How to become a Barista
You can start as a Barista with no yacht experience. You need the right tickets, a CV that shows work that transfers, and to be where the yachts hire. This page sets out each step.
Where you startAnd where it leads. A typical path, not a rule.
Barista
Year 0. Pay from about US$3,200 a month. A specialist interior crew member on large yachts who runs coffee service for guests and crew, often doubling as a service or housekeeping stew.
Service Steward / Service Stewardess
Year 1-2. Pay from about US$3,500 a month. Interior crew member focused on guest service on larger yachts: table, bar, wine and pantry, from breakfast setup to the last drink at night.
Head of Service
Year 3-5. Pay from about US$5,500 a month. Senior interior role on large yachts that runs dining, bar and guest-facing service, trains the service team and reports to the chief stew.
Chief Steward / Chief Stewardess
Year 6-9. Pay from about US$5,500 a month. Head of the yacht interior.
Before you applyWhat a Barista needs, from the Barista guide
Must have
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical certificate
Gets you hired
- SCA Barista Skills (Foundation or Intermediate)
- Food Hygiene Level 2
- GUEST Introduction to Yacht Interior
- Proficiency in Designated Security Duties (PDSD)
Visas
- Schengen visa for non-EU crew in the Mediterranean
- US B1/B2 visa for Caribbean and Florida programmes
What counts instead of yacht experienceOur advice
Captains hire a Barista for espresso calibration, latte art and milk and alt-milk handling. With no yacht job behind you, show the same skills from work ashore. A background in five-star hospitality is the closest match, for example work as a front of house team member.
Write each job on your CV as what you did, with numbers: how many guests, how many boats, how many covers. Then list every skill below that you can prove.
- Espresso calibration
- Latte art
- Milk and alt-milk handling
- Machine cleaning and maintenance
- Silver service
- Guest preference records
- Discreet guest manner
Your first stepsIn the order we suggest
Get the tickets a Barista must hold
You need STCW Basic Safety Training and ENG1 medical certificate before a yacht can put you to work as a Barista.
STCW and ENG1: what they are and what they cost →Write a first Barista CV
Keep it to one page. Put your tickets and your start date at the top, then the work that transfers: five-star hospitality.
See a Barista CV example →Create your crew profile
Upload that CV and we build your profile from it. Your name and contact details stay hidden. Captains and recruiters contact you. It is free.
Create your crew profile →Apply and look for daywork
Apply to open jobs and to crew agencies, and take daywork: a few paid days on a yacht is how most first-time crew get a reference.
Barista guide →Step up to Service Steward / Service Stewardess
The usual path puts Service Steward / Service Stewardess at year 1 to 2. Pay starts from about US$3,500 a month.
How to become a Service Steward / Service Stewardess →
QuestionsMore in the green crew guide
Can I become a Barista with no experience?
Yes. Barista is a first job on yachts. You need STCW Basic Safety Training and ENG1 medical certificate, and work that transfers, such as five-star hospitality, puts you ahead of other new crew.
How long does it take to become a Barista?
It is a starting role, so the time is what it takes to get the tickets and find the first job. From there, the usual path puts Service Steward / Service Stewardess at year 1 to 2.
What does a Barista earn at the start?
From about US$3,200 a month, by our Barista guide. On charter yachts the tip is usually 10-15% of the charter fee, split among the crew. In a busy Mediterranean or Caribbean season that can add several thousand dollars a month. Permanent posts on large yachts often come with paid leave and flights home.
Let the yachts come to you
Upload your CV and we build your crew profile from it. Captains and recruiters contact you. Free for crew.