Job Summary
As a Barista in our unique, fast-paced San Diego cafe—buzzing with events and vibrant
energy—you'll craft high-quality espresso drinks, specialty beverages, and non-coffee options
while delivering warm, efficient service at the counter. You'll be the welcoming face of our spot,
building camaraderie with a tight-knit team that values great attitudes, creative problem-solving,
and exceptional guest care. Prepare drinks swiftly, minimize wait times, and make every
customer feel truly special, all in a structured environment with great tips and leadership growth
opportunities. You’ll collaborate on light counter support, restocking, and basic cleaning to keep
the magic flowing.
Key Responsibilities
Beverage Preparation & Quality
Prepare espresso-based drinks, pour-overs, teas, smoothies, and seasonal beverages
according to recipes and quality standards.
Prepare and serve light snacks, pastries, and other food items as needed.
Calibrate the grinder, dial in shots, pull shots, and steam milk to the perfect texture (silky
micro-foam for lattes, airy foam for cappuccinos, etc.).
Maintain consistent drink quality, temperature, and presentation for every order,
following Picnic Group recipes.
Counter Service & Guest Experience
Greet guests warmly, take accurate drink and food orders, offer thoughtful
recommendations and upsell opportunities (e.g., pastry with coffee, protein add-on with
salad), answer menu questions enthusiastically, build rapport with regular customers, and
provide reasonable accommodations to older guests or those with mobility issues (e.g.,
carrying orders to tables).
Ring up orders on the POS system, handle cash and card payments, and issue beepers.
Call out completed drinks clearly and hand orders to guests at the counter.
Assist with food pickup when needed and resolve order issues professionally; coordinate
with kitchen or busser as required.
Stay knowledgeable about coffee origins, brewing techniques, and flavor profiles so you
can confidently answer customer questions.
Demonstrate strong allergen awareness: clearly communicate ingredients and
accommodate dietary requests (gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, etc.).
Maintain professional conversation at all times, avoiding personal matters, cafe issues,
gossip, or negative discussions (especially near customers). Use prep moments to engage
guests and build rapport. Handle complaints calmly; resolve and notify shift
lead/manager immediately.
Bar & Station Maintenance
Follow California health guidelines and cafe compliance standards at all times.
Keep the espresso bar, milk fridge, syrup station, retail fridge, counter, water stations, and
pastry display case clean, organized, aesthetically pleasing, and fully stocked throughout
the shift.
Clean and backflush espresso machines, steam wands, and grinders at required intervals.
Wash and sanitize pitchers, cups, blenders, and bar tools.
Monitor stock levels of coffee, milk, and other supplies; rotate ingredients using FIFO
and put away deliveries to minimize waste.
Team Support & Operations
Communicate with the kitchen via the expo line or directly about 86’d items or special
requests.
Assist the busser/runner with clearing and resetting tables promptly, wiping surfaces,
stocking the condiment station, sweeping floors, refilling self-serve areas, and emptying
trash cans as needed to keep the cafe clean and inviting. In the absence of the
busser/runner, take full responsibility for these tasks.
Monitor the outdoor patio: open/close umbrellas as the sun changes, turn on heaters when
it gets cool or dark, push and straighten chairs to the table, use trash grabbers to pick up
the trash on the patio, and keep the space comfortable for guests.
Clean and restock customer restrooms during your shift according to the rotation
schedule.
Report any maintenance, equipment, or facility issues to the shift lead or manager
immediately.
Participate in opening and closing duties, including deep cleaning the bar area and setting
up for the next shift.
Downtime Tasks (when the cafe is slow)
Deep clean the bar, machines, fridges, and counters.
Restock all stations and prep for the next shift.
Assist the kitchen with light prep or dish support if needed.
Help with general cafe maintenance, including maintaining the cleanliness of the patio
area to ensure tables and spaces are clean and welcoming.
Additional Notes
Appearance & Dress Code You are expected to maintain a clean, professional, and friendly
appearance at all times. The cafe provides a branded apron and name tag, which must be worn
during every shift. A detailed dress code policy (including required attire and items not
permitted) will be provided upon hire and is available in the employee handbook.
Be aware that your job responsibilities may change at any time during your employment. From
time to time, you may be asked to work on special projects or to assist with other tasks necessary
or important to the operation of your department or The Picnic Group. Your cooperation and
assistance in performing such additional work is expected.
This includes promoting our seasonal menu items to customers (especially regulars), distributing
promotional flyers, encouraging guest reviews, and sharing information about upcoming events
or new openings as requested by the owners or management.
Phone Policy: Personal phone use is permitted only for emergencies or during approved breaks.
During slow periods, focus on the Downtime tasks listed above.
Given the nature of our operations, The Picnic Group hosts numerous events throughout the year.
You may be scheduled to work an event and/or asked to assist with the preparation of the space
for these events, including but not limited to participating in setup, maintenance, and breakdown
of the space for anticipated events.
Department: Front of House (FOH)
Reports To: FOH Shift Lead
Note: The Cafe Manager holds overall authority in the hierarchy, providing higher-level
direction, performance oversight, and escalation resolution. The barista is expected to follow
instructions from the Cafe Manager as needed, even if they differ from shift lead guidance. To
support seamless teamwork, the Kitchen Manager may provide direction on cross-department
matters (e.g., order flow, cleanliness, or inventory), and their guidance should be followed
independently to ensure smooth operations.
Pay: From $17.75 per hour
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Paid training
Work Location: In person
