Head Barista (Specialty Coffee Shop & Café Concept)
Position Summary
The Head Barista is responsible for leading all coffee and beverage operations, ensuring exceptional beverage quality, consistency, service excellence, and adherence to company standards. The role oversees bar operations, coffee preparation, beverage development, team training, equipment management, inventory control, and customer experience.
The ideal candidate must have strong specialty coffee knowledge, advanced barista skills, experience in café operations, and the ability to lead and develop a professional bar team.
Key Responsibilities
Coffee & Beverage Operations
- Lead daily bar operations and ensure smooth beverage production.
- Prepare and oversee the preparation of:
- Specialty coffee beverages
- Espresso-based drinks
- Filter coffee
- Cold coffee beverages
- Signature drinks
- Non-coffee beverages
- Smoothies and other café beverages
- Ensure all beverages meet company recipes, standards, and presentation requirements.
- Maintain consistency in taste, quality, and service speed.
Coffee Quality Management
- Monitor coffee quality from grinding, extraction, brewing, and final serving.
- Perform daily espresso calibration and grinder adjustment.
- Ensure proper coffee extraction parameters are maintained.
- Monitor:
- Coffee dose
- Grind size
- Extraction time
- Yield
- Beverage temperature
- Conduct regular quality checks and tasting sessions.
- Maintain coffee standards across all shifts.
Menu Development & Beverage Innovation
- Develop new coffee and beverage recipes.
- Create seasonal drinks and promotional beverages.
- Improve beverage presentation and customer experience.
- Standardize recipes, preparation methods, and serving procedures.
- Maintain beverage recipe cards and SOP documentation.
Bar Team Leadership & Training
- Lead, train, and develop baristas to achieve company standards.
- Conduct coffee training and skills improvement sessions.
- Create barista training programs and assessment procedures.
- Monitor staff performance and provide coaching.
- Prepare bar schedules and assign daily responsibilities.
Customer Experience
- Ensure excellent guest interaction and hospitality standards.
- Handle customer feedback related to beverages professionally.
- Promote coffee knowledge and create a premium café experience.
- Support upselling and product recommendations.
Inventory & Cost Control
- Monitor coffee, beverage, and bar supplies inventory.
- Coordinate with Store Keeper and Procurement Team for ordering requirements.
- Control usage of:
- Coffee beans
- Milk products
- Syrups
- Powders
- Tea products
- Beverage ingredients
- Packaging materials
- Minimize beverage waste and maintain proper portion control.
- Conduct regular stock checks and reconciliation.
Bar Equipment Management
- Ensure proper operation and maintenance of:
- Espresso machines
- Coffee grinders
- Brewing equipment
- Blenders
- Beverage machines
- Water filtration systems
- Perform daily cleaning and maintenance checks.
- Coordinate preventive maintenance and report equipment issues.
Food Safety & Hygiene Compliance
- Ensure compliance with HACCP, hygiene, and sanitation standards.
- Maintain clean and organized bar stations.
- Ensure proper storage and labeling of beverage ingredients.
- Monitor milk handling and temperature control.
- Maintain cleaning schedules for coffee equipment.
Reporting & Administration
- Prepare daily bar reports and operational updates.
- Monitor beverage sales performance.
- Analyze popular and slow-moving beverages.
- Maintain beverage recipes, SOPs, and training records.
- Coordinate with Operations and Management regarding improvements.
Required Qualifications
- Barista certification or specialty coffee training preferred.
- Minimum 4–5 years of experience as a Barista, Senior Barista, or Head Barista.
- Experience in:
- Specialty coffee shops
- Premium cafés
- Bakery cafés
- Restaurant beverage operations
Mandatory Knowledge & SkillsSpecialty Coffee Expertise
Strong knowledge of
- Coffee origins and varieties
- Coffee roasting basics
- Espresso preparation
- Brewing methods
- Coffee extraction principles
- Grinder calibration
- Milk steaming and latte art
- Coffee tasting and sensory evaluation
Beverage Knowledge
Knowledge of
- Hot coffee beverages
- Cold coffee beverages
- Signature drinks
- Mocktails
- Tea preparation
- Smoothies
- Seasonal beverage development
- Beverage costing
Bar Operations
- Bar workflow management
- Recipe standardization
- Beverage quality control
- Cost control
- Inventory management
- Team training
- Customer service standards
Systems Knowledge (Mandatory)
Must have knowledge of
- POS Systems
- POS Back Office Systems
- ERP Systems (Odoo, SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, etc.)
- Inventory Management Systems
- Recipe & Costing Systems
Ability to
- Review beverage sales reports
- Monitor product consumption
- Support inventory control
- Maintain beverage records
- Analyze beverage performance
Microsoft Office Skills
- Microsoft Excel: Beverage costing, inventory tracking, sales analysis, and reports.
- Microsoft Word: SOPs, recipes, and training documentation.
- Microsoft Outlook: Professional communication.
- Microsoft PowerPoint: Basic presentations and training materials.
Additional Requirements
- Strong leadership and communication skills.
- Passion for specialty coffee and hospitality.
- Ability to train and develop barista teams.
- Excellent attention to detail.
- Ability to work under pressure during peak hours.
- Flexible to work weekends, holidays, and rotating shifts.
- Physically fit to stand for extended periods.
Core Competencies
- Coffee Expertise & Passion
- Beverage Quality Management
- Team Leadership
- Training & Development
- Customer Experience Focus
- Cost Awareness
- Operational Excellence
- Problem Solving
- Attention to Detail
- Creativity & Innovation
- Professional Communication
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Beverage Quality & Consistency
- Customer Satisfaction
- Beverage Sales Performance
- Coffee Waste Reduction
- Beverage Cost Percentage
- Recipe Compliance
- Bar Cleanliness & Organization
- Equipment Maintenance Compliance
- Barista Training Completion
- Service Speed & Accuracy
- Inventory Accuracy
This job description is suitable for a Head Barista managing a specialty coffee shop, bakery café, and premium beverage operation, responsible for coffee excellence, beverage innovation, team leadership, and maintaining world-class café standards.
Pay: RO1.000 - RO2.000 per month
Work Location: In person
