Job Overview
KAAWA is a new, independent speciality coffee and matcha café in Manchester, deeply rooted in quality, craft, and the cultural origins of coffee. We are building a warm, welcoming space where family and friends can connect every day.
We are seeking a highly skilled, knowledgable and reliable Head Barista to join our growing team. The ideal candidate has a passion for speciality coffee, takes pride in consistency and quality, and leads by example through excellent customer service.
This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping specialty coffee and atmosphere of a new café within the Northern Quarter of Manchester City Centre.
Key Responsibilities
- Prepare and serve high-quality hot and iced drinks, including speciality coffee, matcha, and signature beverages
- Set the recipe for various coffee beans ensuring the standard of coffee is consistently outstanding
- Ability to diagnose and fix issues relating to coffee through theory and practical taste and understanding
- Innovation within specialty coffee and new product development
- Deliver warm, attentive, and knowledgeable customer service
- Optimise coffee machines, grinders, and other equipment safely and efficiently
- Maintain high standards of cleanliness, food safety, and hygiene across all work areas
- Handle cash and card payments accurately
- Lead in guiding other team members during busy service periods
- Lead in creating a calm, organised workflow during peak hours
- Fostering the KAAWA culture and warmth amongst staff and customers
Experience & Skills
- Minimum 3 years of barista experience (specialty coffee only )
- Advanced latte art skills
- Knowledgable in dialling in coffee, knows how to operate grinders
- Knowledge of coffee: Making pour over filter coffee recipes with different coffee beans
- Excellent knowledge of coffee science, coffee bean varieties and origins.
- Leadership qualities and a willingness to support and motivate others
Why Join KAAWA
- Be part of a new independent café that focuses on quality
- Opportunity to help shape standards, culture, and customer experience
- Supportive, close-knit team environment
- Room to grow as the business develops
N.b. please do not apply if you do not have the relevant specialty coffee experience.
Job Types: Full-time, Zero hours contract
Pay: From £14.50 per hour
Application question(s):
- How many years of specialty coffee experience do you have?
- Are you able FULLY evaluate a coffee from the espresso taste, in detail, and make the necessary changes to the parameters to achieve optimum taste (not just simply extraction time or yield)? Explain how you would do this.
Work Location: In person
