Associate Roaster

Associate Roaster

Equator Coffees, founded in 1995 by Helen Russell and Brooke McDonnell, is a retail and wholesale coffee roaster committed to sustainable and fair trade practices. The company has grown to include twelve retail cafes across California and has pioneered industry-leading sourcing and roasting practices.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Head Roaster, the Associate Roaster is responsible for production roasting, quality control and assurance, order fulfillment, and tasks related to production workflow and Roastery cleanliness. This role requires previous commercial production roasting experience and a strong foundation in specialty coffee to ensure consistency, quality, and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Roast daily on all production systems: Loring S70 Peregrine, Loring K35 Kestrel, Giesen, and Probat sample roaster.
• Develop working knowledge of all roasting systems (manual, mechanized, electrical, and digital.)
• Communicate daily with Head Roaster, Lead Roaster, Production Supervisor and Roastery Operations Manager regarding order fulfillment, roasting, maintenance, and green inventory needs.
• Move, organize, and maintain green coffee inventory
• Participate in quality assurance through sample roasting, dialing in espresso, data collection with ColorTrack laser, and cupping as directed by Head Roaster and Quality Assurance Manager.
• Under guidance from Head Roaster and senior roasting team members, learn roast theory and roast profiling as it pertains to Equator's roasting parameters.
• Complete daily, weekly, monthly & annual maintenance of roasting equipment & facility cleaning.
• Participate in "huddles" to understand schedule changes, production issues, and workflow.
• Actively work to grow coffee knowledge via on the job training and personal study.
• Support a collaborative environment through engagement with all Roastery teams.
• Show initiative, present a positive attitude, and a willingness to learn and take direction.

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Demonstrated production roasting experience in a commercial coffee roasting environment.
• Working knowledge of specialty coffee, roast development, coffee processing methods, and green coffee handling.
• Experience operating commercial production roasting equipment (Loring, Probat, Giesen or similar roasting systems preferred).
• Ability to accurately follow roast profiles, SOPs, quality standards, and production schedules.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to identify and communicate quality concerns.
• Basic math and computer proficiency.
• Able to lift, push, and pull up to 70 pounds repeatedly throughout the shift.
• Strong communication, organization, and self-management skills.
• Ability to work safely and efficiently in a fast-paced production environment.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Required: Previous production roasting experience in a commercial coffee roasting environment.
• Required: Working knowledge of specialty coffee, including coffee origins, processing methods, roast development, and quality standards.
• Experience participating in coffee cuppings, quality assurance, or sensory evaluation preferred.
• Familiarity with green coffee inventory management and production workflow.
• Experience working in a food manufacturing or production environment.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to consistency and quality.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Forklift certification or willingness to become certified is preferred.

Physical Requirements

The physical tasks described here represent those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. The Roastery is not a climate-controlled environment. It will be hot in the Summer and cold in the Winter. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and read. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. This position is active and requires standing (or being on your feet for up to 8 hours at a time), walking, bending, stooping, climbing (ladders), and crouching throughout the shift. Lifting product and packaging above the head. The employee must frequently lift or move items weighing 25 - 70 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Finger & wrist dexterity.

Compensation

• Available to all employees
• Commuter Benefits - pre-tax parking and transit
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - Physical and mental health, financial and legal coaching available at no cost to the employee
• Free mental health app subscription
• Employee discount on merchandise, coffee gear, and at Equator cafes
• Continuing coffee education classes
• Free coffee
• Paid Time Off for voting on Election Day
• After 60 days as an employee at Equator
• Healthcare Benefits (for full-time employees working over 30 hours per week)
• 100% employer-covered premium medical insurance
• Voluntary Insurance Plans - dental, vision, long-term disability, pet, and supplementary life insurance
• Employer covered life insurance premium
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) - healthcare and daily dependent care
• After 90 days as an employee at Equator
• Holiday Pay after 90 days of employment. Eight Equator-observed holidays per year
• Paid Time Off with tenured increases for full-time employees
• 1 paid volunteer day per year
• After six months as an employee at Equator
• 401K with up to a 4% company match on employee contributions

Compensation will be commensurate with experience. This position description intends to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. It is not intended to include all duties and responsibilities. Job responsibilities can change according to the operational needs of the business. The order in which duties and responsibilities are listed is not significant. Equator Coffees is an equal-opportunity employer. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, and discharge will be based on competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability or any other applicable legally protected characteristics.