What are the responsibilities and job description for the Chief Barista position at Kohiya?
About Kohiya
Kohiya is building a new kind of beverage brand—where Japanese-inspired precision meets modern simplicity. We craft exceptional coffee, matcha, and minimalist drinks with disciplined technique, pure ingredients, and a seamless tech-forward experience.
As we prepare for national expansion, we are establishing a flagship beverage program that sets the standard for every Kohiya location that follows.
The Role
We’re hiring a Chief Barista to lead the creation, training, and execution of Kohiya’s beverage program. This is a foundational role—not just behind the bar, but in shaping a scalable, consistent beverage experience for a brand designed to grow nationwide.
You will define our craft, set our standards, and build the training systems that will guide every future Kohiya location.
What You'll Do
Beverage Program Development
- Develop and refine coffee, matcha, and minimalist drink recipes
- Create precise SOPs that ensure consistency, speed, and quality
- Curate beans, matcha, and key ingredients with a focus on purity and flavor
- Own extraction, steaming, and matcha preparation standards
Training & Leadership
- Train baristas and managers in Kohiya’s beverage techniques
- Build scalable training materials, manuals, and videos
- Maintain beverage quality through daily standards and QA reviews
Operations & Scale
- Partner with leadership to optimize beverage workflow and station design
- Support new store openings and national expansion efforts
- Conduct ongoing quality audits to ensure consistency across locations
Who You Are
- Highly skilled barista with specialty coffee or modern café experience
- Obsessed with precision, technique, and clean flavor
- Passionate about Japanese coffee/matcha culture or minimalist preparation
- Strong trainer with excellent communication skills
- Calm, disciplined, and quality-driven
- Excited to build and scale a new national brand
Bonus: multi-unit experience, matcha expertise, or prior training/QC background.
Compensation & Growth
- Competitive salary
- Quarterly performance bonuses
- Pathway to Head of Beverage as we scale nationally
- Early, foundational impact on the brand’s identity and craft