Speciality Barista

Speciality Barista

What we offer

• £13.25 per hour
• Performance bonus opportunities
• Coffee training and development
• Opportunities to progress within Blackbird Bakery
• Staff discount
• A friendly and supportive working environment
• The opportunity to be part of a growing independent London bakery

We are looking for an experienced and confident Speciality Barista to join the Blackbird Bakery team.

This is a senior Team Member role with additional responsibility for coffee standards and, when required, opening or closing the shop as Manager on Duty.

The role is not limited to the coffee section. As part of the wider shop team, you will be expected to complete all normal Team Member duties, including customer service, food service, cleaning, restocking, opening and closing tasks and maintaining standards across the whole shop.

Coffee competency

You will be expected to demonstrate a strong level of practical coffee knowledge and consistently deliver Blackbird coffee standards.

This includes:

• Dialling in espresso correctly at the start of the day and throughout service
• Understanding extraction, grind adjustment, dose, yield and timing
• Producing consistent milk texture across different milk types
• Producing good quality latte art consistently
• Working quickly and accurately during busy periods
• Maintaining excellent cleanliness of the machine, grinders and coffee station
• Managing coffee and milk wastage carefully
• Identifying quality issues and correcting them quickly
• Following Blackbird recipes and coffee standards
• Supporting and training other Team Members to improve their coffee skills
• Taking ownership of coffee quality throughout the shift

Wider Team Member responsibilities

Speciality Baristas remain part of the full shop team.

You will also be expected to:

• Serve customers across all areas of the shop
• Support food preparation and service
• Maintain displays and replenish products
• Complete cleaning duties across the whole shop
• Support washing up and back of house tasks when required
• Complete opening and closing cleaning tasks across the entire shop, not only the coffee area
• Maintain food safety, health and safety and hygiene standards
• Support the team wherever needed during busy periods
• Help maintain a clean, organised and welcoming shop throughout the day

Manager on Duty responsibility

As a Speciality Barista, you will be more senior than a Team Member and may be required to act as Manager on Duty when opening or closing the shop.

When acting as Manager on Duty, you will be expected to:

• Open or close the shop safely and correctly
• Follow all opening and closing procedures
• Take responsibility for the shop and team during that period
• Complete required checks, cleaning and security procedures
• Make sure the shop is ready for customers when opening
• Make sure the entire shop is left clean, secure and ready for the next day when closing
• Escalate any significant operational, customer or team issues to the Shop Manager

What we are looking for

• Previous barista experience in a busy café or speciality coffee environment
• Strong espresso and milk preparation skills
• Good understanding of coffee extraction and dialling in
• Ability to maintain quality while working at speed
• Confidence supporting and training other Team Members
• A positive and reliable approach
• Willingness to take responsibility when acting as Manager on Duty
• Flexibility to complete all Team Member duties when required
• Availability to work weekends, opening shifts and closing shifts

Blackbird Bakery is an independent South London bakery and café business. We bake fresh every day and are passionate about great food, great coffee and creating neighbourhood shops that people love coming back to.  

Speciality Barista

What we offer

• £13.25 per hour
• Performance bonus opportunities
• Coffee training and development
• Opportunities to progress within Blackbird Bakery
• Staff discount
• A friendly and supportive working environment
• The opportunity to be part of a growing independent London bakery

We are looking for an experienced and confident Speciality Barista to join the Blackbird Bakery team.

This is a senior Team Member role with additional responsibility for coffee standards and, when required, opening or closing the shop as Manager on Duty.

The role is not limited to the coffee section. As part of the wider shop team, you will be expected to complete all normal Team Member duties, including customer service, food service, cleaning, restocking, opening and closing tasks and maintaining standards across the whole shop.

Coffee competency

You will be expected to demonstrate a strong level of practical coffee knowledge and consistently deliver Blackbird coffee standards.

This includes:

• Dialling in espresso correctly at the start of the day and throughout service
• Understanding extraction, grind adjustment, dose, yield and timing
• Producing consistent milk texture across different milk types
• Producing good quality latte art consistently
• Working quickly and accurately during busy periods
• Maintaining excellent cleanliness of the machine, grinders and coffee station
• Managing coffee and milk wastage carefully
• Identifying quality issues and correcting them quickly
• Following Blackbird recipes and coffee standards
• Supporting and training other Team Members to improve their coffee skills
• Taking ownership of coffee quality throughout the shift

Wider Team Member responsibilities

Speciality Baristas remain part of the full shop team.

You will also be expected to:

• Serve customers across all areas of the shop
• Support food preparation and service
• Maintain displays and replenish products
• Complete cleaning duties across the whole shop
• Support washing up and back of house tasks when required
• Complete opening and closing cleaning tasks across the entire shop, not only the coffee area
• Maintain food safety, health and safety and hygiene standards
• Support the team wherever needed during busy periods
• Help maintain a clean, organised and welcoming shop throughout the day

Manager on Duty responsibility

As a Speciality Barista, you will be more senior than a Team Member and may be required to act as Manager on Duty when opening or closing the shop.

When acting as Manager on Duty, you will be expected to:

• Open or close the shop safely and correctly
• Follow all opening and closing procedures
• Take responsibility for the shop and team during that period
• Complete required checks, cleaning and security procedures
• Make sure the shop is ready for customers when opening
• Make sure the entire shop is left clean, secure and ready for the next day when closing
• Escalate any significant operational, customer or team issues to the Shop Manager

What we are looking for

• Previous barista experience in a busy café or speciality coffee environment
• Strong espresso and milk preparation skills
• Good understanding of coffee extraction and dialling in
• Ability to maintain quality while working at speed
• Confidence supporting and training other Team Members
• A positive and reliable approach
• Willingness to take responsibility when acting as Manager on Duty
• Flexibility to complete all Team Member duties when required
• Availability to work weekends, opening shifts and closing shifts

Blackbird Bakery is an independent South London bakery and café business. We bake fresh every day and are passionate about great food, great coffee and creating neighbourhood shops that people love coming back to.