Barista, Main Bar – Chicago, IL
The Confidential Client Reserve Barista at the Chicago Reserve Roastery delivers a premium coffee and food experience by expertly preparing beverages and food while providing exceptional customer service. This role requires deep product knowledge, operational excellence, and teamwork to create a unique and inviting atmosphere that elevates customer appreciation for coffee. The position demands adaptability in a fast-paced environment and contributes to the success of the Confidential Client Reserve brand through quality and service leadership.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Hospitality & Catering.
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
Role overview
Confidential Client is hiring an entry-level Barista for the Main Bar at a flagship Reserve location in Chicago, IL. This role delivers premium specialty coffee and food experiences, engages customers with personalized recommendations, and supports fast-paced retail operations while maintaining quality, safety, and presentation standards.
What You’ll Do
- Provide a welcoming, coffee-forward customer experience and act as a brand ambassador for Confidential Client.
- Prepare and serve high-quality beverages and food items according to established recipes and presentation standards.
- Demonstrate deep product knowledge and recommend beverage, food, and whole-bean pairings to customers.
- Maintain composure and excellent customer service during high-volume periods.
- Follow health, safety, and sanitation procedures.
- Support store events, inventory receiving, stocking, and display maintenance.
- Use production planning tools to ensure item availability and consistent service.
- Assist across multiple store zones (main bar, retail, kitchen) as needed.
Minimum qualifications
- Eligible to work in the U.S.
- Reading, writing, and oral proficiency in English required.
- Ability to stand for long periods and perform physical tasks (bend, squat, reach, climb stairs).
- Ability to lift and carry up to 35 lb consistently.
- Available to work flexible hours, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.
- Able to learn and memorize beverage and food builds, ingredients, and complex menus.
- Health code certification as required by local jurisdiction.
Preferred qualifications
- 1–2 years of experience in service, culinary, restaurant, specialty retail, or hospitality.
- Experience in specialty coffee, retail sales, or food preparation.
- Baking, culinary, or pizza-making experience and basic knife skills a plus.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build customer relationships quickly.
- Presentation/facilitation skills and comfort demonstrating equipment or products.
- Additional languages and prior work in a matrixed or large-team environment are beneficial.
Compensation & benefits
- Pay range: $19.00 – $21.57 per hour (hourly).
- Typical new hires are placed at the entry point of the pay range based on geographic location and role.
- Benefits may include medical, dental, and vision plans; basic and supplemental life insurance; short- and long-term disability; paid parental leave; paid time off and sick leave per local laws; 401(k) with employer match; education assistance; and other voluntary benefits. Specific benefits and eligibility vary by location and employment status.
Location & schedule
- Location: Chicago, IL (on-site, Main Bar — specialty/reserve format).
- Employment type: Full-time.
- Schedule: Flexible shift scheduling; must be available for a variety of shifts including mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Hiring policies
Confidential Client and Careertakes comply with applicable federal, state, and local employment laws, including reasonable accommodation obligations. Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered consistent with applicable law. If you require an accommodation during the hiring process, please notify the recruiter or Careertakes.
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.
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