Job Description

About Viva Coffee Roasters

Viva Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee shop and roastery committed to quality, transparency, and community. We serve espresso drinks, pour overs, matcha, chai, and toasts, and proudly roast 15 ~20 unique coffee profiles that we source intentionally and directly from Honduran farmers. We are passionate about coffee education, ethical sourcing, and creating a welcoming space for both our team and guests.

Job Overview

We're seeking a dynamic and customer focused Lead Barista. In this role, you will be contributing to the success of Viva Coffee Roasters by providing and enabling exceptional customer experience. As a leader at the coffee shop, you will be responsible for delighting our customers every day by ensuring quality in every cup, maintaining exceptional operational performance, coaching and developing junior baristas and staff, collaborating with the junior and master roasters for roasting profile development, and driving passion and teamwork in the shop

Servant Leadership Model for Lead Baristas

| In-the-Trenches Leadership

At our coffee shop, we believe the best leaders don't just manage from behind the scenes --they lead from the floor with confidence, accuracy, and kindness. Our leaders are working leaders, fully embedded in the daily rhythm of the shop. This role is about orchestrating the flow of service in real time, removing obstacles, and supporting the team shoulder-to-shoulder.

Leadership: Support the Head Barista and Manager in running efficient, high-energy shifts. Step in to delegate tasks, manage flow, and solve problems when needed. Training & Mentorship: Help onboard and train new baristas. Provide ongoing coaching and feedback to elevate team performance and uphold shop standards. Quality Control: Ensure drinks and food are prepared to spec. Taste espresso regularly, monitor dial-ins, and uphold cleanliness and presentation standards. Customer Experience: Model excellent hospitality. Jump in to resolve customer concerns and create a welcoming, memorable experience for every guest. Operational Support: Open and close the shop with confidence. Handle cash, restock, and communicate supply needs or equipment issues to the Head Barista or Manager. Culture & Communication: Foster a positive, inclusive, and team-oriented environment. Help reinforce shop values and communicate clearly with peers and leadership.
This approach fosters a culture of

collaboration, accountability, and shared success

--where leadership is earned through action, not just title

Our compensation and benefits package is very competitive including a base pay rate, tips, and annual profit sharing bonus based on both associate performance and company performance.

Detailed Responsibilities and Duties

Customer Experience:

Provides an exceptional customer experience by anticipating customer needs and wants, following all recipe standards and procedures, limiting distractions, and providing a journey beyond the cup. Acts as the coffee expert by deeply understanding all menu items and proactively providing alternative options including preparation methods and alternative recipe options to enhance the experience. Develops general understanding of all roasted bean profiles, including their origin, story, roasting profile, flavor profile, and matching the customer's needs. Serves customers with passion, knowledge, smiles, and flexibility. Ensures self-control and composure during stressful and ambiguous situations. Has a "problem-solving" rather than a "problem-creation" mindset. Thinks creatively on how to best solve a problem given the constraints or ambiguity. Respond to orders, questions, concerns, and complaints in a polite, efficient, and quick manner with a "customer first" mindset. Escalates to Head Barista or Manager in a timely fashion.

Operational Excellence:

Keeps staff safety and security and food safety as the top priority for the shop. Ensures that all drinks, products, and food are prepared and served to our quality standards without exception. Calls out any abnormality and stops any processes to address the issues at the point of occurrence. Accurately handles cash and payments, following appropriate cash-handling procedures. Open and close the shop with confidence and accuracy. Overseas the total condition of the shop beyond the coffee bar including seating areas, restrooms, and common areas. Properly handles, cleans, and maintains all coffee shop equipment per the standard operating procedures and maintenance and cleaning schedules. Ensures that all areas of the shop are clean, organized, and impeccable. Ensures that operational policies and procedures are followed by self and other staff members. Maintains regular and consistent attendance and punctuality

Culture, Coaching, and Development

Acts as coffee leader in all things brewing and serving. Supports development of standards operating procedures and recipes for the continued improvement of the product and service offering. Completes the required and necessary training to further develop roasting, sensory, and brewing skills Develops a culture of trust based on problem solving by identifying problems and stopping activity when they arise. Acts according to our guiding principles including respect for people, collaboration, honesty and integrity, pursuit of excellence, effective communication, and passion and resolve. Embraces diversity and inclusion. Thrives in an environment where diversity is celebrated, and other cultures are respected and valued.

Roastery Collaboration

Supports the master roaster as needed for new roasting profile development. Provides constant and timely feedback based on customer feedback and/or recommendations for improvement. Participates in scheduled cupping sessions or roasting events as needed for the continued development and improvement of the roasting operations and quality

Required Skills and Experience

High School Diploma or GED 2 - 4 years of coffee shop and retail experience Retail, hospitality, and/or customer service experience Ability to read and speak English proficiently. Strong ability to multi-task with high attention to detail Strong mathematical skills relevant for the operation of the shop. Strong customer service, communication, and interpersonal skills Ability to follow directions and instructions based on existing procedures. Available to work flexible hours, which could include early mornings, weekends, holidays, and events as required. Ability to carry up to 30 lbs frequently and up to 50lbs occasionally. Ability to go up/down 2-3 flights of stairs multiple times a day

Bonus Qualifications...

Associate or bachelor's degree. Multi-lingual or Spanish speaker. Coffee Roasting and Coffee Cupping Experience. Team Leadership experience. Experience living overseas. Passion for Latin American culture
Viva Coffee Roasters is an equal opportunity employer. Our vision is to create a better world; one where everyone can live with dignity, love, and respect. And our vision translates into the work environment that we offer; a work environment that is free of discrimination and is welcoming and accepting of all individuals.

Job Type: Full-time

Base Pay: $14.50 - $15.50 per hour

Expected hours: 35 per week

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Employee discount Flexible schedule Paid sick time Paid time off Paid training Referral program
Experience:

Specialty Coffee Shop: 1 year (Preferred) Barista: 2 years (Required)
Ability to Commute:

Cincinnati, OH 45208 (Required)
Work Location: In person