Lead Barista/Assistant Trainer- San Antonio

Merit Coffee Co.; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Merit Coffee Co. is seeking an Assistant Café Trainer who will support the development of café teams across locations by ensuring consistency in beverage quality, hospitality, and operational excellence.

You will partner with the Area Trainer to coach staff, assist with onboarding, and create engaging training experiences that inspire growth and raise guest satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Minimum 1 year of specialty coffee experience.
• Strong understanding of espresso preparation, milk texturing, brewing methods, and coffee fundamentals.
• Excellent communication, coaching, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to travel regularly between café locations.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Travel to café locations to coach, train, and provide operational support.
• Deliver 5-Day New Hire Training programs.
• Conduct Milk Training, Espresso Training, and Shift Lead Training as needed.
• Support ongoing skill development through hands-on coaching and feedback.
• Update training materials and create new resources.
• Provide regular progress reports to Area Trainer.

Skills

Specialty coffee experience

Espresso preparation & milk texturing

-Coaching & interpersonal skills

Travel between locations

Organizational & time management

Job description

Position Summary

At Merit Coffee, we believe exceptional coffee and hospitality begin with exceptional training. The Assistant Café Trainer plays a critical role in supporting the development of our café teams by ensuring consistency in beverage quality, hospitality standards, operational excellence, and coffee knowledge across all locations.

This position partners closely with the Area Trainer to coach team members, reinforce company standards, assist with onboarding and skill development, and help create engaging training experiences that inspire growth and excellence. The ideal candidate is passionate about coffee, enjoys teaching others, and thrives in a fast-paced, multi-location environment.

Key Responsibilities

Training & Development

• Travel to café locations as directed by the Area Trainer to provide coaching, training, and operational support.
• Assist with the delivery of 5-Day New Hire Training programs.
• Conduct Milk Training, Espresso Training, and Shift Lead Training as needed.
• Support ongoing skill development of café teams through hands‑on coaching and performance feedback.
• Assist in updating existing training materials and creating new training resources.
• Provide regular communication to the Area Trainer regarding training progress, opportunities, and future development goals.

Coffee Quality & Product Standards

• Dial in espresso and brewed coffee offerings to ensure all beverages meet company quality standards.
• Train team members on coffee preparation techniques, beverage quality, and product consistency.
• Maintain current knowledge of all coffee offerings and menu items.
• Educate staff on new product launches and provide talking points to support guest engagement.
• Utilize creative learning methods such as cuppings, comparative brewing exercises, coffee tastings, and green coffee education to develop coffee knowledge and palate skills.

Hospitality & Operational Excellence

• Observe and coach team members on hospitality standards and guest experience expectations.
• Evaluate and improve bar flow, cleanliness, organization, and professional bar etiquette.
• Ensure consistency of service and product standards across multiple café locations.
• Support café leadership in reinforcing operational best practices and company standards.

Equipment & Café Support

Ensure café equipment is properly calibrated, maintained, and functioning correctly, including:

• Espresso grinders
• Batch brewers
• Pour-over equipment
• Other coffee preparation equipment

Identify equipment issues and communicate maintenance needs appropriately.

Innovation & Product Development

• Participate in the research, testing, and development of seasonal beverages and new product offerings.
• Collaborate with operations and training teams to improve processes, training effectiveness, and product consistency.

Qualifications

Required

• Minimum 1 Year Of Specialty Coffee Experience.
• Strong understanding of espresso preparation, milk texturing, brewing methods, and coffee fundamentals.
• Excellent communication, coaching, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to provide constructive feedback and train team members of varying experience levels.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to travel regularly between café locations.
• Passion for hospitality, coffee education, and team development.

Preferred

• Previous training, leadership, or shift lead experience.
• Experience conducting coffee cuppings and educational workshops.
• Knowledge of specialty coffee industry trends and best practices.
• Experience creating or updating training materials.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 40 pounds.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced café environment.
• Ability to travel between multiple café locations.

What Success Looks Like

• Consistent beverage quality and operational standards across all cafés.
• Improved team knowledge, confidence, and performance.
• Strong hospitality and guest experience scores.
• Effective onboarding and development of new team members.
• Increased consistency in equipment calibration and café execution.
• Positive relationships with café teams and leadership.

At Merit Coffee, we are committed to creating memorable experiences through exceptional coffee, genuine hospitality, and continuous learning. If you are passionate about developing people and elevating coffee culture, we'd love to hear from you.