Lead Barista

About East 5th Coffee East 5th Coffee is a neighborhood coffee concept at Padel39 in East Austin - a warm, third-space environment built as much for the East Austin community as for Padel39 members. We're not a specialty destination defined by extraction technique. We're the place the neighborhood comes back to because it feels like theirs.

Great coffee is non-negotiable. But what makes East 5th work is hospitality - the kind that makes guests feel genuinely welcome before they've placed their order. We're opening in May 2026, and we're hiring the team that will set the tone for everything that comes after. The Role The Barista Lead opens East 5th Coffee Wednesday through Sunday at 7 am, leads the morning shift, and is the consistent presence the team and guests rely on.

You'll set the standard through your own execution, develop the baristas around you, and close out every shift with a clear, honest account of how it went. We're not hiring a technical coffee specialist first. We're hiring a people leader who knows and loves coffee. The Barista Lead is responsible for building the culture of East 5th Coffee -- making guests feel genuinely welcome, developing baristas into hospitality professionals who take pride in the work, and maintaining the kind of environment people seek out on purpose.

East 5th Coffee has standalone brand potential. The person who builds the foundation here is part of something worth taking pride in.

What We're Looking For

Two or more years in a hospitality leadership role - coffee, cafe, or restaurant Genuine warmth with guests and a service instinct that doesn't require prompting Experience in training and developing hourly staff, with the communication skills to make it stick Working knowledge of espresso-based beverage preparation and cafe operations Reliable and organized – 7 am opens, five days a week, require both Someone who reads the room, adjusts on the fly, and knows what a great guest experience feels like without being told Familiarity with POS systems and scheduling tools is a plus (we use Union POS and 7shifts).

What You'll Own People On-shift leadership of the East 5th Coffee barista team Training and development of new and existing baristas Shift documentation and communication to management through the 7shifts logbook Labor flow and real-time coverage decisions in coordination with the AGM. Experience Beverage quality and consistency across the full East 5th menu - espresso drinks, matcha, tea, and smoothies The guest experience from the moment someone walks in until the moment they leave Equipment operation and daily maintenance protocol Food display, freshness, and presentation for Rockman Bakery wholesale items A physical environment that is clean, organized, and genuinely inviting from open to close.

Operations Opening and closing procedures are completed correctly every shift Product monitoring and ordering communication to the AGM Inventory support and invoice recording in Margin. Edge Health, safety, and food handling compliance – always.

Compensation

$15.00 - $17.00 per hour plus tips Schedule: Wednesday through Sunday, 7 am to 3 pm (full-time, 40 hrs/week). Final schedule to be set with the Director of Hospitality during onboarding. PTO: Eligible to accrue PTO immediately upon hire, and will accrue two hours of PTO for every 40 hours worked, up to a maximum accrual of 120 hours.

Benefits

Medical enrollment available

• Padel39 covers approximately 50% of the employee premium. Dental and vision available at employee cost. Start Date: Target April 2026 for pre-opening training and onboarding Salary $15 - $17 per hour