How to Train a Barista in Canada

Baristas are at the heart of Canada’s booming coffee culture. In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about how to train a barista in Canada, from certifications and skill-building to where to find the best training programs and how to set up onboarding that leads to long-term staff loyalty.

Why Barista Training Matters

In today’s fast-moving hospitality environment, structured training isn’t just nice to have — it’s a must. According to the Toast Consumer Preferences Survey 2025, in which 200 Canadian hospitality workers were polled about restaurant HR, staffing and training in hospitality, 57.5% of Canadians say ongoing training is extremely important for restaurant staff, and 76.5% of respondents prefer in-person training over digital options.

A strong barista onboarding process improves retention, boosts speed of service, and ensures consistency in every cup. Yet 31.5% of Canadian hospitality workers have left a restaurant job due to poor onboarding or training. That’s a big opportunity to improve retention — and your reputation.

What Barista Training Should Cover

A professional barista needs a mix of hard skills and soft skills. According to our Consumer Preferences Survey, Canadian workers rated customer service and food safety as the most important areas of restaurant training.

Key Skills to Include:

• Coffee preparation (espresso, AeroPress, Chemex, cold brew)

• Milk frothing and latte art techniques

• POS operation and digital ordering systems

• Health & safety compliance

• Guest communication and upselling

• Cleaning protocols and café maintenance

• Conflict management and team collaboration

How Long Should Barista Training Take?

According to the Toast Consumer Preferences Survey 2025, 75% of respondents expect to be fully trained in a new restaurant role within two weeks or less, with 47% favouring a two-week timeframe.

Use this as a benchmark for structuring your onboarding schedule. Incorporate the most effective training methods ranked by workers:

• Job shadowing

• Formal orientation

• Peer mentoring

Best Barista Training Programs in Canada

If you’re looking to become the best barista you can be or want to upskill your team, here are some top-rated training options:

Barista Hustle

This Australian-founded program is popular worldwide, and offers online modules in advanced brewing, milk science, and workflow — all accessible from anywhere in Canada.

Explore Barista Hustle

Canadian Barista Institute

With campuses across Canada, from Vancouver to Toronto, this school offers beginner to advanced programs, including latte art intensives and café business courses.

Visit Canadian Barista Institute

Specialty Coffee Association (SCA)

The SCA’s internationally recognized training includes sensory skills, coffee sustainability, and technician courses, available through partner schools in Canada.

Learn more at the SCA

Espresso Academy

Taught by Italian experts, Espresso Academy offers flexible, online courses covering barista basics to business strategy.

Check Espresso Academy

On-the-Job Barista Training

Real-world training is still the gold standard. 76.5% of Canadian hospitality workers prefer in-person over digital training.

Encourage experienced team members to mentor new hires. It builds morale, spreads good habits, and improves team communication. Barista onboarding can also double as leadership development for your senior staff.

Top Tips for Onboarding Baristas:

• Have new hires shadow senior baristas during peak and off-peak hours

• Use a clear barista training manual with step-by-step expectations

• Provide feedback early and often to correct technique and celebrate wins

Canadian Consumer Expectations Are Changing

In a time when only 30% of Canadians are satisfied with their restaurant experiences, barista training becomes a competitive advantage. 

Canadian consumers are increasingly selective — 84% are more cautious about which restaurants they visit, and 77% prefer affordable, high-value spots (source: Voice of the Canadian Restaurant Industry report).

Your baristas are the face of your brand. Their friendly service, paired with great coffee and consistency, is what keeps customers coming back for more.

How to Retain Great Baristas

Beyond training, it’s crucial to build trust through best practice around transparency and professional development. 

According to our survey:

• 73% of workers want employment agreements shared with all staff

• 89% say a clear career path would make them stay longer

• 51.5% believe onboarding is extremely valuable

Final Thoughts

Training is a journey, not a destination. Your baristas need regular check-ins on health standards, equipment updates, and fresh customer service approaches. According to our Toast Consumer Preferences Survey 2025, most employees (over 50%) prefer quarterly refreshers, so why not create a training calendar? It'll help everyone stay sharp and consistent.

Remember, the skills that make your coffee shop special need regular nurturing to keep them alive.