Head Barista

The Groucho Club; Greater London; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days holiday

Wagestream

Meals provided

Pension

Employee Assistance Programme

Refer a Friend

Staff events

Job summary

The Groucho Club in Soho is seeking a Head Barista to lead day‑to‑day coffee operations, inspire the team, and elevate every guest experience with exceptional service and product knowledge.

You will train staff, manage dial‑ins and extractions, contribute to seasonal beverages, and ensure smooth service while maintaining warmth, discretion, and a precise, high‑quality standard.

Qualifications

• At least one year of experience in a senior barista or supervisory role in London.
• Strong coffee knowledge, including espresso extraction, milk texturing, and workflow management.
• Experience with specialty coffee and an interest in origin, roasting, and brewing methods is highly desirable.
• A clear communicator who builds rapport easily with both guests and team members.
• Calm under pressure, maintaining consistency and composure during busy services.

Responsibilities

• Leading daily coffee bar operations, ensuring every guest experience meets the Club’s standards of exceptional hospitality, quality, and personalised service.
• Setting the example behind the machine, delivering consistently high-quality coffee while maintaining speed, precision, and attention to detail.
• Acting as a host on the floor, engaging warmly with members and ensuring each guest feels personally looked after.
• Delivering fast, polished service while supporting the wider team and maintaining a smooth service flow during busy periods.
• Maintaining consistency across all services by training and guiding the barista team, upholding standards even at peak times.
• Managing dial‑ins, grind calibration, and extraction to ensure coffee quality is consistently at its best.
• Contributing creatively to seasonal menus and beverage development, including signature coffee drinks and specials.
• Overseeing daily setup and close down of the coffee station, ensuring cleanliness, organisation, and full readiness for service.
• Managing stock levels, placing orders and maintaining strong control over waste and cost efficiency.
• Assisting with training, mentoring, and onboarding of new team members to build a confident, motivated, and cohesive team.
• Supporting service recovery and problem‑solving in real time, handling issues calmly, discreetly, and effectively.

Job description

About The Groucho Club

Founded in 1985, The Groucho Club is one of London’s most renowned private members’ clubs, bringing together individuals from the creative industries including film, media, arts, publishing, and music.

About The Groucho Club

Founded in 1985, The Groucho Club is one of London’s most renowned private members’ clubs, bringing together individuals from the creative industries including film, media, arts, publishing, and music.

Located in Soho, the Club provides bars, restaurants, event spaces, and bedrooms exclusively for members and their guests. Discretion, individuality and a relaxed yet professional atmosphere sit at the heart of everything we do.

Head Barista

We are looking for an enthusiastic Head Barista with presence, passion, and natural leadership skills. This role is perfect for someone who not only understands exceptional coffee and hospitality, but who can inspire a team and elevate every guest experience.

As Head Barista, you will lead day-to-day coffee operations while actively engaging with guests, setting the standard both behind the coffee bar and on the floor. You will bring strong product knowledge, a meticulous eye for detail, and a hands‑on approach that balances operational excellence with warm, genuine hospitality.

At the Groucho Club, every interaction matters. From service flow to team culture, you play a key role in energising our team and shaping the experience that makes our club unique, vibrant, and unforgettable.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Leading daily coffee bar operations, ensuring every guest experience meets the Club’s standards of exceptional hospitality, quality, and personalised service.
• Setting the example behind the machine, delivering consistently high-quality coffee while maintaining speed, precision, and attention to detail.
• Acting as a host on the floor, engaging warmly with members and ensuring each guest feels personally looked after.
• Delivering fast, polished service while supporting the wider team and maintaining a smooth service flow during busy periods.
• Maintaining consistency across all services by training and guiding the barista team, upholding standards even at peak times.
• Managing dial‑ins, grind calibration, and extraction to ensure coffee quality is consistently at its best.
• Contributing creatively to seasonal menus and beverage development, including signature coffee drinks and specials.
• Overseeing daily setup and close down of the coffee station, ensuring cleanliness, organisation, and full readiness for service.
• Managing stock levels, placing orders and maintaining strong control over waste and cost efficiency.
• Assisting with training, mentoring, and onboarding of new team members to build a confident, motivated, and cohesive team.
• Supporting service recovery and problem‑solving in real time, handling issues calmly, discreetly, and effectively.

What Makes You a Great Fit

• At least one year of experience in a senior barista or supervisory role in London.
• Strong coffee knowledge, including espresso extraction, milk texturing, and workflow management.
• Experience with specialty coffee and an interest in origin, roasting, and brewing methods is highly desirable.
• A clear communicator who builds rapport easily with both guests and team members.
• Calm under pressure, maintaining consistency and composure during busy services.
• Polished, personable, and engaging, with pride in presentation and craft.
• A natural understanding of exceptional service, always anticipating needs and exceeding expectations.
• Passionate about coffee and hospitality, with a drive to deliver outstanding experiences.
• Socially confident, comfortable interacting with a diverse membership, adapting your approach while staying authentic.
• Highly organised and efficient, able to multitask in a fast‑paced environment.
• Flexible and adaptable, bringing a positive, can‑do mindset to every shift.

Why You’ll Love It Here

• Competitive salary.
• 28 days holiday inc. bank holidays, pro-rata
• Wagestream to support your financial wellbeing
• Nutritious meals made by our team
• Pension scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme with Hospitality Action
• Refer a Friend Scheme – up to £1000 to share with your friend!
• And all the other things that get us excited such as staff parties, food and cocktail tasting and working alongside London’s best members.

Equal Opportunities

The Groucho Club is an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.

No agency support required, direct candidates only, please.