Head Barista / Team Leader in London

HEAD BARISTA / TEAM LEADER
Houston & Hawkes | Central London | £18.00 per hour | 37.5 hours per week | Monday to Friday
Exceptional coffee, polished service and the opportunity to set outstanding standards at a prestigious new client site.
Houston & Hawkes is looking for an exceptional Head Barista / Team Leader to join our team at an exciting new luxury client site in Central London. This is a key front-of-house role for someone who combines outstanding coffee expertise with confident team leadership and a genuine passion for exceptional service.
From perfectly dialled espresso and beautifully textured milk to flawless presentation and warm, professional service, you will set the standard every day. You'll lead from the front, develop the team and ensure every detail reflects the quality and attention expected within this exceptional environment.
THE ROLE Lead the barista team and set exceptional standards across the service
Prepare consistently outstanding espresso-based drinks and speciality coffees
Dial in espresso, calibrate grinders and maintain extraction quality throughout the day
Deliver excellent milk texturing, pouring and latte art
Bring outstanding knowledge of coffee beans, origins, roast profiles and brewing techniques
Train, coach and develop colleagues to ensure consistency and confidence across the team
Lead from the front during busy service while remaining hands-on
Ensure service is polished, organised and delivered to an exceptional standard
Maintain impeccable presentation across the coffee and service areas
Take responsibility for coffee equipment, daily checks, cleaning and calibration
Support stock control, ordering and waste management
Work closely with the wider Houston & Hawkes catering and hospitality teams
Maintain excellent food safety, allergen, hygiene and health and safety standards
WHAT YOU'LL BRING Strong experience as a Head Barista, Lead Barista or senior barista with team leadership responsibility
Outstanding practical barista skills and exceptional coffee knowledge
Excellent understanding of espresso extraction, grinder calibration and milk texturing
Strong latte art and presentation standards
A genuine passion for coffee, including origins, flavour profiles, roast styles and brewing methods
Experience training, coaching and developing other baristas
Experience within premium contract catering, luxury hospitality or another high-quality service environment
Confident, positive and hands-on leadership
Exceptional service standards and a polished, professional approach
Excellent organisation and attention to detail
The ability to remain calm, composed and consistent during busy service
WHY JOIN HOUSTON & HAWKES? The opportunity to join a prestigious new luxury client site
Birthday off every year
Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
Free meals on duty
Contributory pension scheme
Life assurance
Employee Assistance Programme
CODE Hospitality membership
Foodie Socials bringing our teams together to explore new food, coffee and hospitality ideas
Ongoing learning, development and genuine career progression
Summer Awards Party celebrating our people and achievements
An unforgettable Christmas Party at one of London's outstanding venues
ABOUT HOUSTON & HAWKES
Houston & Hawkes is an award-winning independent caterer creating vibrant, creative and exceptional food and hospitality experiences across some of the UK's most prestigious client sites.
We're a Certified B Corp, recipient of the King's Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development 2026 and proud to be ranked No. 14 in The Caterer's Best Places to Work in Hospitality.
If coffee is your craft, you lead naturally and you take pride in exceptional service and standards, we would love to hear from you.
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