What the heck is a Starbucks barista?

Barista is a fancy name for the person who makes coffee.

It usually meant the person making the coffee. Barista is the general term for the person brewing coffee. But it can also meant the espresso machine that Starbucks is using.

Barista is the fancy word for the person that makes your coffee and rings up the cash register.

The zitty kids that make your sandwich at Subway are called "Sandwich Artists". It even says so on the apron. I know because I worked there when I was 16 for all of 3 months...

Barista is the name for someone who makes coffee in a coffee shop.

When using the term in English, "barista" refers to one who has acquired some level of expertise in the preparation of espresso-based coffee drinks. Within certain circles, its meaning is expanding to include what might be called a coffee sommelier; a professional who is highly skilled in coffee preparation, with a comprehensive understanding of coffee, coffee blends, espresso, quality, coffee varieties, roast degree, espresso equipment, maintenance, latte art, etc.

Though popularly believed to be an Italian term, the word barista (plural: baristi [masculine or mixed sex] or bariste [feminine]) was adapted in the United States as a derivative of the Italian word meaning "bartender" and is now part of the lexicon of some American coffee shops. The term is derived from the Italian use of the word bar, which is similar to the American or British café. In Italy, the barista typically works behind a counter, serving both hot (such as espresso and other coffee-based ones) and cold alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

A Barista is anyone who works in a coffee shop, making coffee or drinks.

a barista is a coffee maker who in this case works at starbucks

It's the person making the drinks.