Head Barista

Watchhouse Coffee House Holding Limited.; Greater London; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free coffee

Free lunch

30% off food

30% off retail coffee

Best-in-class training

SCA training access

Career progression

Job summary

WatchHouse is seeking a Head Barista to uphold the highest standards of drink quality and guest experience across our houses. You will lead, mentor, and act as a brand ambassador for Modern Coffee, guiding the barista team and ensuring consistent excellence in service and hospitality.

You will report into the House Manager and play a pivotal role in coaching, training, and maintaining equipment, while championing WatchHouse's signature culture and values in every interaction with guests and

Qualifications

• Experience leading barista teams or shift supervisors.
• Excellent hospitality and guest service skills.
• Willingness to coach and mentor teammates.

Responsibilities

• Cultivate an atmosphere of unparalleled hospitality, ensuring regulars feel at home and new guests feel welcomed.
• Provide coaching and professional development for your barista team.
• Lead engaging coffee-related meetings or training sessions as needed.
• Represent your team at Head Barista meetings with the Senior Coffee Team.
• Proactively meet with the Coffee team to exchange insights and ideas for improvement.
• Ensure every coffee and drink meets WatchHouse's exceptional quality standards, even in high-pressure environments.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching

Hospitality

Communication

Training

Job description

In short:

As a Head Barista at WatchHouse, you hold the responsibility of ensuring the exceptional quality of every drink served in your House. You are a leader, a mentor , and a brand ambassador of Modern Coffee. You are accountable for your barista team's performance and the overall guest experience . Through coaching, team development, and equipment maintenance, you set the tone for excellence, hospitality, and WatchHouse's signature Modern Coffee culture.

Directly report into : House Manager.

Key Responsibilities:

• Cultivate an atmosphere of unparalleled hospitality, ensuring regulars feel at home and new guests feel welcomed.
• Provide coaching and professional development for your barista team.
• Lead inspiring and engaging coffee-related meetings or training sessions as needed.
• Represent your team at Head Barista meetings with the Senior Coffee Team.
• Proactively meet with the Coffee team to exchange insights and ideas for improvement.
• Ensure every coffee and drink meets WatchHouse's exceptional quality standards, even in high-pressure environments.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of all drinks offerings, recipes, and techniques, sharing this expertise with your team.
• Conduct daily tastings with your team, fostering a culture of curiosity and passion for flavor, quality, and innovation.
• Manage the daily operations of the bar, ensuring standards are upheld and production is efficient.
• Lead by example during opening and closing shifts, demonstrating professionalism and setting the benchmark for performance.
• Oversee stock control, ordering, and wastage management, tackling inefficiencies and maintaining excellent supplier relationships.
• Maintain visual merchandising and retail displays, ensuring high standards of presentation and accessibility.
• Troubleshoot equipment issues, perform basic repairs, and replace filters or parts as needed.
• Communicate with repair specialists and ***and***?
• Demonstrate passion and expertise in creating vibrant connections with guests, turning visits into memorable experiences.

Key to this Role:

• Live and breathe our core values of Passion, Empathy, Can Do and Diligence.
• Approachable, positive, and brings energy and personality to every interaction, whether with guests or your team.
• Remain calm under pressure and handle difficult conversations professionally.
• A true coffee enthusiast with a hunger to learn and inspire others about specialty coffee, food, and hospitality.
• From cleanliness to drink quality, you are meticulous and organized, setting high standards for your team to follow.
• You are solution-oriented, proactive in tackling challenges, and adaptable to the needs of your House and team.
• You are patient and supportive, skilled at coaching and empowering others to grow and succeed.

What can you expect at WatchHouse:

• Free Coffee & Drinks – Always – Sip on your favourite drinks, even on your days off.
• Monthly Coffee Gift – Take home 250 g of premium WatchHouse coffee every month.
• Free Lunch Every Shift – Fuel up with great food on the house.
• Team Social Budget – Celebrate, connect, and unwind with your team outside of work.
• Annual WatchHouse Party – Our legendary celebration featuring Core Value Awards, and prizes like trips to coffee farms!
• 30% Off All Food – Any House, any time, just for being part of the team.
• 30% Off Retail Coffee – Stock up on your favourite WatchHouse blends whenever you like.
• Work in Beautifully Designed Houses – Join inspiring spaces equipped with industry-leading tools, surrounded by passionate hospitality professionals.
• Supportive Managers – We listen, we care, and we adapt to support your needs.
• Best-in-Class Training – From your first shift, we set you up for success with on- and off-shift development.
• Access to SCA Training – Advance your coffee expertise with recognised industry training (role dependent).
• Off-Shift Induction Experience – Get to know WatchHouse culture with a full day induction in your first two weeks.
• Career Progression That's Real – With new Houses and growth across the business, your next step is never far away.

Working at WatchHouse.

At WatchHouse, we were born from a passion to do better—driven by diligence, attention to detail, and a genuine care for our craft and our people. We are a people-first business that values individuality, personality, and the unique contributions of every team member. We champion diversity, insist on equality, and foster inclusion as a non‑negotiable part of our culture. Our team thrives in a respectful, collaborative environment where feedback is welcomed, support is mutual, and excellence is pursued together. Guided by our core values— passion, can do , diligence, and empathy —we build meaningful relationships, celebrate contributions, and work with purpose to deliver the Modern Coffee experience.

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