PURPOSE

The Barista is responsible for providing SoPo customers with a high-quality product and experience through excellent customer service, consistent beverage preparation, cleanliness, and adherence to established café standards.

A Barista is a trained café team member who is expected to perform a variety of functions within the café, including beverage preparation, customer service, register operation, product preparation, stocking, cleaning, and event support.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Beverage & Product Quality

• Prepare espresso, coffee, tea, and other specialty beverages according to established SoPo recipes, measurements, and quality standards.

• Properly dial in espresso and maintain beverage quality throughout the shift.

• Prepare café ingredients and batch products as needed according to established recipes and production procedures.

• Maintain product quality through proper preparation, labeling, dating, storage, rotation, and quality checks.

• Perform basic food preparation and handling as assigned.

• Properly operate café equipment according to established procedures and training.

Customer Service

• Provide friendly, attentive, and efficient customer service.

• Create a welcoming and hospitable café environment.

• Accurately take and fulfill customer orders.

• Maintain professionalism when communicating with customers, coworkers, Calvary staff, volunteers, and event guests.

• Address customer questions and concerns appropriately and involve a Shift Lead or Manager when necessary.

Register & Cash Handling

• Accurately operate the point-of-sale system and process customer transactions.

• Follow established policies for discounts, staff benefits, house accounts, complimentary items, and other special transactions.

• Follow established cash-handling procedures.

• Count, balance, and close assigned cash drawers when required.

• Immediately communicate significant register discrepancies or transaction concerns to a Shift Lead or Manager.

Café Operations

• Complete assigned opening, closing, transition, stocking, cleaning, and shift checklists accurately and thoroughly.

• Maintain clean, organized, sanitary, and appropriately stocked café workspaces.

• Ensure customer areas are clean, organized, welcoming, and stocked with necessary supplies.

• Monitor café products and supplies throughout the shift and restock or prepare products as needed.

• Follow proper product rotation and storage procedures.

• Complete assigned daily and weekly cleaning responsibilities.

• Properly clean and care for café equipment within the scope of Barista training, including espresso machines, grinders, batch-brew equipment, craft beverage equipment, and other café tools.

• Communicate low inventory, equipment concerns, product issues, or other operational needs to a Shift Lead or Manager.

Events & Special Services

• Assist with SoPo and Calvary special events as assigned.

• Complete event preparation, setup, beverage or food service, stocking, cleaning, and event recovery responsibilities.

• Ensure assigned event responsibilities are completed accurately and on time.

• Review scheduling and designated company communication platforms for event information, operational updates, and other work-related communication.

Training & Standards

• Successfully complete all required Barista training.

• Demonstrate and maintain competency in drink building, recipes, equipment operation, customer service, cash handling, house account policies, cleaning procedures, event procedures, and other established café standards.

• Follow current SoPo recipes, checklists, policies, procedures, training materials, and operational standards.

• Receive and appropriately apply coaching, instruction, and corrective feedback from Shift Leads and management.

• Maintain knowledge of operational changes communicated by management.

AVAILABILITY & SCHEDULING REQUIREMENTS

Due to the operational needs of SoPo and its role in supporting Calvary services and events, weekend and service-day availability is an essential requirement of this position.

Baristas are required to:

• Maintain Sunday availability.

• Maintain availability on Wednesday and/or Saturday.

• Be available to work major Calvary special event days as communicated by management.

• Maintain reasonable scheduling flexibility based on café operations, services, staffing needs, and special events.

Individual shifts and hours may vary based on business needs. Employees are responsible for maintaining the availability required for their position and communicating availability changes according to established scheduling procedures.

Requested changes to regular availability are subject to management approval and the operational and staffing needs of the café.

SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED

• High School Diploma or equivalent.

• Six months or more of food service, café, or customer service experience preferred.

• Friendly, professional, and service-oriented demeanor.

• Ability to communicate effectively with customers and team members.

• Ability to work effectively and cooperatively in a team environment.

• Dependability and punctuality.

• Ability to follow recipes, instructions, checklists, and operational procedures consistently.

• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment.

• Attention to cleanliness, organization, accuracy, and product quality.

• Willingness and ability to receive coaching and apply feedback.

• Ability to maintain the scheduling and availability requirements of the position.

ESSENTIAL TASKS

• Prepare espresso, coffee, tea, and specialty beverages.

• Prepare café ingredients, batch products, and food items as assigned.

• Operate the point-of-sale system and handle customer transactions.

• Provide excellent customer service.

• Clean, organize, and stock café workspaces and customer areas.

• Complete opening, closing, transition, and assigned shift responsibilities.

• Assist with SoPo and Calvary events.

• Follow established recipes, procedures, policies, and quality standards.

POLICIES & PROCEDURES

Baristas are responsible for understanding and following current SoPo policies, procedures, recipes, checklists, training materials, and operational standards.

These procedures and standards may be updated periodically based on operational and business needs. Employees are expected to remain familiar with and follow the most current procedures communicated by management.

COMMENTS

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of this job and the level of work performed by employees in this position.

This job description does not state or imply that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees may be required to follow other job-related instructions and perform other job-related duties as required by their supervisor.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.