Barista

Counter Staff / Barista / Runner
Bewick All-Day Café

Position Summary

Counter Staff, Baristas, and Runners are the heart of the Bewick guest experience. This role is the most visible and guest-facing position in the café — the first voice a guest hears at the counter, the hands that deliver their coffee and food, and the eyes that keep the dining room feeling welcoming and cared for throughout the day. This is not a passive role. It requires genuine hospitality, attention to detail, pride in craft, and a willingness to do whatever the shift needs — including pitching in on dishes and cleaning without being asked. At Bewick, everyone takes care of the space and everyone takes care of each other.

Reports To: Lead Barista / Assistant Manager or General Manager / Managing Partner, depending on shift

Performance Metrics

• Counter service and order taking accuracy
• Beverage preparation quality and consistency
• Food running and table delivery
• Table maintenance and dining room appearance
• Bakery case stocking and presentation
• Guest experience and hospitality standards
• Online order management
• Cleanliness and participation in shared kitchen and dining room upkeep

Responsibilities

Counter Service & Order Taking

Your Role:

• Welcome every guest warmly within five seconds of their arrival, making eye contact and setting a tone that says they are genuinely welcome here.
• Guide guests through the menu with confidence and enthusiasm — offering specific recommendations, explaining the small plates concept, and helping guests build an experience rather than just placing an order.
• Ask whether guests are dining in or carrying out before taking their order, and enter everything accurately into Toast including all modifiers, dietary needs, and special requests.
• Invite every new guest to join Bewick's rewards program and opt in to email and SMS updates before issuing their table number.
• Issue table numbers warmly and direct dining-in guests clearly — "Find any seat you like, we'll bring everything right out to you."
• When a line is forming, alert a teammate to offer samples from the bakery case to guests who are waiting.

Success Looks Like:

• Every guest feels genuinely welcomed and guided, not just processed.
• Orders are entered accurately into Toast every time, with no missing modifiers or overlooked dietary needs.
• Loyalty enrollment is offered consistently to every new guest.
• Guests who are waiting in line feel noticed and taken care of.

Beverage Preparation

Your Role:

• Prepare Bewick's full beverage menu with consistency, care, and pride — including drip coffee, espresso drinks, specialty lattes, matcha, tea, spirit-free fizzes and spritzes, and any other items on the current menu.
• Follow Bewick's beverage recipes and standards precisely, never cutting corners on quality regardless of how busy the shift is.
• Keep the bar area clean, organized, and fully stocked throughout your shift — wiping down equipment, restocking supplies, and maintaining a workspace you'd be proud for any guest to see.
• Communicate any equipment issues or supply shortages to the Lead Barista or manager on duty immediately.

Success Looks Like:

• Every beverage that leaves the bar is well-made, consistent, and something you're proud to hand to a guest.
• The bar area is clean and organized throughout the entire shift, not just at opening and closing.
• Equipment issues and supply needs are communicated promptly — never discovered mid-rush.
• You can speak confidently and enthusiastically about every item on the beverage menu.

Food Running & Table Delivery

Your Role:

• Deliver food and beverages to the correct guest at the correct table promptly and with warmth — confirming each dish and making sure every guest has what they need before walking away.
• Check back with guests a few minutes after food is delivered with a genuine "How is everything tasting?" — and handle any issues with empathy and good judgment, involving a manager when needed.
• Communicate any delays or issues from the kitchen to guests proactively and honestly — never leave a guest wondering where their food is.
• During dinner table service, support the full steps of service alongside the manager on duty — running food, refilling water, and ensuring every table feels attended to throughout their meal.

Success Looks Like:

• Food and beverages reach the right guest at the right table promptly and correctly every time.
• Guests are checked on after food arrives and any issues are caught and addressed before they become complaints.
• Delays are communicated warmly and proactively — guests are never left in the dark.
• During dinner service, food running is seamless and supports the overall table service experience.

Table Maintenance & Dining Room Appearance

Your Role:

• Monitor the dining room continuously throughout your shift, clearing plates and cups promptly once guests have finished and resetting tables efficiently for the next guest.
• Keep the dining room clean, tidy, and welcoming at all times — wiping tables, straightening chairs, and addressing any spills or messes immediately.
• Never walk past a dirty table, a guest who needs something, or a mess on the floor without addressing it.
• During slower periods, use the time to deep clean, restock, and prepare the dining room for the next rush rather than standing idle.
• Participate fully in opening and closing cleaning responsibilities as directed by the Lead Barista or manager on duty.

Success Looks Like:

• The dining room looks welcoming and well-cared-for at all times — not just at opening.
• Tables are cleared and reset promptly without guests ever feeling rushed.
• No guest sits at a dirty table or next to one.
• The dining room at closing is left in perfect condition for the next day's team.

Bakery Case Stocking & Presentation

Your Role:

• Monitor the bakery case throughout your shift, restocking items from the kitchen as needed and maintaining a display that is beautiful, organized, and appetizing at all times.
• Communicate with the kitchen when bakery items are running low so they can be replenished before the case looks sparse.
• Know the full bakery menu — every item, its ingredients, and any relevant allergen information — so you can speak to it confidently and enthusiastically when guests ask.
• Offer samples from the bakery case to guests who are browsing or waiting in line, making the case an active part of the guest experience rather than a passive display.

Success Looks Like:

• The bakery case looks full, fresh, and inviting throughout the entire day.
• You can describe every item in the case with genuine enthusiasm and accurate information.
• Restocking communication with the kitchen is proactive — the case never looks picked over during peak hours.
• Sampling is offered naturally and warmly as part of the counter experience.

Online Order Management

Your Role:

• Monitor the online ordering queue throughout your shift, ensuring orders are acknowledged, accurately prepared, and ready for pickup within the promised timeframe.
• Communicate any delays or issues with online orders to the kitchen and to guests promptly — never let an online order guest arrive to find their order isn't ready without warning.
• Package online orders carefully and completely, double-checking items against the ticket before sealing and labeling.
• Greet online order pickup guests with the same warmth as any walk-in guest — a quick, efficient, and friendly interaction that leaves them wanting to order again.

Success Looks Like:

• Online orders are fulfilled accurately and on time, every time.
• Pickup guests feel welcomed and taken care of, not like an afterthought.
• Packaging is neat, complete, and correctly labeled.
• No online order guest is left waiting without communication.

Cleanliness & Shared Kitchen and Dining Room Upkeep

Your Role:

• Take full ownership of the cleanliness of your workspace and the shared spaces of the café throughout every shift — this includes the counter, bar area, dining room, and when needed, the dish area.
• Pitch in on dishes and dishwashing without being asked when the dish area needs support and your primary responsibilities are caught up.
• Follow all food safety and sanitation standards consistently — handwashing, surface sanitizing, proper food handling, and correct storage at all times.
• Approach cleaning and upkeep as an extension of hospitality — a clean, well-maintained café tells every guest that we take pride in this place and in their experience here.

Success Looks Like:

• Your workspace and the shared spaces of the café are clean and organized throughout your entire shift.
• You pitch in wherever the team needs you — including dishes — without waiting to be asked.
• Food safety and sanitation standards are followed consistently, every shift, no exceptions.
• The café at the end of your shift is in as good or better condition than when you arrived.