come from?
Coffee cherries
Coffee seeds actually come from coffee cherries, specifically the pit of the cherry. The seeds are removed, dried and ferment in water.
Sugar canes
Coffee plant roots
Coffee flour

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A "half city" refers to which type of roast?
Light
A light roast is also called "half city" or "light city" as well. This is due to their light color and acidic quality.
Medium
Dark
American

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If a customer wants a "breakfast" roast, what type of roast do they want?
Light
Medium
A medium roast is also called a "breakfast" roast, and is typically a rich brown in color. The acidity and body of this roast is typically balanced with each other as well.
Dark
New England

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A metal filter will work best for which of these brewing methods?
Siphon
Nel drip
Pour over
Espresso
Espresso has quite a bit of coffee oil and is highly concentrated, which is due to the metal filtration system. Metal filters also work great for French Press and AeroPress coffee.

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Besides espresso, what does an "Espresso Italiano" contain?
Steamed milk
Milk foam
Cinnamon
Nothing else, just espresso
An Espresso Italiano doesn't contain anything else except for espresso in its purest form. This also has Italian roots and is thick in texture.

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Which of these coffee drinks has Spanish origins?
Ristretto
Long black
Cortado
A cortado is a type of coffee drink that has Spanish roots, and is known for its mixture of espresso with hot milk. There is also typically no foamed milk on top.
Latte

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When you incorporate steam into milk, this is known as...?
Pour over
Extraction
Bloom
Frothing
When you incorporate steam into milk, this is known as frothing. Frothed milk, or milk foam, is great for cappuccinos and lattes.

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When you pour espresso over ice cream, it becomes an...?
Affogato
An affogato is actually a type of dessert that is made by pouring espresso over ice cream. This results in a sweet and bitter flavor, as well as creamy textures.
Frappé
Caffè mocha
Ristretto

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The "body" of the coffee refers to its...?
Texture
The texture of the coffee can be referred to as the "body" of the coffee. This is also called "mouthfeel."
Aftertaste
Aroma
Flavor

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What are the three parts of an espresso shot?
Heart
Crema
Hopper
The three parts of an espresso shot are the body, heart and crema. The hopper is actually a coffee grinder component that contains the coffee beans.
Body

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You can froth milk by using the ______ ______ of an espresso machine.
Steam wand
The steam wand is used to froth milk, and looks like a small "arm." Steam is pressed through the nozzle of the steam wand via the boiler.
Hopper
Spout
Boiler

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What are the designs on top of a latte called?
Body
Latte art
As its name implies, latte art is the process of incorporating art designs on top of a latte. This is accomplished through microfoam.
"Golden rule"
Heart

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"Faux espresso" or "fake espresso" is made by using which of these pots/machines?
Moka pot
A moka pot is used to make "false" espresso. It was invented in 1933 by Alfonso Bialetti.
French Press
AeroPress
Espresso machine

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Which of these tools is used to "press" coffee into a "hockey puck" shape?
Spout
Tamper
A tamper is used to "press" coffee into a "hockey puck" shape. This is also used to make espresso.
Moka pot
Doser

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Which of these coffee beverages has Greek origins?
Long black
Caffè Americano
Frappé
A frappé has Greek origins, and is a blended beverage that is served chilled. This is typically made by blending ice, milk and espresso together in a blender.
Latte macchiato

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Hot water with some espresso on top is called a...?
Long black
A long black is mostly hot water with a layer of espresso on top. This type of drink is also popular in New Zealand and Australia.
Cortado
Café au lait
Cappuccino

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When you layer chantilly cream over espresso, it becomes an...?
Caffè Americano
Espresso con panna
An espresso con panna is made by topping espresso with chantilly cream, or whipped cream. It also translates to "espresso with cream."
Caffè macchiato
Cappuccino

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A "mocaccino" is also known as a...?
Caffè mocha
A "mocaccino" is also known as a caffè mocha, which contains distinct chocolate flavors. This is also typically topped with whipped cream and syrup.
Caffè macchiato
Café au lait
Cappuccino

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A doppio is how many shots of espresso?
2
A doppio is another way of saying "two shots of espresso." This is also made with a double coffee filter.
1
None
3

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An espresso shot contains how many milliliters?
10
20
60
30
A standard espresso shot contains 30 milliliters. If you want a double, it would be 60 millimeters, which is also known as a doppio.

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Alcohol is present in which of these coffee drinks?
Irish coffee
Irish coffee contains Irish whiskey, which is a type of alcohol. This drink is also sweet and creamy in nature.
Espresso con panna
Cold brew
Lungo

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Cappuccinos contain foamed milk on top. What is this foamed milk called?
Macrofoam
Macrofoam is commonly used to make cappuccinos, and is known as "dry foam." This is opposite from microfoam, which is popular for creating latte art.
Microfoam
Sweet foam
Espresso foam

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