The word barista has developed from the same word in Italian, the gender-neutral term for ‘barman’. There is evidence on the web for an alternative spelling barrista, although this accounts for less than 10% of occurrences. The usual plural is baristas, but in recognition of the Italian origin of barista, baristi is sometimes used, particularly by specialists in the coffee business.
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barista
noun countable
US /bəˈrɪstə/
Word Forms
singular
barista
plural
baristas
DEFINITIONS1
1
a person whose job is to make coffee in a café
Synonyms and related words
People who work in restaurants, cafes and bars
barista
barkeeper
barmaid
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The word barista has developed from the same word in Italian, the gender-neutral term for ‘barman’. There is evidence on the web for an alternative spelling barrista, although this accounts for less than 10% of occurrences. The usual plural is baristas, but in recognition of the Italian origin of barista, baristi is sometimes used, particularly by specialists in the coffee business.