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We see it on TV shows and in movies depicting New York City all the time—the bright lights, the fast-paced life, and the coffee cups in hand on the way to work.
Coffee shops play a pivotal role in the NYC ecosystem, and it’s no wonder that barista jobs are aplenty in the Big Apple. But what’s it really like to work in a coffee shop as a barista in NYC?
New York City is known for its bustling energy and coffee shops are no exception. Working as a barista in the city can be an exciting experience, as you would be serving a diverse array of customers and interacting with people from all walks of life. Not to mention that many customers in New York City are generous tippers, which can make working as a barista a lucrative job.
At the beginning, however, it requires up front work and time. Most coffee shops in New York City invest in training their baristas to ensure they can make high-quality coffee and espresso drinks. This means that working as a barista can provide valuable training and skills that can be applied in other areas of the food and beverage industry.
Once you exit your initial training, NYC coffee shops can be especially busy during peak hours—meaning that an NYC barista job can be quite fast at all hours. This points towards the fact that being a barista in the city can be demanding and requires you to work quickly and efficiently.
Many coffee shops in New York City open early in the morning to serve customers on their way to work, which means that baristas may need to wake up early and start work before sunrise. Working as a barista can be physically demanding, as you will need to stand for long periods of time, lift heavy bags of coffee, and operate equipment such as espresso machines and milk frothers.
Of course, many look forward to a role like this where hard work can lead to satisfaction and recognition. Looking beyond the initial role, many coffee shops in New York City are part of larger chains or restaurant groups, which means there may be opportunities for advancement within the company. Oftentimes, even the store manager once started off as a barista—whether that’s the Starbucks around the corner or the local specialty shop that’s been serving coffee for decades.
New York City is known for having a diverse customer base, with people from all walks of life coming to coffee shops for a quick pick-me-up. This leads to some of the biggest perks of working a barista job or job in an NYC coffee shop: the people exposure.
The coffee culture in New York City is known for being fast-paced and no-nonsense, with an emphasis on quick service and high-quality coffee. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean less customer interaction—quite the opposite. With regular customers coming in, you’ll get to see many people in different walks of life, giving you the customer service exposure that is unrivaled across different industries.
Beyond the people, many coffee shops in New York City invest in high-quality equipment and ingredients to ensure they can make the best possible coffee and espresso drinks. This means that baristas may have access to specialty equipment such as pour-over stations, siphon brewers, and cold brew towers, as well as unique ingredients such as single-origin beans and house-made syrups. For coffee lovers, this can be the dream environment to learn in.
Additionally, New York City is known for being a hub of creativity and innovation, and this extends to the coffee industry as well. Many coffee shops in the city encourage their baristas to experiment with different brewing methods, ingredients, and flavor profiles to create unique and exciting drinks. This means that baristas may have the chance to flex their creative muscles and develop their skills as coffee professionals.
Lastly, but certainly not least, while the cost of living in New York City can be high, many coffee shops in the city offer competitive wages and benefits packages to their employees. Baristas may be eligible for health insurance, retirement savings plans, and paid time off, which can make it easier to live comfortably in the city. Those are benefits that aren’t always available to baristas outside New York City or another larger metropolitan area.
Workwise has a large database of job openings across different industries and locations, including a wide range of barista jobs in various cities across the country. This means that job seekers like you can easily search for and apply to multiple barista jobs across the city.
Searching for barista jobs or similar coffee shop jobs that are full-time with healthcare, paid time off (PTO), and transparent wages? Check out Workwise Job Search: the easiest place to find and share high-quality jobs near you.
Whether you want to filter by neighborhood, hourly wage range, or even look for specific benefits for you and your family, Workwise is here to help. Create a free account to save jobs and compare to your current or past job.
Looking for career advice, job search help, interviewing tips, or more? Head over to our Workwise Career Advice page for tips from experts and people who have been in your shoes before. No one needs to find a better job alone!
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