When the gourmet coffee industry exploded onto the scene during the 1980s and 1990s, however, the term barista took on a slightly different meaning. A barista in the coffeehouse sense is an expert in producing espresso and espresso-based drinks. Expresso is an intensely-flavored form of coffee generally served in a small cup called a demitasse. In order to brew a perfect cup of espresso, a barista must place a measured amount of ground coffee into a wire basket and tamp it down firmly. The wire basket is then locked under the spout of an espresso machine.A trained barista should know precisely how much hot water should be forced through the mesh and for how long. If the time is too short, the espresso will be weak and watery. If the barista spends too much time, the espresso will be too strong to drink. It is this intimate knowledge of an espresso machine’s capabilities that make a good barista indispensable to a coffeeshop. A barista may also have to create a good froth from steamed milk or allow the espresso to form a natural dark layer on top called a crema.