Barista

Crafty; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 23,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Crafty healthcare plan

401k

Paid time off

Equipment certification courses

Parental leave

Snacks & beverages

Job summary

Crafty is seeking an experienced Barista in Chicago, IL to craft high‑quality drinks and deliver exceptional hospitality at a client cafe. You will be the face of our Cafe Program, balancing speed, precision, and guest satisfaction in a fast‑paced setting.

The role requires 1+ year in a third wave cafe and 2+ years on a manual espresso machine, with morning shifts. We offer healthcare, 401k, paid time off, snacks, and growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• Attentive to detail with precision in espresso dialing and latte art.
• Friendly, client‑focused service and ability to engage guests.
• Reliable and punctual, able to open/close and support team.
• Thrives in a fast‑paced environment and maintains calm under pressure.
• Strong operational knowledge of espresso extraction, milk steaming, and presentation.

Responsibilities

• Prepare handcrafted beverages to Crafty standards.
• Monitor and restock syrups, milk alternatives, and coffee beans.
• Maintain cleanliness, presentation, and health and safety compliance.
• Engage with clients to learned preferences and provide personalized service.
• Support opening/closing tasks and assist teammates during peak hours.

Skills

Attention to detail

Client obsessed

Reliable

Resilient

Operational

Autonomous

Job description

We meticulously craft our job descriptions to clearly define the skills necessary for success and the expected performance level of the role, resulting in detailed content. Our goal is to ensure the description accurately reflects the job you will perform. We value your input and look forward to hearing what you think about the format in the interview process.

This is an on‑site role (five days per week at a client cafe in Chicago, IL) and will report directly to the Food & Beverage Supervisor.

Who We Are:

Crafty elevates workplace food and beverage programs with enhanced services managed in one innovative, centralized platform. Founded in 2015, our mission is to help companies craft better workplaces. From DraftKings to Robinhood to Zillow, we work with the world’s biggest brands to foster a culture of employee connectivity and productivity. Headquartered in Chicago, with offices in New York and the Bay Area, Crafty manages food and beverage programs across 300+ offices, serving more than 300,000 employees per month.

Our commitment to crafting better workplaces starts from within. We are a team of passionate, resourceful, and hard‑working trailblazers who love what we do. Our expertise spans technology, food and beverage operations, client success, fulfillment and more. At Crafty, our people are our greatest asset, because it's our people who foster a culture that makes our company a place worth being part of. And of course, the snacks are the cherry on top!

The Role:

Chicago, IL

Crafty is seeking an experienced Barista to craft high‑quality drinks and deliver exceptional hospitality in one of our client cafes. As the face of our Cafe Program, you’ll create a welcoming environment, ensuring seamless operations while balancing speed, precision, and attention to detail. This role is perfect for someone who is client‑obsessed, reliable, and thrives in both team‑oriented and autonomous settings. You’ll be responsible for preparing handcrafted beverages, managing inventory, and adapting to dynamic service needs. If you’re passionate about coffee, hospitality, and working in a fast‑paced, high‑energy environment, we want to hear from you!

Required Attributes

• Attentive to Detail
• Takes pride in precision, from dialing in espresso shots to ensuring latte art consistency. Every drink meets Crafty's quality standards, maintaining a well‑stocked, organized workspace.
• Proactively monitors inventory levels, ensuring syrups, milk alternatives, and coffee beans are always available to meet client demand.
• Keeps a sharp eye on cleanliness, presentation, and adherence to health and safety regulations, ensuring every aspect of the cafe is polished and inviting.
• Client Obsessed
• Creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere, engaging with clients to learn their names and preferences and providing personalized service that ensures every interaction leaves a positive impression.
• Actively seeks feedback and adapts to evolving client needs, going above and beyond to enhance the cafe experience.
• Makes thoughtful recommendations that make the cafe experience feel accessible and enjoyable for every client, from coffee newcomers to seasoned enthusiasts.
• Reliable
• Shows up on time, prepared, and ready to work. Takes ownership of responsibilities, whether opening or closing the cafe, maintaining equipment, or supporting teammates during busy rushes.
• Fosters trust with both clients and coworkers by consistently delivering high‑quality service and maintaining professionalism under pressure.
• Resilient
• Thrives in a fast‑paced environment, handling lines and custom orders with efficiency and grace.
• Maintains a positive attitude, even during peak hours, ensuring both clients and teammates feel supported and energized.
• Operationally Sound
• Executes cafe operations with efficiency, following best practices for espresso extraction, milk steaming, and beverage presentation.
• Quickly adapts to last‑minute menu changes, equipment issues, or unexpected rushes, problem‑solving on the spot to keep service running smoothly.
• Actively supports teammates, stepping in to help with tasks like restocking, dishwashing, or assisting with inventory when needed.
• Embraces a team‑first mindset, understanding that shared success leads to the best possible client and team experience.
• Actively partners with the Senior Barista on service flow, training initiatives, and day‑to‑day cafe operations, recognizing that this collaboration elevates both the team and the client experience.
• Autonomous
• Takes initiative in maintaining cafe standards, troubleshooting minor equipment issues, and identifying opportunities for efficiency.
• Recognizes when to independently handle operational challenges and when to loop in the Senior Barista for guidance, escalations, or quality support — keeping service running smoothly and standards high.
• Confidently manages the station, ensuring every drink is crafted to perfection without constant supervision.
• Continuously seeks ways to improve workflows, enhance client satisfaction, and elevate the cafe experience.

Required Experience

• 1+ years of experience in a third wave cafe
• 2+ years of experience with a manual espresso machine
• Morning person: shifts can start as early as 6am!
• Full espresso bar execution on a manual machine
• Ability to frequently lift up to 25+ lbs, working on your feet, and frequent bending
• Customer service & hospitality

Don’t meet all of the qualifications? We want you to consider all of your skills and experiences - both professional and personal- that would make you successful in this role. Although some qualifications are essential, others can be attained with time. We believe diverse perspectives, upbringings, and knowledge contribute to our strong company culture and we encourage you to apply.

Role Goals

• Goal #1 — Quality Control: The Barista will maintain a QC Evaluation score of 98% or above, as measured by the monthly QC scorecard reviewed monthly, to ensure beverage quality and client experience standards are met.
• Goal #2 — Overtime Management: The Barista will reduce overtime by clocking in and out at scheduled times, maintaining 30 minutes or less of overtime per individual timecard, as measured by labor hours and timecard reporting reviewed monthly.

What we offer:

Our people mean everything to us. When you join Crafty, you're joining a team of passionate, smart, and supportive people who work incredibly hard and have a good time along the way.

We are proud to offer a compensation package that includes our Crafty healthcare plan, covering primary health, dental, and vision plans, 401k, paid time off, equipment certification courses, and parental leave. And, of course, it also includes Crafty‑grade snacks, beverages, and fun events!

Lastly, this role offers a special opportunity: to have a major hand in shaping the future of a young, flourishing company. Your creativity, ambition, and work will steer the direction of our successes.

Our compensation amount for this role is targeted at $20 per hour in the Chicago market. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors including cost of living based on location, candidate experience and expertise, and may vary from the amounts listed above.

Crafty provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without discriminating against race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or genetics.

Salary Information

$20 - $20Hourly Wage