What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lead Barista position at Pressed Cafe?
About Us
At Pressed Cafe, we believe exceptional food and drink start with quality ingredients and a passion for hospitality. Our all-day menu features Mediterranean-inspired dishes made with fresh, local ingredients, paired with great coffee and fast, friendly service.
Pressed Cafe is an emerging, high-growth premium quick-casual restaurant company with a strong regional presence and exciting expansion plans. With multiple locations today and an aggressive development pipeline, we are building the infrastructure to scale significantly over the next several years. As a founder-led organization, we remain deeply committed to hospitality, culture, and delivering exceptional guest experiences.
At the heart of everything we do is our mission: Great People, Great Food, Great Coffee.
About the Role
The Lead Barista is a hands-on leader responsible for delivering an exceptional specialty coffee experience while supporting daily café operations. This role sets the tone for quality, hospitality, and efficiency—leading by example during high-volume shifts and ensuring every drink meets our standards. You will act as a shift leader, guiding and supporting the barista team while maintaining a calm, organized, and guest-focused environment.
This is a full-time position requiring open availability, including weekends. Morning shifts begin as early as 4:30 AM.
Compensation includes hourly rate tips!
What You’ll Do
- Prepare high-quality espresso beverages, specialty coffee drinks, and smoothies
- Uphold specialty coffee standards including dialing in espresso, milk texturing, and drink consistency
- Lead shifts by delegating tasks, supporting teammates, and ensuring smooth station flow
- Maintain a clean, organized, and food-safe barista station and surrounding areas
- Provide warm, knowledgeable, and efficient guest service
- Confidently answer frequently asked questions about menu items, ingredients, and preparation
- Deliver food and beverages to guests in the dining room as needed
- Monitor workflow and step in proactively to support during peak periods
- Partner with management to reinforce training, quality standards, and team accountability
- Embody and promote our commitment to Good Food, Good Coffee, and Good Service
What You Bring
- Minimum 2 years of specialty coffee experience
- Espresso fundamental understanding: dialing in shots, adjusting grind, milk steaming, and latte art
- Prior leadership experience (Shift Lead, Team Lead, or similar) with the ability to coach and motivate others
- Experience in a high-volume cafe environment strongly preferred
- Strong coffee knowledge and genuine passion for cafe culture
- Ability to remain calm, organized, and solutions-oriented in a fast-paced, high-volume environment
- Excellent communication, time management, and customer service skills
- A positive, team-first mindset with high standards for cleanliness and consistency
- Open availability, including weekends and early mornings (4:30 AM start times)
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
Pay: From $21.00 per hour
Application Question(s):
- Do you have at least 2 years specialty coffee experience?
Experience:
- Shift management: 1 year (Required)
Work Location: In person
Salary : $21