Barista

Casa Libre - Costa Mesa; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 23,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Casa Libre - Costa Mesa is seeking an experienced Barista to deliver exceptional guest experiences while crafting high-quality coffee. You will excel at espresso preparation, milk texturing, and dial‑ins, maintaining consistency and cleanliness in a fast-paced, high-volume café environment.

Join a team focused on warmth, hospitality, and growth as we expand to new locations, with opportunities for skill development and leadership as the company grows.

Qualifications

• 2+ years in a high-volume specialty café.
• Passionate about coffee, hospitality, and guest experiences.
• Skilled in espresso preparation, milk texturing, dial‑ins, and manual brewing.
• Knowledge of coffee origins, processing methods, and flavor profiles.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.
• Calm under pressure with exceptional attention to detail.
• Team player who shows up with humility, energy, and a desire to improve.

Responsibilities

• Prepare espresso and coffee beverages with precision, consistency, and care.
• Dial in espresso throughout the day to maintain exceptional quality.
• Texture milk to specialty coffee standards and execute latte art.
• Follow beverage recipes and quality standards with consistency.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and efficient bar during every shift.
• Welcome every guest with genuine warmth and hospitality.
• Educate guests about our coffees, menu, and Mexican café culture.
• Handle guest concerns with professionalism, empathy, and confidence.
• Help create an environment where every guest feels they belong.
• Follow opening, closing, and daily operating procedures.
• Prepare coffee, teas, and beverages efficiently during peak service.
• Restock stations, monitor inventory, and communicate product needs.
• Maintain cleanliness, food safety, and health standards throughout the café.
• Support smooth operations by helping wherever needed.
• Support fellow baristas and leaders with a positive, collaborative attitude.
• Participate in tastings, education, and ongoing training.
• Foster a culture of accountability, respect, and continuous learning.
• Share knowledge and encourage teammates to grow.
• Represent the Casa Libre values and spirit daily.
• Continuously develop coffee knowledge and hospitality skills.
• Learn new brewing techniques and seasonal offerings.
• Support opening of future café locations as the company grows.

Skills

Espresso prep

Milk texturing

Dial‑ins

Manual brewing

Origins & flavor

Bilingual EN/ES

Calm under pressure

Team player

Hospitality

Job description

For the one who believes every cup is an opportunity to create connection

Move like a jaguar.

If those words feel like they were written for you, you may be the Barista we're searching for.

We are a respected, world-class Mexican grocery brand entering a new era of café culture, specialty coffee, fresh-roasted beans, and hospitality rooted in warmth, heritage, and pride. As we launch multiple new cafés over the next two years, we're building a team of exceptional baristas who believe that coffee is both a craft and an act of hospitality.

This role begins behind the bar—fully present, fully engaged, and committed to delivering remarkable experiences, one guest at a time. As we grow, you'll help shape the culture, standards, and guest experience that define our cafés.

WHO YOU ARE

• A specialty coffee professional with at least 2 years of experience in a high-volume specialty coffee café.
• Passionate about coffee, hospitality, and creating memorable guest experiences.
• Skilled in espresso preparation, milk texturing, dial‑ins, and manual brewing methods.
• Knowledgeable about coffee origins, processing methods, and flavor profiles.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.
• Calm under pressure with exceptional attention to detail.
• Someone who treats every guest with warmth and every cup with pride.
• A team player who shows up with humility, energy, and a desire to continually improve.

WHAT YOU'LL OWN

Coffee Craft

• Prepare espresso and coffee beverages with precision, consistency, and care.
• Dial in espresso throughout the day to maintain exceptional quality.
• Texture milk to specialty coffee standards and execute latte art.
• Follow beverage recipes and quality standards with consistency.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and efficient bar throughout every shift.

Hospitality

• Welcome every guest with genuine warmth and hospitality.
• Create memorable experiences through meaningful conversations and exceptional service.
• Educate guests about our coffees, menu, and Mexican café culture.
• Handle guest concerns with professionalism, empathy, and confidence.
• Help create an environment where every guest feels they belong.

Café Operations

• Follow opening, closing, and daily operational procedures.
• Prepare coffee, teas, and other beverages efficiently during peak service.
• Restock stations, monitor inventory, and communicate product needs.
• Maintain cleanliness, food safety, and health standards throughout the café.
• Support smooth café operations by helping wherever needed.

Team & Culture

• Support fellow baristas and leaders with a positive, collaborative attitude.
• Participate in coffee tastings, education, and ongoing training.
• Help maintain a culture of accountability, respect, and continuous learning.
• Share knowledge and encourage teammates to grow.
• Represent the values and spirit of Casa Libre every day.

Growth & Development

• Continuously develop your coffee knowledge and hospitality skills.
• Learn new brewing techniques and seasonal beverage offerings.
• Support the opening of future café locations as the company grows.
• Grow with the company and pursue leadership opportunities as we expand.

WHO THRIVES HERE

• Someone who finds joy in serving others.
• Someone who believes consistency is an expression of respect.
• Someone who can move with urgency while never sacrificing quality.
• Someone who understands that hospitality is not just what you do—it's who you are.
• Someone who carries the spirit of the jaguar—quiet confidence, unwavering focus, and the courage to create extraordinary moments every day.