About the Opportunity
Acoustic Java is looking for a personable, dependable, and self-motivated person to join our team as a Barista for the upcoming school year.
This is a humble job: making drinks, washing dishes, cleaning counters, restocking supplies, and taking care of customers. It is also an amazing opportunity to engage with the Worcester community, work with people, and develop real expertise in coffee and tea.
Wages are $15-16 + tips (approximately $22-23/hour in total compensation).
You’ll have fun learning and talking with customers about exceptional coffees and teas while gaining firsthand experience in the $250+ billion international coffee industry. Because Acoustic Java is both a neighborhood coffeehouse and a specialty roastery, you’ll see much more of the industry than you would in a typical café—from brewing and customer service to roasting, sourcing, quality, wholesale, and the stories behind the products we serve.
What Matters Most
Experience is helpful, but it is less important than sharing Acoustic Java’s core values and having a track record that reflects them:
- Results-oriented: You focus on meaningful outcomes and take pride in completing work well.
- High commitment: You are dependable, engaged, and determined.
- Win-win: You look for solutions that benefit customers, coworkers, and the company.
- Professionalism: You communicate respectfully, maintain high standards, and represent the company well.
- Integrity: You are honest, trustworthy, and willing to do the right thing even when no one is watching.
- Long-term approach: You think beyond the immediate moment and invest in lasting relationships, knowledge, and improvement.
- Complete ownership: You take responsibility for your work, follow through, solve problems, and avoid blaming others.
We can teach coffee skills. We are looking for someone who already demonstrates strong character, accountability, and drive.
What You’ll Do
- Welcome customers warmly and help create an inviting, inclusive environment.
- Prepare espresso drinks, brewed coffee, tea, and other menu items accurately and consistently.
- Learn about our coffees and teas and share that knowledge with customers in a friendly, approachable way.
- Ask thoughtful questions and help customers find products they will enjoy.
- Operate the register and handle payments accurately.
- Maintain a clean, organized, and well-stocked café.
- Wash dishes, clean equipment, take out trash, and complete opening and closing tasks.
- Follow brewing recipes, food-safety procedures, and company standards.
- Support coffee tastings, classes, community gatherings, and special events.
- Be a solid team player.
- Continue building your knowledge of brewing, sensory evaluation, coffee origins, processing, roasting, tea, and the international coffee industry.
- Represent Acoustic Java professionally and help strengthen our relationship with the Worcester community.
Skills We’re Looking For
- Great customer-service and communication skills
- Genuine curiosity about coffee, tea, food, and hospitality
- Ability to engage customers without being pushy or pretentious
- Dependability, punctuality, and strong follow-through
- Humility and willingness to perform every part of the job
- Attention to detail and commitment to consistency
- Ability to remain friendly, organized, and composed during busy periods
- Strong teamwork and willingness to help wherever needed
- Ability to accept feedback and apply it constructively
- Initiative to notice what needs to be done and take action
- Interest in learning about coffee as an agricultural product, craft, business, and global industry
Minimum Requirements
- A demonstrated track record of reliability, integrity, professionalism, commitment, and personal ownership
- Alignment with Acoustic Java’s core values
- Previous customer-service, food-service, retail, or hospitality experience preferred, but not required
- Barista experience is helpful but not necessary for a strong candidate who is eager to learn
- Reliable transportation and consistent attendance
- Availability to work required 8 am to 4 pm shifts
- Ability to stand and move throughout a shift
- Ability to safely lift and carry up to 30 pounds
- Ability to follow written recipes, procedures, and food-safety standards
- Professional, respectful communication with customers and team members
- Commitment to cleanliness, quality, teamwork, and continuous learning
What You’ll Gain
- Hands-on training in specialty coffee and tea
- Experience preparing and discussing high-quality products
- Exposure to roasting, sourcing, sensory evaluation, wholesale, and coffee education
- A deeper understanding of the international coffee supply chain and its $250+ billion market
- Opportunities to participate in tastings, classes, and community events
- Transferable skills in hospitality, sales, communication, operations, and teamwork
- The chance to work with a knowledgeable, supportive team at an established Worcester company
- Meaningful daily interaction with the people who make Worcester such a vibrant community
Who Will Thrive Here
The ideal Acoustic Java Barista understands that excellent hospitality is built on both enthusiasm and humility. You should be just as willing to clean a table or wash a pitcher as you are to discuss the flavor of an Ethiopian coffee or recommend a tea.
You do not need to arrive knowing everything about coffee. You do need to be dependable, curious, kind, hardworking, and aligned with our values. If you want a job where you can serve your community, enjoy your coworkers, develop genuine expertise, and discover how a local coffeehouse connects to one of the world’s largest international agricultural markets, we would love to hear from you.
Acoustic Java is an equal-opportunity employer. We value different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives and are committed to maintaining a respectful and welcoming workplace.
Pay: $15.00 - $16.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
