Barista

The Durham Hotel; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive hourly + tips

Employee Discount

Flexible Schedule

Employee Referral Program

Job summary

The Durham Hotel is seeking a friendly Barista for The Coffee Bar to deliver exceptional guest experiences by preparing beverages and food, taking orders, and handling POS transactions with accuracy.

You will maintain clean work areas, comply with health regulations, and upsell menu items when appropriate while sharing local recommendations with guests. This role requires strong English communication and open availability, including weekends.

Qualifications

• Minimum 1 year of barista experience required.
• Customer-oriented and upbeat personality.
• Strong English communication skills (writing and speaking).
• Highly organized with attention to detail and a sense of urgency.

Responsibilities

• Greet guests, take orders, and prepare beverages and food.
• Demonstrate knowledge of coffee preparation processes and specialty drinks.
• Enter orders accurately into the POS system and handle payments.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of the espresso bar area and equipment.
• Provide information about the hotel and local area to guests.

Skills

Barista experience

Customer focus

English proficiency

Organization

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

POS system

Job description

As humble ambassadors of our namesake city, we prioritize quality, kindness, and inclusivity so all feel welcome.

OUR CORE VALUES

INSPIRE WONDER Innovation and Creativity | Surprise and Delight

FOSTER HOSPITALITY Inclusive Culture | Home Away from Home

PURSUE EXCELLENCE Exceptional Experiences | Attention to Detail | Focus on QualityDEMONSTRATE INTENTIONALITYEmpathetic Engagement | Anticipatory Service | Sense of Ownership

CULTIVATE COMMUNITY Team Collaboration | Community Engagement | Take Time to Celebrate

POSITION SUMMARY:

This barista role is a customer-oriented role in The Coffee Bar at The Durham and will interact with guests in a friendly and professional manner, ensuring an exceptional experience while serving drinks and food. Key responsibilities include taking orders, preparing and serving beverages, adhering to hotel-standard drink recipes, and recommending menu items. The barista will also handle cash and payments, maintain cleanliness and organization of the espresso and area, and assist guests with general information about the hotel and local area. The role requires excellent communication skills and the ability to manage guest needs and preferences effectively. Additionally, the barista will ensure that all service is performed in accordance with legal and health regulations while maintaining a positive and welcoming environment for all patrons.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Food and Beverage Preparation and Service

• Appropriately welcome, interact with, and take food and drink orders from guests
• Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the coffee preparation process, including specialty drinks
• Prepare and serve beverages according to hotel standards and specification
• Ensure that the assigned espresso and bar area is fully equipped with tools and products needed for mixing beverages and serving guests
• Set and maintain guests with appropriate service ware and serve, check on, and run food
• Demonstrate the ability to consistently speak knowledgeably about the menus (both food and drink)
• Accurately and efficiently enter orders into POS system
• Prepare service drinks for the servers (Brunch shifts) in a timely manner

Customer Service Skills

• Assess customers’ needs and preferences and make appropriate recommendations
• Ability to utilize sales tactics to upsell on food or drink as appropriate
• Serve customers in a friendly and helpful manner
• Provide guidance to guests on hotel activities, dining options and general hotel and regional information.
• Stay guest focused and nurture an excellent guest experience

Cash Handling and Inventory

• Ring in and collect payment for all food and beverage served
• Handle an assigned house bank and follow all cash handling procedures as per hotel standard
• Communicate ordering needs to minimize running out of items

Communication and Teamwork

• Perform other duties as assigned by managers
• Communicate scheduling conflicts, vacations, and shift changes to managers according to policies and procedures
• Communicate in a professional manner to all other staff, guests, managers
• Work together with other staff in a "One Team, One Dream" mentality

Cleanliness, Health, and Safety Standards

• Ensure all work surfaces are kept in neat and tidy condition throughout service
• Maintain clean bar top throughout service
• Wash glassware, prep and coffee bar tools to maintain health standards
• Comply with all NC Department of Food and Safety regulations
• Comply with all NC ABC regulations

COMPENSATION and BENEFITS:

• Competitive hourly + tips
• Employee Discount
• Flexible Schedule
• Employee Referral Program

Full Time Employees Qualify for:

• PTO (Paid Time Off)
• Insurance Benefits (including medical, dental, vision, and life)

QUALIFICATIONS:

• More than 1 yr of previous barista experience required
• Customer-oriented and upbeat personality
• Demonstrates a high level of organization, attention-to-detail, and a sense of urgency
• Displays a positive and outwardly friendly attitude toward guests and co-workers
• Must be able to communicate in English writing and speaking
• Must be eligible to work in the United States
• Must have open availability and the ability to work a variety of shifts, including holidays, nights, and weekends

EDUCATION:

High School Diploma / GED.

PHYSICAL ABILITY:

• Ability to be on your feet and alert for extended periods of time
• Ability to lift up to 35 lbs. as needed
• Ability to carry and balance heavy food & beverage trays
• Continuous use of hands and arms
• Continuous bending, reaching, and twisting
• Maintains strong personal image and uniform standards

Note: This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to perform any other job-related duties assigned by their supervisor.