Barista

Chaipolitan Teahouse & Cafe; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 28,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fun & productive work environment

One FREE drink on shift

One on-shift meal - 50% Off

25% off-duty food/drink discount

25% company discount on everything

Payouts from tip pool

Ongoing Leadership training

Job summary

Chaipolitan Teahouse & Cafe, located in Nashville, is seeking a friendly barista to prepare and serve chai, coffee, and food items while ensuring a memorable guest experience.

You will greet customers, explain offerings, and tailor orders to preferences. The role emphasizes teamwork, food-safety, and delivering the Chaipolitan mission of inviting everyone to enjoy authentic chai.

Qualifications

• Previous barista or food-and-beverage experience preferred; willingness and ability to successfully complete in-house barista training.
• Familiarity with café or restaurant point-of-sale systems, or the ability to learn new systems quickly.
• Experience with, or willingness to learn, essential barista skills such as dialing in espresso, monitoring shot extraction, and steaming properly textured microfoam.
• Strong customer-service and communication skills, including the ability to address guest questions and concerns promptly, calmly, and professionally.
• Ability to work accurately and efficiently in a fast-paced environment, both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Ability to maintain a clean, organized, safe, and well-stocked work environment while following established food-safety and sanitation procedures.
• Willingness to complete all required food-safety training and obtain food handler’s permit; ability to stand for extended periods and lift or move up to 50 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Greet customers, explain menu offerings and prices, take and fulfill orders, and deliver an excellent guest experience.
• Prepare and serve chai, coffee, espresso beverages, herbal teas, specialty drinks, food, cold-pressed juices, ice cream, and other menu items according to established recipes and quality standards.
• Accurately accommodate available customer preferences, including sweetness levels, alternative sweeteners, dairy‑free milk options, and coffee‑to‑milk ratios.
• Operate beverage and food-preparation equipment safely, including espresso machines, milk steamers, chai-brewing equipment, high-speed ovens, and juicing equipment.
• Restock ingredients, food products, cups, lids, mugs, pastries, packaging, and other supplies as needed.
• Maintain clean, organized, and sanitary workstations and environments while following food-safety, workplace-safety, and operating procedures.
• Resolve routine customer concerns professionally and consistently represent the organization’s mission, values, and service standards.

Skills

Barista experience

Customer service

POS familiarity

Espresso dialing

Milk texturing

Tools

Point-of-sale systems

Job description

ESTIMATED TOTAL HOURLY EARNINGS: $20–$24/HOUR

How Pay Is Structured

• Base Pay: $14/hour
• Estimated Payouts from Tip Pool: $6-10/hour

Our tip pool is distributed transparently based on hours worked. Whether you are dialed in on espresso or welcoming guests at the register, everyone shares in our shop’s success! Tip income is variable and not guaranteed. Estimated total earnings are based on projected tip-pool distributions and will vary based on sales, hours worked, shifts, and other factors.

We get it! You want to work somewhere exciting, fun, and enjoyable - a place to meet great co-workers and have an awesome time. Chaipolitan is that place! Experience is preferred, but we’ll also provide you with additional training.

Role: The barista will be responsible for preparing and serving varieties of chai, coffee, specialty drinks, and food and ensuring a great experience for customers. Candidates should have the following qualifications and be able to fulfill the duties and responsibilities mentioned in this description while following the organization’s core mission and values.

At Chaipolitan, our mission is to bring authentic chai to the Nashville community, be involved with our customers, and create a sense of belonging for everyone who walks through our doors. We're not just about making chai. We want to create a fun and relaxing environment for everybody, and that includes you! All we ask is that when you assist customers and co-workers, you do it with a smile! You’ll make customers come back for some of the delicious food and drinks you made, and at the end of the day, you’ll have done more than help run a cafe. Chaipolitan means “chai for the people”, and that is exactly what you will help us provide by fulfilling our mission and values.

A Qualified Barista Would Enjoy The Following Job Perks

• Fun & productive work environment
• One FREE drink on shift.
• One on-shift meal - 50% Off.
• 25% off-duty food/drink discount.
• 25% company discount on everything else!
• Payouts from tip pool
• Ongoing Leadership training

A Day in Your Chaipolitan Life!

Imagine opening the front door and coming into the smell of sweet, aromatic chai in the morning. You’ll set your stuff down in the back, get your equipment started, make sure the place looks clean, and start your day! You’ll make your fellow peers and customers overjoyed by helping provide one of the best customer experiences in Nashville, hopefully making them return customers for future visits! You’ll help with dine-in and takeout orders and ensure an outstanding customer experience, hopefully feeling proud of what you’re doing! If that doesn’t sound fun, we don’t know what is! Come on down to live the life at Chaipolitan!

Duties/Responsibilities

• Greet customers, explain menu offerings and prices, take and fulfill orders, and deliver an excellent guest experience.
• Prepare and serve chai, coffee, espresso beverages, herbal teas, specialty drinks, food, cold-pressed juices, ice cream, and other menu items according to established recipes and quality standards.
• Accurately accommodate available customer preferences, including sweetness levels, alternative sweeteners, dairy‑free milk options, and coffee‑to‑milk ratios.
• Operate beverage and food‑preparation equipment safely, including espresso machines, milk steamers, chai‑brewing equipment, high‑speed ovens, and juicing equipment.
• Restock ingredients, food products, cups, lids, mugs, pastries, packaging, and other supplies as needed.
• Maintain clean, organized, and sanitary workstations and environments while following food‑safety, workplace‑safety, and operating procedures.
• Resolve routine customer concerns professionally and consistently represent the organization’s mission, values, and service standards.

Qualifications

• Previous barista or food‑and‑beverage experience preferred; willingness and ability to successfully complete the company’s in‑house barista training required.
• Familiarity with café or restaurant point‑of‑sale systems, or the ability to learn new systems quickly.
• Experience with, or willingness to learn, essential barista skills such as dialing in espresso, monitoring shot extraction, and steaming properly textured microfoam.
• Strong customer‑service and communication skills, including the ability to address guest questions and concerns promptly, calmly, and professionally.
• Ability to work accurately and efficiently in a fast‑paced environment, both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Ability to maintain a clean, organized, safe, and well‑stocked work environment while following established food‑safety and sanitation procedures.
• Willingness to complete all required food‑safety training and obtain food handler’s permit; ability to stand for extended periods and lift or move up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Chaipolitan is an equal‑opportunity employer.

Requirements

• Previous barista or food‑and‑beverage experience preferred; willingness and ability to successfully complete the company’s in‑house barista training required.
• Familiarity with café or restaurant point‑of‑sale systems, or the ability to learn new systems quickly.
• Experience with, or willingness to learn, essential barista skills such as dialing in espresso, monitoring shot extraction, and steaming properly textured microfoam.
• Strong customer‑service and communication skills, including the ability to address guest questions and concerns promptly, calmly, and professionally.
• Ability to work accurately and efficiently in a fast‑paced environment, both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Ability to maintain a clean, organized, safe, and well‑stocked work environment while following established food‑safety and sanitation procedures.
• Willingness to complete all required food‑safety training and obtain food handler’s permit; ability to stand for extended periods and lift or move up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Chaipolitan is an upcoming teahouse and cafe in Midtown Nashville, bringing bold, vibrant flavors to the community!