Roaster

Casa Libre - Costa Mesa; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Casa Libre - Costa Mesa is seeking a Head Roaster to lead our production roasting, profile development, and sensory evaluation, with a focus on consistency across a growing café network. This role starts hands-on in the roastery and evolves into building a high-performing team, systems, and standards.

As we expand, you will shape the roasting program, maintain quality control, and collaborate with café leadership to ensure coffee is prepared and served to spec, reflecting the brand and heritage

Qualifications

• Experienced in production roasting and profile development.
• Skilled in sensory evaluation and quality control.
• Knowledge of coffee origins and specialty standards is a must.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Execute production roasts with precision and consistency.
• Maintain roast profiles reflecting brand identity.
• Document roasting processes for scalability and training.
• Collaborate with Director and café leadership on quality and production.
• Mentor and develop future roasters and production staff.
• Ensure safety, cleanliness, and operational excellence in the roastery.

Skills

Production roasting

Profile development

Sensory evaluation

Inventory management

Quality control

Team leadership

Job description

For the one who leads with instinct, courage, and fire

Move like a jaguar.

If those words feel like they were written for you, you may be the Head Roaster we're searching for.

We are a respected, world-class Mexican grocery brand entering a new era of café culture, specialty coffee, fresh-roasted beans, and hospitality rooted in warmth, heritage, and pride. As we expand our roasting program and launch multiple new cafés over the next two years, we need someone who can step into the roastery on day one—hands on, fully present, and fully committed—to build a program worthy of our name.

This role begins at the roaster. As we grow, you'll help shape the team, the systems, and the standards that define our coffee program for years to come.

WHO YOU ARE

• A roaster with sharp instincts, disciplined technique, and deep respect for origin and craft.
• Experienced in production roasting, profile development, and sensory evaluation.
• Knowledgeable in Mexican coffee regions, Latin American flavor traditions, and global specialty coffee standards.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Grounded, precise, and obsessed with consistency.
• Comfortable managing inventory, production planning, and quality control.
• Someone who treats the team like family and the brand like your own.

WHAT YOU'LL OWN

Roasting

• Execute production roasts with precision, consistency, and discipline.
• Follow and maintain roast profiles that reflect the identity and values of the brand.
• Follow quality control systems that ensure every batch meets the highest standards.
• Document roasting processes clearly so they can be taught, scaled, and protected.

Green Coffee & Quality

• Work closely with the Director of Coffee to Cup to evaluate new coffees and maintain quality standards.
• Participate in cuppings and sensory evaluation to ensure consistency.
• Monitor green coffee inventory and communicate purchasing needs.
• Protect the integrity of every coffee from arrival through roasting.

Production & Operations

• Follow roasting schedules, production planning, and inventory management systems.
• Maintain roasting equipment and quality control tools with care and attention.
• Ensure safety, cleanliness, and operational excellence throughout the roastery.
• Collaborate with café leadership to ensure seamless coffee production and distribution.
• Support systems that can scale as new cafés open.

Team & Culture

• Train and mentor future roasters and production team members.
• Create a culture of accountability, respect, and genuine care.
• Lead cuppings, sensory training, and ongoing coffee education for café and roastery teams.
• Build leaders who build leaders.

Café & Beverage Alignment

• Work closely with café managers and bar leads to ensure coffee is brewed and served to specification.
• Support espresso dial-ins, bar training, and beverage development.
• Protect the connection between roasting, bar execution, and guest experience.
• Help maintain consistent coffee quality across every café.

Growth & Development

• Support the launch of new cafés with production planning and coffee readiness.
• Help build scalable roasting systems that can expand into new markets.
• Report directly to the founders and leadership team with production updates and strategic insights.
• Grow with the company and be rewarded as the business expands and succeeds.

WHO THRIVES HERE

• Someone who moves with intention and discipline.
• Someone who can shift from sensory evaluation to hands‑on production without hesitation.
• Someone who believes consistency is the highest form of craftsmanship.
• Someone who sees challenges as opportunities and treats every team member with respect.
• Someone who carries the spirit of the jaguar—quiet confidence, unwavering focus, and the courage to pursue excellence every single day.