Barista

Yavapai-College; Prescott (AZ); On-site; USD 17,000 - 21,000; Full time

Job summary

Yavapai College Food Service is seeking a Barista to join our new campus café. This position is responsible for preparing high-quality coffee and espresso beverages, providing exceptional customer service, maintaining food safety and sanitation standards, and supporting the daily operation of the café.

The Barista will help establish the culture and customer experience of this new space while supporting the Food Service department’s commitment to quality, seasonal and local ingredients,

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED as applicable.
• Arizona Food Handler’s Card or ability to obtain one within the required timeframe.
• Ability and willingness to learn professional espresso preparation, beverage recipes, equipment, and café operations.
• Demonstrated ability to provide professional and courteous customer service.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Ability to follow standardized recipes, procedures, food safety requirements, and department policies.
• Dependable and punctual with the ability to maintain regular attendance.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and serve hot and cold coffee, espresso beverages, teas, and seasonal specialty drinks according to established recipes and standards.
• Grind, measure, tamp, extract espresso, steam milk, and assemble beverages to ensure quality, flavor, and presentation.
• Maintain knowledge of café beverages, ingredients, alternative milks, syrups, and menu offerings.
• Provide friendly, professional, and efficient customer service during high-volume periods.
• Operate POS, kiosk, and other café ordering systems accurately.
• Prepare, stock, rotate, and maintain grab-and-go food and beverage displays.
• Stock coffee, milk, syrups, cups, lids, and other supplies; communicate inventory needs.
• Complete opening, closing, and shift-change procedures.
• Clean and maintain espresso machines, grinders, brewers, and equipment.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and visually appealing cafe environment.
• Follow food safety, sanitation, handwashing, allergy awareness, and health department requirements.
• Maintain positive working relationships with students, employees, visitors, and coworkers.
• Assist with catering, special events, and other Food Service operations as needed.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Multitasking

Espresso preparation

Teamwork

Education

High school diploma or GED

Arizona Food Handler’s Card

Tools

POS systems

Café equipment

Job description

Yavapai College Food Service is seeking a Barista to join our new campus café. This position is responsible for preparing high-quality coffee and espresso beverages, providing exceptional customer service, maintaining food safety and sanitation standards, and supporting the daily operation of the café.

The new café is designed to serve as a welcoming campus gathering place where students, faculty, staff, and visitors can connect, study, meet, and enjoy quality food and beverages.

The Barista will help establish the culture and customer experience of this new space while supporting the Food Service department’s commitment to quality, seasonal and local ingredients, sustainability, responsible sourcing, and waste reduction.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Prepare and serve hot and cold coffee, espresso beverages, teas, and seasonal specialty drinks according to established recipes and standards.
• Properly grind, measure, tamp, extract espresso, steam milk, and assemble beverages to ensure consistent quality, flavor, temperature, and presentation.
• Maintain knowledge of café beverages, ingredients, alternative milks, syrups, and menu offerings to answer questions and make customer recommendations.
• Provide friendly, professional, and efficient customer service while maintaining speed and accuracy during high-volume service periods.
• Operate point-of-sale, kiosk, and other café ordering systems accurately.
• Prepare, stock, rotate, and maintain grab-and-go food and beverage displays.
• Stock coffee, milk, alternative milks, syrups, cups, lids, and other café supplies and communicate inventory needs to management.
• Complete established opening, closing, and shift-change procedures.
• Clean and maintain espresso machines, grinders, brewers, refrigerators, counters, sinks, and other café equipment.
• Maintain a clean, organized, safe, and visually appealing café throughout each shift.
• Follow all food safety, sanitation, handwashing, allergy awareness, temperature-control, and health department requirements.
• Maintain positive and professional working relationships with students, employees, visitors, and coworkers.
• Assist with catering, special events, promotions, and other Food Service operations as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support departmental operations.

Seasonal & Sustainable Food Service

The Barista supports Yavapai College Food Service’s commitment to responsible and sustainable operations by:

• Supporting the use of local and seasonal ingredients in beverages and café specials whenever possible.
• Promoting reusable service options and other sustainability initiatives.
• Participating in recycling, composting, reusable-container, and waste-reduction programs.
• Minimizing food and beverage waste through accurate preparation and portion control.
• Properly sorting waste, recyclable materials, compostable materials, and reusable items.
• Positively educating and encouraging customers to participate in sustainability programs.
• Contributing ideas for seasonal beverages and café offerings that align with Food Service sustainability goals.

Qualifications

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent, as applicable to Yavapai College requirements.
• Current Arizona Food Handler’s Card or ability to obtain one within the required timeframe.
• Ability and willingness to learn professional espresso preparation, beverage recipes, equipment, and café operations.
• Demonstrated ability to provide professional and courteous customer service.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and remain organized in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to follow standardized recipes, procedures, food safety requirements, and department policies.
• Dependable and punctual with the ability to maintain regular attendance.
• Ability to learn and operate café equipment, point-of-sale technology, and ordering systems.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule based on café and Food Service operational needs (days, evenings, weekends, holidays).
• Previous barista, specialty coffee, café, restaurant, food service, or hospitality experience or work in foodservice industry.
• Knowledge of espresso extraction, milk steaming, beverage preparation, and basic coffee techniques.
• Experience working in a fast-paced customer service environment.

The physical demands described are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

This position requires frequent standing and walking for extended periods; reaching, bending, stooping, and repetitive hand and arm movements associated with beverage preparation, stocking, cleaning, and operation of café equipment.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements and competencies listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Valid Driver’s License.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or listen. The employee is frequently required to use fingers and hands to handle or feel. The employee is frequently required to stand and walk. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms; climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, occasionally lift 50 pounds and occasionally team lift and/or move over 50 pounds.

Work Environment

Work is primarily performed in a fast-paced café and food service environment. The position requires regular interaction with students, faculty, staff, visitors, and other Food Service employees and may involve exposure to hot equipment, steam, refrigerated products, cleaning and sanitizing solutions, and typical food service conditions.