Senior Barista

About the Role

We seek a seasoned Senior Barista to lead coffee-making operations remotely from the United Arab Emirates. This full-time position demands expertise in crafting premium espresso and specialty beverages while overseeing bar operations, quality control, and team mentorship within an international hospitality setting.

Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee daily coffee and beverage service, ensuring consistently exceptional quality and professionalism.
• Prepare a range of coffee drinks including espresso-based beverages, brewed coffee, pour-overs, cold brews, and other specialty items following standardized recipes.
• Consistently calibrate espresso machines and grinders by monitoring key variables such as grind size, dose, extraction time, temperature, and pressure throughout service hours.
• Provide excellent steamed milk textures and produce latte art aligned with concept requirements.
• Educate guests on coffee origins, processing, roasting, flavor profiles, and preparation techniques, offering personalized recommendations.
• Handle guest inquiries, resolve complaints concerning beverages, and collaborate smoothly with service and restaurant teams to ensure timely delivery.
• Maintain bar stations organized and efficient, including managing stock levels, inspection of incoming supplies, proper storage, inventory control, and minimizing waste.
• Conduct cleaning, maintenance, and minor troubleshooting of coffee equipment following manufacturer standards and safety protocols.
• Train and coach junior baristas, monitor adherence to quality and hygiene protocols, and support workforce planning for shifts and peak periods.
• Lead quality assurance activities including beverage consistency checks, sensory evaluations, and facilitate beverage innovation efforts.
• Support product development, coffee tastings, industry trend monitoring, and engagement with coffee suppliers and equipment providers.
• Maintain thorough documentation related to inventory, maintenance, training, quality assessments, and operational compliance.
• Champion a culture of professional excellence, cleanliness, teamwork, and continuous improvement in coffee service delivery.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Proven background as an experienced barista in specialty coffee settings such as cafes, restaurants, hotels, or resorts, ideally within high-volume or internationally recognized hospitality brands.
• Advanced technical skills in espresso extraction, calibration, and diverse brewing methods.
• Strong understanding of coffee origins, roast profiles, processing methods, and flavor characteristics.
• Expertise in coffee equipment operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Experience conducting sensory coffee evaluations, cupping, and quality assessments.
• Knowledge of hygiene, food and beverage safety, and sanitation standards.
• Excellent guest service, communication, and leadership skills including training and coaching junior staff.
• Capability to maintain high-quality service under pressure with a strong focus on detail and consistency.
• Familiarity with inventory management, stock rotation, and cost control practices.
• Proficient organizational and time management abilities with collaborative spirit working alongside culinary and service teams.
• Strong command of English; additional language skills and professional coffee certifications are advantageous.
• Experience working within diverse, multicultural hospitality teams highly preferred.

Key Performance Indicators

• Consistency and quality of beverage preparation and presentation
• Precision in espresso extraction and equipment calibration
• Accuracy of beverage orders and efficient service during peak times
• Guest satisfaction and feedback performance
• Waste reduction and inventory accuracy
• Compliance with hygiene, food safety, and operating procedures
• Staff training and competency assessments
• Successful development and launch of new beverage offerings
• Supplier and equipment performance evaluations
• Beverage profitability and cost management