IELTS General Test – Passage 13: Qualities that make a great barista reading with answers explanation, location and pdf. This reading paragraph has been taken from our huge collection of Academic & General Training (GT) Reading practice test PDF’s.
Qualities that make a great barista
Truly great baristas take the time to develop the key skills that will enable them to deliver the highest possible quality of coffee-based beverage and service. As a barista, you must make a concerted effort to listen to your clientele and make sure the drinks you produce are correct in all respects. This is particularly important when you consider the sheer range and complexity of modern coffee drinks, which may start from a single (or double) shot of espresso but can include many additional elements. If you become distracted by the conversation that is going on nearby, you may ultimately miss the mark from a service perspective.
One thing that separates a great from a good barista is that the former is constantly busy and has a strong work ethic. You will often catch a great barista rinsing out the filter in their machines, for example, as this erodes the build-up of burnt coffee oil that can begin to impact on the quality and taste of each espresso shot. Similarly, do not be surprised to hear the sound of the coffee grinder at work. This highlights the keen attention to detail that distinguishes skilled baristas, as they have the desire and the awareness to make every drink with completely fresh ground coffee. This type of attentiveness helps baristas to get the most from the coffee that they use, as many of the delicate aromas found in espresso are lost when exposed to the open air.
Timing is everything when it comes to producing the perfect cup of coffee. A great barista knows precisely when to finish the extraction of espresso, at the point when the balance of flavour has reached its optimum levels. They also understand how important this is; those who act too soon are left with a drink without flavour while those who delay the finish risk burning the beverage and tainting it with a bitter after-taste.
When it comes to customer service, there is so much more to a coffee shop experience than drinking perfectly roasted blends. The atmosphere and the ambience also play a central role, and the interaction that the customer has with their barista sets the tone for an enjoyable experience. Great baristas ask their customers how their day is going or what they’re going to do later; they read local newspapers and keep up with issues that really matter, all of which make a real difference in a competitive marketplace.
Questions 15-22
Complete the notes below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Notes on being a great barista
Serving the customer
• Be sure you make drinks that are (15)………………….for the customer
• Ignore any (16)………………….around you
Using the equipment
• Clean the machine (17)……………….regularly
• Grinding
– always use ground coffee that is (18)………………
– remember that air causes the smell to fade
Making the coffee
• Know when to stop making the espresso
– too early reduces the (19)……………….
– too late makes the coffee (20)……………………
Giving good customer service
• Talk to your customers
– ask about the customers’ (21)…………………….
– know something about the important (22)………………….in the area
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3) IELTS 16 READING PASSAGE – THE MAPLEHAMPTON SCARECROW COMPETITION ↗
4) IELTS 16 READING PASSAGE – HEALTH & SAFETY IN SMALL BUSINESSES ↗
5) IELTS 16 READING PASSAGE – RUNNING A MEETING ↗
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Answers with Explanation
Check out Qualities that make a great barista reading answers below with explanations and locations given in the text.
- CORRECT
- CONVERSATION
- FILTER
- FRESH
- FLAVOR/FLAVOUR
- BITTER
- DAY
- ISSUES
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