barista

noun

ba·​ris·​ta bə-ˈrē-stə How to pronounce barista (audio)
bä-ˈrē-stä
: a person who makes and serves coffee (such as espresso) to the public

Examples of barista in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After hours, a barista will usher you into Say Less Speakeasy, a lofty bar and lounge hidden behind an unassuming bookshelf just past the café register. Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025 At Dave's Coffee in Charlestown, barista Heather Terranova sees it often. Bryan West, USA Today, 29 Sep. 2025 Starbucks Protein-Boosted Milk, a blend of 2% milk and premium whey protein made daily by baristas, may be substituted in any hot or iced drink where milk is part of the recipe — for example, a Latte, Macchiato or Coconutmilk Refresher. Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025 Under Niccol, Starbucks has brought back its tradition of baristas doodling on cups in Sharpie pens; reinstated self-serve milk and sugar stations; cut 30% of the food and drink menu; ended its open-bathroom policy for non-paying customers; and laid off 1,100 corporate employees in February. Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for barista

Word History

Etymology

Italian, person working behind a bar, from bar bar (from English) + - ista -ist entry 1

First Known Use

1982, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of barista was in 1982

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Cite this Entry

“Barista.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barista. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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