Lead Barista

The Margot Hotel•San Diego, CA

22h

About The Position

The Lead Barista is a hands-on leader responsible for delivering an elevated, approachable coffee and beverage experience that reflects the personality of Margot Lounge. The role combines exceptional barista skills with hospitality, beverage knowledge, administration, and day-to-day leadership. The Lead Barista sets standards for service, beverage execution, cost control, presentation, cleanliness, and guest engagement, while helping create a welcoming social atmosphere. The position leads the coffee operation during assigned shifts, maintains consistent service and operational standards, and trains and coaches baristas and support team members. It also supports inventory management, purchasing procedures, cash and POS controls, menu features, events, and guest concern resolution. The Lead Barista works with leadership to anticipate business levels and maintain a clean, organized, guest-ready coffee bar and lounge.

Requirements

At least 2 years of barista experience in a high-volume hotel, restaurant, specialty coffee shop, café, or similar environment.
Strong knowledge of espresso preparation, coffee beverages, specialty beverages, and current coffee trends.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Strong attention to detail and organization.
Ability to multitask while maintaining service standards.
Ability to train and mentor team members.
Ability to work mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and high-volume periods.
Current California Food Handler's Card.
Completion of applicable hotel-required training, including food safety, sexual harassment, PCI compliance, and other training based on assigned duties.
Ability to operate and properly maintain espresso machines, coffee brewers, grinders, and other coffee and beverage equipment.

Nice To Haves

Previous lead or supervisory experience.
POS knowledge, preferably Toast.
Basic Word and Excel proficiency.
Ability to learn hotel purchasing and operational systems.

Responsibilities

Lead by example during service and deliver warm, polished, genuine hospitality.
Serve as a role model to the coffee and beverage operations team.
Lead the day-to-day coffee operation during assigned shifts, directing workflow, maintaining service standards, and communicating operational needs or concerns to the General Manager or Manager on Duty.
Ensure the coffee operation opens on time, fully stocked, clean, organized, and ready for service.
Prepare and serve coffee, espresso beverages, tea, pastries, food items, and non-alcoholic beverages to Margot standards, including cost containment.
Execute the coffee and beverage menu consistently, quickly, accurately, and with attention to presentation.
Communicate the story, ingredients, and preparation behind Margot's coffee program, signature beverages, and offerings.
Create an approachable experience for hotel guests, locals, business travelers, convention guests, and visitors to the Gaslamp.
Maintain knowledge of coffee, espresso, tea, specialty beverages, food offerings, and current coffee and beverage trends.
Complete opening and closing procedures, daily coffee bar setup, stocking, sanitation, equipment cleaning, and cash handling.
Bus, wash and polish glassware and dishes, reset tables, stock, and provide general service support as needed.
Maintain product pars, assist with inventory counts, monitor usage, and communicate inventory needs to management.
Order and receive approved products according to purchasing, receiving, and hotel accounting procedures.
Follow POS controls for cash handling, comps, voids, discounts, room charges, refunds, and check adjustments; accurately enter every transaction into the POS.
Ensure coffee, beverages, food, and related products are stored safely, securely, and according to hotel standards.
Monitor product quality, waste and spillage, portion control, recipe adherence, inventory variances, and beverage and food costs.
Train and coach baristas and support team members on recipes, coffee preparation, service standards, POS procedures, equipment use, sanitation, and guest engagement.
Help foster a culture of hospitality, accountability, teamwork, and positive energy.
Work with leadership to introduce coffee features, seasonal beverages, promotions, and events.
Ensure compliance with health, safety, sanitation, food handling requirements, and hotel policies.
Resolve guest concerns professionally and escalate issues when appropriate.
Assist management with menu development, recipe testing, coffee and beverage features, vendor coordination, and operational improvements.
Maintain a clean, organized, stylish, and guest-ready coffee bar and surrounding lounge area.
Review occupancy, VIPs, groups, conventions, Padres games, Gaslamp events, and other business drivers to anticipate volume, maintain appropriate pars, and prepare for busy periods.
Represent Margot as an ambassador and help build a local following and neighborhood relationships.
Maintain professional vendor relationships and represent Margot appropriately in vendor interactions.
Execute reasonable requests from leadership.