Senior Barista – Café & Retail Operations

THE LAKE COUNTER LIMITED; Kelvin Peninsula; On-site; NZD 30,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

THE LAKE COUNTER LIMITED is seeking a motivated Senior Barista to join our cafe team on site in Otago. You will prepare espresso-based beverages, handle food prep when needed, and deliver friendly, efficient service to customers.

Key duties include operating café equipment safely, maintaining hygiene and stock, training junior staff, and assisting with daily store operations under the Café Manager. Experience and reliability are essential for weekend and holiday shifts.

Qualifications

• At least [two/three] years of relevant barista or café experience.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare espresso-based beverages to a consistent commercial standard.
• Experience operating and cleaning commercial espresso machines and grinders.
• Strong customer-service and communication skills.
• The ability to work efficiently and remain organised during busy service periods.
• The ability to complete stock counts, rotate stock and maintain basic inventory records.
• Good attention to detail when receiving, storing and replenishing products.
• The ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Sufficient spoken and written English to communicate safely and effectively with customers, employees, management and suppliers.
• Availability to work rostered shifts, including weekends and public holidays.

Responsibilities

• Prepare espresso-based coffees, teas and other beverages per recipes and quality standards.
• Calibrate grinders and adjust coffee preparation to maintain consistency.
• Operate the espresso machine, grinders and other café equipment safely.
• Maintain consistent flavour, presentation, speed and service standards.
• Complete daily cleaning and routine care of coffee-making equipment.
• Identify equipment faults and report maintenance requirements.
• Assist with basic food preparation and service when required.
• Welcome customers and provide friendly, professional and efficient service.
• Take orders, operate the POS system and process payments accurately.
• Respond to customer enquiries about café menu items and retail products.
• Keep the café counter, customer areas and retail displays clean and tidy.
• Replenish products displayed in the café and retail areas.
• Monitor product availability and notify management of replenishment requirements.
• Respond to customer feedback and refer significant issues to management.
• Provide practical, on-the-job guidance to new and junior employees.
• Demonstrate correct coffee preparation, equipment operation, cleaning and customer-service procedures.
• Help maintain an efficient allocation of routine tasks during service.
• Support other employees during busy periods.
• Promote consistent service, hygiene and product-quality standards.
• Report staffing, workflow or service issues to the Café Manager or Store Manager.

Skills

Barista experience

Espresso preparation

Customer service

Inventory control

Team collaboration

English communication

Tools

Commercial espresso machines

Job description

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Prepare espresso-based coffees, teas and other beverages in accordance with workplace recipes and quality standards.

Calibrate grinders and adjust coffee preparation as necessary to maintain consistency.

Operate the espresso machine, grinders and other café equipment safely and correctly.

Maintain consistent standards of flavour, presentation, speed and service.

Complete daily cleaning and routine care of coffee-making equipment.

Identify equipment faults and report maintenance requirements promptly.

Assist with basic food preparation and service when required.

1. Coffee and Beverage Preparation

• Prepare espresso-based coffees, teas and other beverages in accordance with workplace recipes and quality standards.

• Calibrate grinders and adjust coffee preparation as necessary to maintain consistency.

• Operate the espresso machine, grinders and other café equipment safely and correctly.

• Maintain consistent standards of flavour, presentation, speed and service.

• Complete daily cleaning and routine care of coffee-making equipment.

• Identify equipment faults and report maintenance requirements promptly.

• Assist with basic food preparation and service when required.

2. Customer Service and Retail Operations

• Welcome customers and provide friendly, professional and efficient service.

• Take orders, operate the point-of-sale system and process payments accurately.

• Respond to customer enquiries about café menu items and retail products.

• Keep the café counter, customer areas and retail displays clean, tidy and appropriately presented.

• Replenish products displayed in the café and retail areas.

• Monitor product availability and notify management of replenishment requirements.

• Respond appropriately to customer feedback and refer significant issues to management.

3. Team Support and Training

• Provide practical, on-the-job guidance to new and junior employees.

• Demonstrate correct coffee preparation, equipment operation, cleaning and customer-service procedures.

• Help maintain an efficient allocation of routine tasks during service.

• Support other employees during busy periods.

• Promote consistent service, hygiene and product-quality standards.

• Report staffing, workflow or service issues to the Café Manager or Store Manager.

This position provides day-to-day guidance but does not hold overall responsibility for recruitment, disciplinary decisions, payroll or company management.

4. Stock Control and Replenishment

• Monitor stock levels of coffee beans, milk, food, beverages, packaging, cleaning products and retail merchandise.

• Carry out regular stock counts and maintain accurate basic stock records.

• Identify low-stock, fast-moving, slow-moving, damaged or expired products.

• Follow stock-rotation procedures, including first-in, first-out practices where appropriate.

• Record wastage and stock discrepancies and report them to management.

• Assist management with routine stock forecasting and replenishment planning.

• Help minimise wastage, avoid unnecessary overstocking and maintain appropriate stock availability.

5. Deliveries and Storage Areas

• Receive and check incoming deliveries.

• Compare delivered products and quantities against purchase orders, invoices or delivery documentation.

• Report missing, incorrect or damaged products to management.

• Store delivered products safely and promptly.

• Keep café and retail storage areas clean, orderly and accessible.

• Maintain appropriate separation of food, beverages, retail goods, packaging and cleaning products.

• Ensure chilled, frozen and date-sensitive products are stored correctly.

6. Purchasing and Supplier Support

• Prepare routine replenishment requirements for approval by the Café Manager or Store Manager.

• Assist with placing orders with approved suppliers when authorised.

• Communicate with suppliers about product availability, delivery times and order discrepancies when delegated by management.

• Provide management with accurate information about stock usage and product movement.

• The employee does not have independent authority to enter major supply contracts or approve significant business expenditure.

7. Daily Café Operations

• Complete allocated opening and closing duties.

• Prepare workstations and ensure required products and equipment are ready for service.

• Help maintain an efficient workflow between the coffee station, service counter, retail area and storage areas.

• Complete delegated operational tasks reliably and within required timeframes.

• Assist with routine cash handling and end-of-shift procedures.

• Identify operational problems and communicate them promptly to management.

• Suggest practical improvements to workflow, customer service and stock organisation.

8. Health, Safety and Compliance

• Follow all workplace health and safety procedures.

• Comply with applicable food-control, hygiene and sanitation requirements.

• Maintain clean and safe café, retail and storage areas.

• Handle and store food and other products correctly.

• Report hazards, accidents, equipment faults and food-safety concerns promptly.

• Follow lawful and reasonable instructions given by management.

Essential Skills and Experience

The successful applicant must have:

• At least [two/three] years of relevant barista or café experience.

• Demonstrated ability to prepare espresso-based beverages to a consistent commercial standard.

• Experience operating and cleaning commercial espresso machines and grinders.

• Strong customer-service and communication skills.

• The ability to work efficiently and remain organised during busy service periods.

• The ability to complete stock counts, rotate stock and maintain basic inventory records.

• Good attention to detail when receiving, storing and replenishing products.

• The ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.

• Sufficient spoken and written English to communicate safely and effectively with customers, employees, management and suppliers.

• Availability to work rostered shifts, including weekends and public holidays.

Desirable Experience

The following would be advantageous but is not essential:

• Experience providing practical training or guidance to junior café employees.

• Experience in café retail, stock control, ordering or delivery checking.

• Relevant hospitality, food-safety, business or operations training.

• Experience working in a tourism, hotel or visitor-focused environment.

Level of Responsibility

The Senior Barista is primarily a hands-on café position with additional responsibility for supporting routine retail, stock-control and team activities.

The employee works under the direction of the Café Manager or Store Manager and is responsible for assigned operational and inventory tasks. Overall responsibility for company finances, recruitment, payroll, employment decisions, major purchasing and business strategy remains with management.