Head Barista

About the Role

Rosewood Red Sea is seeking a Head Barista for a full-time position in Saudi Arabia. This role is responsible for leading daily coffee and specialty beverage operations, ensuring product quality, operational consistency, and personalized guest experiences in line with Rosewood brand standards and the expectations of an ultra-luxury environment. The Head Barista acts as the subject matter expert for coffee and soft beverages, overseeing execution, maintaining quality control, and driving continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the execution of the hotel's coffee and specialty beverage program, ensuring consistency across all service periods.
• Maintain beverage quality standards in accordance with Rosewood, Forbes, and LQA requirements.
• Oversee the preparation and presentation of all coffee, tea, and specialty beverages.
• Establish and maintain beverage recipes, brewing parameters, extraction standards, and presentation guidelines.
• Monitor daily beverage quality through tasting, calibration, and quality assurance checks.
• Maintain expert knowledge of coffee origins, roasting profiles, brewing techniques, equipment, and industry trends.
• Collaborate with Culinary and Beverage leadership to develop seasonal beverages and signature coffee experiences.
• Ensure espresso machines, grinders, and brewing equipment are maintained and operating optimally.
• Oversee mise en place, workstation organization, cleanliness, and presentation.
• Monitor ingredient quality, freshness, storage, and stock rotation.
• Engage with guests to create memorable coffee experiences and handle feedback professionally.
• Ensure guest preferences, allergies, dietary requirements, and special requests are consistently delivered.
• Support VIP amenities, special events, executive meetings, and bespoke beverage experiences.

Financial Oversight

• Support the achievement of beverage revenue and profitability targets.
• Monitor coffee, milk, syrup, and consumable costs to minimize waste.
• Maintain inventory accuracy through regular stock counts, ordering, and stock rotation.
• Forecast beverage requirements based on business levels and seasonal demand.
• Identify opportunities to improve productivity, beverage profitability, and operational efficiencies.

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead, inspire, and develop the barista team through daily coaching, mentorship, and performance guidance.
• Deliver structured onboarding and ongoing technical training in coffee preparation, extraction, milk texturing, latte art, tea service, and beverage presentation.
• Promote a culture of craftsmanship, continuous improvement, and attention to detail.
• Ensure effective shift planning and task delegation to maintain operational flow and service excellence.
• Foster collaboration with restaurant service teams, culinary, stewarding, and engineering.
• Lead daily briefings focusing on beverage knowledge, product updates, guest preferences, and operational priorities.
• Act as the primary point of contact for coffee-related operational challenges and equipment issues.
• Lead by example through visible operational presence, exceptional product knowledge, professionalism, and genuine guest engagement.
• Encourage innovation by researching emerging coffee trends, brewing methods, and guest preferences.

Compliance and Standards

• Comply with all Rosewood company policies and hotel procedures.
• Act as a brand ambassador and maintain brand integrity.
• Maintain awareness and application of Rosewood, Forbes, and LQA standards.
• Ensure compliance with hygiene, HACCP, and safety standards.
• Maintain confidentiality of all company, guest, and associate information.
• Follow safe working practices and report hazards promptly.

Additional Responsibilities

The Head Barista will maintain flexibility in working hours and operational support, responding to business needs with adaptability and ownership. This role also supports additional responsibilities and projects as required within the scope of the position.