Kafé Associate

TOTEME; New York (NY); On-site; USD 23,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

TOTEME is seeking a Kafé Associate to join our Madison Avenue Kafé in New York City, full-time. You will welcome customers, prepare and serve coffee and beverages, present baked goods, and maintain a clean, organized environment aligned with TOTEME’s standards.

Experience in café or hospitality is preferred; barista skills and espresso knowledge are a plus. Proficiency with POS systems and cash handling, plus fluent English, are required.

Qualifications

• Experience in a café, specialty coffee, food service, or hospitality.
• Barista experience and knowledge of espresso equipment preferred.
• NYC Food Protection Certification or willingness to obtain.
• Familiar with POS systems and cash handling.
• Fluent in spoken and written English.

Responsibilities

• Welcome customers with attentive, knowledgeable service.
• Prepare and serve coffee and beverages to a high standard.
• Present and sell baked goods and Kafé products.
• Process orders and payments through the POS.
• Maintain food safety, hygiene, cleanliness and presentation.
• Replenish products and supplies; communicate stock needs.
• Complete opening, closing, and daily prep tasks.
• Support teammates to ensure smooth service across shifts.
• Contribute to TOTEME’s social and environmental sustainability strategy.

Skills

Customer service

Barista skills

Cash handling

Communication

Fluent English

Education

NYC Food Protection Certificate

Tools

POS systems

Espresso equipment

Job description

TOTEME is a fashion house rooted in Swedish sensibilities, modern aspirations, and the notion of style.

With an appreciation for how pieces are worn in practice, we create emblematic designs with an emphasis on materiality and shape. Archetype pieces are realized in authentic materials, rich textures and graphic silhouettes. Representing a direct and decisive way of dressing, the collections are contextualized in curated edits, visuals, and spaces.

TOTEME was founded in 2014 by Elin Kling and Karl Lindman. From the atelier in Stockholm, we create women’s and men’s collections spanning ready-to-wear, shoes, bags, accessories, and jewelry.

The Role

TOTEME is looking for Kafé Associates to join our team on a full-time basis. The role is based at our new TOTEME Kafé on Madison Avenue, located next to our New York Flagship store. In this role, you will prepare and serve coffee, beverages, baked goods, and other products while providing welcoming service and maintaining a clean and organized Kafé environment. You will report to the Kafé Supervisor and work directly with the Kafé and Madison Avenue Store Team.

Responsibilities

• Welcome customers and deliver attentive, knowledgeable service in line with TOTEME’s standards.
• Prepare and serve coffee and other beverages consistently and to a high standard.
• Present and sell baked goods and other Kafé products.
• Process orders and payments accurately through the point-of-sale system.
• Maintain excellent standards of food safety, hygiene, cleanliness, and presentation.
• Replenish products and supplies, receive deliveries, and communicate stock needs.
• Complete opening, closing, cleaning, and daily preparation tasks.
• Support colleagues and contribute to smooth, efficient service throughout each shift.
• Participate in and contribute to TOTEME’s social and environmental sustainability strategy.

Your Profile

• Previous experience in a café, specialty coffee, food service, or hospitality environment.
• Barista experience and knowledge of espresso equipment are preferred.
• NYC food protection certification, or willingness to obtain the required certification.
• Familiarity with point-of-sale systems and cash handling.
• Fluent in spoken and written English.

About You

• A TOTEME ambassador who lives and breathes our culture and values.
• Warm, attentive, and passionate about delivering an excellent customer experience.
• Reliable, organized, and attentive to detail.
• Positive, proactive, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.
• Flexible and available to work mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays as required.

This is a full-time position based at TOTEME Kafé beside our Madison Avenue store in New York, starting in November 2026.

The hourly pay range for this role is $17–19 before tax and will be set according to the applicant’s profile, skills, and previous experience.

TOTEME has teams in Stockholm, London, New York, and Shanghai, as well as retail spaces across Europe, North America, and Asia.

TOTEME has an internal career development and title framework and the job title used in the recruitment ad may differ from the title used internally at TOTEME.

Candidates progress through application, screening, interviews or case assessments, followed by final pre-employment checks and a formal offer before joining our team. We anonymize names and personal details in applications during the screening stage to support fair and skills-based hiring.