What is the primary role of a coffee barista?

The primary role of a coffee barista is to prepare, serve, and provide information about coffee to customers. This involves not only making various types of coffee beverages but also engaging with customers to enhance their experience. A barista should have a solid understanding of different coffee varieties, brewing methods, and flavor profiles, which enables them to offer recommendations and educate customers about their coffee choices. This interaction is crucial for building relationships with customers and ensuring they feel valued and informed.

While roasting coffee beans is important in the coffee production process, it is typically not part of a barista's daily responsibilities, as this is usually handled by roasters. Inventory management is more aligned with operational roles in a café and does not reflect the hands-on customer service aspect of a barista’s job. Creating marketing strategies may be relevant for a café's business operations, but this task is generally outside the barista's focus, which revolves around directly serving and interacting with customers. Thus, the correct answer highlights the integral role that baristas play in providing an excellent coffee experience to patrons.