Coffee Specialist (Sur La Table)

About the role

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.