Head Barista / Team Leader - London

Head Barista / Team Leader - 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.