Overview

Join our new café team as a Lead Barista, where your energy and enthusiasm will create a welcoming environment for every guest. In this dynamic role, you will be the friendly face behind the counter and a leader to other baristas, expertly handling customer orders while preparing delicious and fresh coffee. Your multitasking skills and attention to detail will ensure smooth operations, delivering exceptional service that keeps customers coming back.

This paid position offers an exciting opportunity to develop your skills in food and beverage service within a lively retail setting.

Duties

- Greet customers warmly and take their orders quickly and accurately using our POS system.
- Prepare and serve high-quality, handcrafted coffee beverages, snacks, and light food items following established recipes and food safety standards.
- Train and instruct other team members in day-to-day operations and general duties of the position while enforcing our standards of procedure.
- Operate cash registers efficiently, handle cash and card transactions with precision, and provide correct change using basic math skills.
- Maintain cleanliness and organization of the café area, including food preparation stations and seating areas, adhering to food handling and safety regulations.
- Manage multiple tasks simultaneously, including serving customers, processing payments, and restocking supplies to ensure a seamless customer experience.
- Engage with customers to promote sales of menu items, upsell products when appropriate, and answer questions about ingredients or dietary options.




- Follow food safety procedures during food handling and preparation to ensure health standards are met consistently.

Skills

- Proven experience as a barista or in food service roles with a strong understanding of coffee preparation techniques.
- Familiarity with POS systems such as Aloha POS or Micros POS for efficient order processing.
- Excellent customer service skills with a friendly, energetic attitude that enhances guest satisfaction.
- Strong time management abilities to prioritize and delegate tasks effectively during busy periods.
- Basic math proficiency for cash handling, retail math calculations, and accurate transaction processing.
- Knowledge of food safety standards and proper food handling procedures in a café or food service environment.
- Ability to work as part of a team in a rapid-paced setting while maintaining attention to detail.

Required: Barista experience, clear customer service, basic math, time management, leadership, accurate cashiering and cash handling, and safe food preparation and serving are practical capabilities for this role. Preferred: Food industry or food service experience, food safety certification, smart serve certification, familiarity with POS systems and strengths in food handling and service can help you contribute confidently and support a dependable customer experience.

This is more than just a job — it’s an opportunity to bring your passion for quality coffee and customer service into a lively environment where every shift is an opportunity to make someone’s day brighter!

Pay: $18.00-$19.00 per hour

Expected hours: 30.0 – 40.0 per week

Benefits

- Discounted or free food
- Flexible schedule

Work Location: In person

📌 Lead Barista (Waterloo)
🏢 Fairgrounds Coffee Company O/A Planet Bean
📍 Waterloo