Coffee Specialist (Sur La Table)
With over 58 stores and the largest avocational cooking program in the US, Sur La Table offers an unsurpassed selection of exclusive and premium-quality goods for the kitchen and table – and the culinary expertise and inspiration to go along with it. Whether the job entails interacting with our customers, driving digital growth, or providing vital behind-the-scenes support, we’re all here for the same reason – to roll up our sleeves and create happiness through cooking and sharing good food.
As a Coffee Specialist at Sur La Table, you are the in-store expert and advocate for all things, coffee. This position is responsible for delivering #bestincenter service by sharing product knowledge, brewing techniques, and personalized recommendations. The Coffee Specialist will play a key role in driving sales of espresso machines, grinders, coffee makers, and accessories through product demonstrations and educational classes.
Key Responsibilities
Customer Experience & Brand Representation
· Represent Sur La Table’s brand and culture by creating memorable, educational experiences that inspire repeat visits and customer loyalty.
· Lead engaging and informative coffee brewing demonstrations that showcase our Sur La Table’s expertise and unique competitive edge offerings.
· Educate customers on a variety of brewing techniques, including pour-over, French Press, AeroPress, espresso, cold brew, and coffee art.
· Guide customers in selecting coffee beans based on flavor profiles, roast levels, and origin.
Sales & Business Performance
· Recommend appropriate coffee equipment and maintenance practices based on customer needs.
· Promote and sell coffee products, equipment, and accessories to customers.
· Assist the store in achieving revenue goals by driving customer engagement and conversion through education.
· Consistently meet or exceed culinary program goals by delivering exceptional classes that drive customer engagement and sales. Performance is measured by key KPIs such as second-class sign-ups, retail culinary product sales, and guest feedback through Google reviews.
Team Engagement & Store Support
· Partner with store leaders to ensure alignment between culinary programming and store priorities.
· Collaborate on merchandising strategies that highlight key tools and products featured in classes.
Operations & Compliance
· Ensure compliance with food safety standards, local health codes, and sanitation regulations.
· Always maintains a coffee-ready store environment, ensuring quality and consistency across all in-store brewing methods.
· Maintain accurate inventory levels, minimize shrink, and control supply and culinary expenses.
· Ensure store safety and cleanliness, addressing any maintenance needs promptly.
· Adhere to applicable wage and hour laws. Accurately records time worked according to SLT Policy.
· Model and ensure consistent adherence to all Sur La Table policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Physical Requirements
· Ability to communicate verbally and work cooperatively with associates and customers.
· Ability to remain standing for up to 4 hours at a time.
· Ability to move about the store directing class participants while selling to customers and retrieving merchandise from stockroom or sales floor.
· The capability to accurately perceive and differentiate variations in intensity or quality of flavors or odors, or to identify specific tastes or scents using the tongue or nose.
· Ability to grab, reach, push, pull, bend, stoop, kneel, and crouch to retrieve and replenish merchandise from stockroom or sales floor.
· Ability to use hands to seize, hold, grasp, turn, or otherwise to grind, tamp, steam, pour, froth, and/or demonstrate other coffee brewing techniques.
· Ability to lift and/or move merchandise weighing up to 50 lbs.
· Ability to ascend/descend ladders to retrieve and/or move merchandise.
· Ability to operate a computer, POS system, keyboards, merchandise scanners and mouse to accomplish work.
· Available to work between 12 and 16 hours per week, with a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays. While this is the minimum availability, scheduled hours may differ based on business needs.
· Regular and predictable attendance with the flexibility to adjust class assignments based on demand, ensuring 3-4 classes are taught per week.
· Ability to work in a coffee bar area with exposure to hot equipment, steam, varying temperatures, and potential airborne and physical coffee-related allergens.
Qualifications & Experience
· Must be 18 years of age or older at time of employment.
· Passion for coffee and in-depth knowledge of brewing methods, coffee origins and equipment.
· Ability to create engaging, hands-on experiences for customers.
· Strong enthusiasm for coffee and a genuine eagerness to share knowledge with others.
· Excellent communication, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
· Passion for community engagement and delivering exceptional customer experiences.
· Proficiency in Microsoft Office and retail management systems preferred.