Bartenders play a vital role in the hospitality sector. Since businesses in the restaurant industry have a higher profit markup on beverages compared to dishes, increasing the quality and value customers get from their drinks is crucial. That’s why most companies create bartender training programs to constantly improve the skills of their bar staff. In the following paragraphs, we’ll share more about what’s covered during the bartender training process and some of the popular courses for bartenders. If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, read our posts on restaurant training programs and where to get thorough restaurant manager training.
Key takeaway: Bartenders are responsible for the quality of beverages served. Thus, food service businesses need to invest in their skills in order to be able to sell more beverages (usually the menu items with the highest profit markup). Most hospitality businesses have their own bartender training programs.
How Hospitality Businesses Train Bartenders
Certain high-end establishments prefer to hire well-trained and experienced bartenders who require little to no training. However, a lot of businesses in the food and beverage industry hire untrained staff members and offer on-the-job bartender training. Although processes are often similar, there are some differences between operations in different establishments. That’s why even experienced employees often need to go through a bartender training program when starting a new job.
What’s Included in Bartender Training
Like any well-thought-out education program, bartender training is usually divided into different modules. Here are the main ones.
- Onboarding and orientation show the company’s policies, like dress code and customer service expectations. During the orientation part of the bartender training, employees get to meet the team, know the bar layout, and get access to the POS system. This module also teaches various procedures like cleaning, station setup, and other operations.
- Drink preparation is the main responsibility of bar staff members. That’s why it’s no surprise that a large portion of bartender training is related to preparing different types of drinks. Bartenders need to know different pouring techniques, beverage presentation fundamentals, coffee brewing techniques, and more. Because of the high profit margin on cocktails, bartenders need to become very good at preparing mixed drinks, as a lot of establishments aim to increase their cocktail sales.
- Product knowledge is also important for bartenders. They need to know the different characteristics of beverages on the menu. Knowing the origin of different brands is crucial in high-end establishments.
- Health, sanitation, safety, and legal training are also part of the overall bartender training process.
- Most establishments have integrated ongoing bartender training in order to constantly improve their service. Being aware of the latest trends in mixology, flair bartending, and beverage management solutions is a must for bartenders. Thus, business owners in the hospitality sector should invest in refresher courses and workshops for their staff members.
How to Create a Bartender Training Program Easily
In order to achieve restaurant success, you often need to create different training programs. Here’s how to create one for bartenders in a few easy steps.
- Set SMART goals regarding quality, speed, and service.
- Develop a curriculum with modules on the most important topics – bar management, equipment, inventory, menu items, techniques, and more.
- Combine digital, printed, and workshop training methods.
- Measure knowledge at different levels throughout both theoretical and practical tests.
- Include soft skills as part of the bartender training program.
- Adapt the process based on your company’s needs and specific procedures.
Other Trainings in the Hospitality Industry
Hospitality and restaurant managers need to organize various types of training programs for their staff members. They depend on the type of establishment, the style, and other factors. Front-of-house training programs are related to greeting guests, menu knowledge, serving etiquette, and working with restaurant technology like the POS system. On the other hand, back-of-house training aims to improve processes in the kitchen. Modules like quality control, timing, training on different stations, and recipe execution (read more about restaurant recipe cards) are common for these programs.
Soft skill training programs are also important in the hospitality sector. That includes fields like communication, teamwork, handling complaints, and management. By improving such elements, food service businesses can increase tips (read about restaurant tipping), reduce waste, improve restaurant profit margin, and maximize revenue.
Different Types of Bartender Training Courses
Although many hospitality businesses develop their own bartender training programs, there are schools and educational companies that specialize in organizing bartender classes. They offer both full-scale programs for beginners and classes for experienced bartenders who wish to improve their skills. Here are some of the main courses offered by bartender schools.
- Basic bartender training.
- Mixology and craft cocktail (and mocktail) creation.
- Flair bartending.
- Bar management and inventory control.
- Beverage knowledge.
- Responsible alcohol service (known in the US as TIPS training).
- Courses on soft skills like better communication with waiters and other staff members, customer service, time management, and attention to detail.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bartender Training
When it comes to management for restaurants and bars, there are many topics that can be covered. On BlueCart’s website, you’ll find resources on restaurant marketing strategies, how to use QR codes for restaurant menus, or the main rules for pairings in restaurants. In addition to these topics, make sure to check out our answers to common questions regarding bartender training.
What Additional Skills Do Bartenders Need?
In addition to hard skills like preparing espresso drinks and cocktails, bartenders also need a set of soft skills to perform their duties. That includes upselling skills to offer clients more expensive or profitable beverages, customer service skills, and good communication. In order to be a successful bartender, skills like teamwork and multitasking are also crucial. Attention to detail is also a very important skill for bartenders, especially those who work at high-end establishments. Bartenders also need to be up-to-date with the latest restaurant technology trends as they are likely to shape the hospitality sector in the near future.
Is a Bartender a Good Career?
Bartending is a good entry-level job. It’s suitable for young people who search for flexibility in terms of working hours and are willing to work alongside a young team. Bartender training is usually done on the job. Thus, this profession is suitable for people who don’t have formal education in the hospitality niche market. Salary-wise, bartending is not a very profitable profession. Hourly payment varies between $10 for people with no experience and $40 for trained and experienced bartenders. A major benefit of starting a career as a bartender is that you get first-hand experience in the hospitality sector and can later specialize in fields like food service management.
What Are the Responsibilities of Bartenders?
The most important duties of bartenders are related to preparing beverages, maintaining good order at the bar, and managing bar operations. Additionally, responsibilities vary based on the type of establishment and its size. For example, some bartenders might be responsible for bar inventory management and ordering stock from suppliers. Small dive bars usually combine the roles of bartender and waiter. As such, bartenders might be responsible for serving drinks, cleaning tables, and greeting customers. Monitoring the atmosphere and engaging in conversations with clients is also considered part of a bartender’s responsibilities.
BlueCart: Solution to Manage Bar and Kitchen Inventory
Restaurant businesses that wish to easily manage their stock levels can rely on our platform for all their inventory management needs. In addition to offering great solutions for managing stock levels, BlueCart also allows hospitality businesses to calculate the profitability of different recipes (for dishes and drinks). The chance to find vendors and the easy ordering process from BlueCart’s endless aisle are other reasons why many hospitality businesses sign up for BlueCart. If you operate a business in the food service sector, simply sign up for BlueCart and start using our platform.
Suppliers can schedule a demo and see how our wholesale ordering software can help them increase wholesale sales, automate processes, and take their distribution business to the next level!