Experienced Barista

About Vimi's

Vimi's is a wholefoods vegetarian and vegan café on Watling Street in Radlett, Hertfordshire. We started life as a zero waste store and have grown into a community hub, with vegetarian and community values at the heart of everything we do.

We're looking for an experienced barista who cares about coffee as much as we care about food — someone who can lead our coffee offer, keep quality consistent on every cup, and make every guest feel like a regular.

The role at a glance

You'll own the espresso bar day to day: dialling in, pulling consistently excellent shots, pouring great milk, and sharing your knowledge with the team and our guests.

Key responsibilities

Coffee quality

• Dial in espresso at the start of every shift and re-check through the day, adjusting grind, dose, yield and time as needed.

• Prepare the full espresso menu to a consistent, high standard, including latte art.

• Steam and texture dairy and plant-based milks (oat, soy, almond and others) to suit each drink.

• Taste regularly and keep simple dial-in and quality records.

Guest experience

• Greet guests warmly and guide them through our coffees, origins and brew methods.

• Keep the bar moving smoothly at peak times without letting quality slip.

• Handle orders and payments accurately on the till.

Equipment and stock

• Clean and maintain the espresso machine and grinders daily (backflushing, group heads, steam wands, hoppers).

• Report faults early and help with routine servicing.

• Monitor coffee and milk stock, rotate by date, and help with ordering and roaster relationships.

Team and standards

• Train and support other team members on coffee preparation and bar workflow.

• Follow food safety, hygiene and allergen procedures, including Safer Food Better Business records.

• Help develop seasonal drinks and new coffee offers that fit our food menu.

What you'll bring

Essential

• At least 2 years' barista experience, including at least 1 year in a speciality coffee setting.

• Confident dialling in espresso and explaining extraction (grind, dose, yield, time, temperature).

• Strong milk texturing and consistent latte art (hearts, tulips, rosettas).

• Experience with plant-based milks and how each behaves when steamed.

• Able to work calmly and accurately in a busy café.

• Friendly, clear communicator who enjoys talking to guests about coffee.

• Well presented and well groomed.

• Reliable, punctual and available to work weekends.

• Right to work in the UK.

Desirable

• SCA Barista Skills certificate (Foundation or Intermediate) or similar training.

• Experience training or leading other baristas.

• Basic machine maintenance knowledge.

• Level 2 Food Hygiene certificate.

What we offer

• Competitive hourly pay plus a share of tips.

• Free coffee and a staff meal on shift, plus staff discount.

• 28 days' paid holiday (pro rata), including bank holidays.

• Workplace pension.

• A real say in shaping our coffee menu.

• A friendly, independent, community-focused team.

How to apply

Send your CV and a short note about your coffee experience to goodfood@vimis.co.uk, with "Experienced Barista" in the subject line. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a paid trial shift on the bar.