Playbooks
The best barista training simulator: what to look for
A barista training simulator only helps if it makes you recall the recipes. Here is what a good simulator trains, what it cannot, and how to use it.
Lawrence Arya··3 min
Playbooks
McCafé automated vs manual machine: a practice guide
Automated vs manual café machines: what each asks of you, why practice still matters on an automated bar, and how to prepare. Independent and not affiliated.
Lawrence Arya··4 min
Playbooks
Drink builder games: do they actually help you learn?
A drink builder game only helps if it makes you recall the build from memory. Here is what to look for and how to practice before your shift.
Lawrence Arya··3 min
Playbooks
Tim Hortons drink builder practice: how to prepare
How to practise the drink builds for a Tim Hortons-style menu before your shift: learn the by-size pattern, drill the sequence by recall, stay fast. Not affiliated.
Lawrence Arya··4 min
Playbooks
Best cafe order simulation game for real barista practice
Want a realistic cafe order simulation game? Here is what real practice needs versus what arcade sims give you, and how to drill order-taking properly.
Lawrence Arya··4 min
Playbooks
Coffee shop simulator games vs real barista practice
Do coffee shop simulator games make you a better barista? Here is what they train well, where they diverge from real practice, and how to use them.
Lawrence Arya··3 min
Playbooks
Do barista training apps and simulators actually work?
Can an app really prepare you for the bar? Here is what barista training apps and simulators do well, what they cannot replace, and how to use them.
Lawrence Arya··3 min
Playbooks
How to practice taking café orders before your shift
Taking orders is its own skill: parsing modifiers, holding a sequence, and staying fast. Here is how new baristas practice order-taking before the rush.
Lawrence Arya··4 min