Being a barista seems like a solid job. They basically serve coffee.
So they are basically at server at a coffee shop?  Do they do anything else?
They usually just serve espresso-based coffee drinks.
I see.  How long have baristas been around?  I am not too familiar with their line of work.
Barista
A barista (; ; from the Italian for "bartender") is a person, usually a coffeehouse employee, who prepares and serves espresso-based coffee drinks.
Etymology and inflection.
The word "barista" comes from Italian, where it means a male or female "bartender" who typically works behind a counter, serving hot drinks (such as espresso), cold alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and snacks. The native plural in English is "baristas", while in Italian the plural
is familiar with the entire process of wine making and consumption. A barista can acquire these skills by attending training classes, but they are more commonly learned on the job.
Competition.
Formal barista competitions originated in Norway, and one such is the World Barista Championships, held annually at varied international locations. Baristas worldwide compete, though they must first compete in a competition held in their own country to qualify to enter in the WBC.
These competitions focus on promoting coffee. Each barista is judged on their skill