Head Barista

Bluestone Lane; New York (NY); On-site; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Bluestone Lane in New York, NY, is seeking a Head Barista responsible for maintaining coffee quality and training team members. This role includes engaging with customers and managing coffee inventory. Ideal candidates will have at least 2 years of experience in specialty coffee and strong communication skills. The position offers a dynamic work environment with opportunities for growth in a fast-paced setting. Join our team to deliver exceptional service and foster connections within the community.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years working as a Barista or Head Barista.
• Strong communication skills necessary for customer interaction.
• Experience in fast-paced environments is essential.

Responsibilities

• Uphold coffee quality and brand standards.
• Train and mentor team members on beverage preparation.
• Manage coffee-related equipment and inventory.

Skills

2+ years working as a Barista or Head Barista in Specialty coffee

Strong technical barista knowledge and skills (extraction, texturing, pouring)

Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Can work in a high stress, fast paced work environment

Keen to train, mentor and support teammates

Education

DOH accredited or Safeserve Certified

Job description

Summary/Objective

A Head Barista is responsible for upholding the standard of quality of the Bluestone Lane coffee and beverage program within their home store. The Head Barista is a positive influence over other baristas and strives for the highest of standards in drinks, local interactions, attitude and brand ambassadorship. The Head Barista acts as a role model in their own drink quality, local interaction and food preparations while also taking significant responsibility for on the job training and education of their teammates in store. The Head Barista is responsible for all aspects of the coffee menu in full in their assigned store as well as strong support for their relevant manager. This role follows the Steps of Service to maximize sales while providing a high level of customer service. The Head Barista serves our locals and runs drinks to tables Monday through Friday. The Head Barista is a cross‑functional role and rotates off the machine with responsibility for POS and take‑away orders working alongside their Server Teammates.

Positioning: The Head Barista is cross‑functional and positioned either behind the machine when assigned, at the POS, or on the café floor so that they are accessible and within eye reach of our local.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities

Ownership

• Store level extension of Education team; coffee/beverage quality and processes gatekeeper for café
• Teamwide holistic education and training of coffee product & coffee/beverage program; Face of Bluestone Lane coffee to locals & teammates
• Manages coffee related equipment and tool cleaning and maintenance (daily cleaning and periodic maintenance)
• Inventory management of coffee and coffee‑related product

Spend through Service

• Deep understanding of the menu in order to educate and excite local
• Services tables with focus on upselling food & beverage. Keen eye to refill beverage at right time
• Comes around the machine to personally deliver drinks to locals
• Engages and attends Monthly Head Barista meetings
• Upskills teams and initiates training and accreditation requests for teammates when needed

Human Connection

• Serves as teammate rotating off machine to run POS, serve locals, clear tables & process takeaway
• Locals focused, interacting and servicing locals with beverage needs
• Sets tone in store with recognition and connection with locals – name, face & order every time; builds relationships and human connection through personalization and conversation; provides input to GM/Ops in selection and hiring of new baristas
• Attends regular calibration sessions with Education team (1 every 6‑8 weeks, ability to travel may be needed)

Premium Broad Product

• Contributes to and builds upon innovations which assist workflow and operations in store and speed of service
• Zenput inputs such as monthly staffing reports to Education team, monthly coffee and process audits & ownership of store achieving correct extraction via daily dial in
• Focus on coffee, beverage product and workflow systems of each barista within the team while providing a positive influence in upholding BL standard of hospitality
• Coffee product rotation, ordering and quantity management following standard operating procedures (i.e. coffee used within 3 weeks of roast for beverage preparation, Retail coffee no older than 7 days on shelves)
• Minimizes waste – ensure proper ordering

Beautiful Spaces

• Ensures bar and workspace are always clean and fully functioning
• Speed of service – provide quality product with speed and accuracy
• Maintains grooming guidelines at all times
• Shift leader who assists General Manager to direct and manage live labor; ensures operational excellence in absence of GM

Measures of Success

• Cross‑functional operations – flexible and agile moving from machine to serving local – service focused and quality driven
• Baristas in training are ready for test within 30 days of employment
• Pipeline of Baristas ready for accreditation
• Knows locals’ name & order – provides genuine escape by delivering great service; good communication & working environment with Servers – working together to service local efficiently and effectively
• Consistent coffee quality from all baristas in the café
• Reduces coffee waste

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• 2+ years working as a Barista or Head Barista in Specialty coffee or 4+ years working in non‑specialty coffee in a high volume fast paced environment
• 2+ years of relevant hospitality experience, previous management or leadership roles are preferred
• DOH accredited or Safeserve Certified
• Keen to train, mentor and support teammates in their coffee education
• Strong technical barista knowledge and skills (extraction, texturing, pouring)
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Can work in a high stress, fast paced work environment
• Can stand for extended periods and lift to 40lbs

Work Environment

Working conditions are typically indoors in environmentally controlled conditions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.