Barista - Temporary

About the role

A Barnes & Noble bookstore is a gathering place for readers and the community. As a Barista, you are an integral member of the team at the heart of our Cafés. You welcome customers in a cheerful and helpful way by saying hello, answering questions and consistently going out of your way to connect readers with the right beverages and café items. Equally, you are an essential part of the café team in maintaining the attractive presentation and ensuring the efficient running of the Café. You help unpack and stock deliveries and to tidy our bakes case and dining area. You work our registers in a quick and friendly manner, ensuring our customers receive a highly professional service.

Responsibilities

• Welcome customers cheerfully, answer questions, and connect readers with appropriate beverages and café items.
• Maintain attractive café presentation and ensure efficient café operations.
• Unpack and stock deliveries; tidy the bake case and dining area.
• Operate registers quickly and friendly to provide professional service.
• Use varied technology (registers, computers, tablets, programs) comfortably and efficiently.
• Develop strong merchandising skills to maintain café presentation and cleanliness.
• Develop effective visual merchandising skills for counter and floor retail fixtures.
• Run a register competently to serve customers quickly and reliably.
• Support receiving, unpacking, and accurate stocking of deliveries.
• Prepare food and drinks properly with ease and accuracy using knowledge, colleagues, recipe guides, and spec sheets.
• Maintain café cleanliness through reliable execution of daily and weekly cleaning tasks.
• Follow and execute First In First Out (FIFO) practices and date products correctly.
• Support the bookfloor team willingly and effectively when needed.
• Understand loss prevention procedures and de‑escalation techniques; identify theft and seek support for problematic behaviors.
• Perform physical tasks including prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and walking.
• Work in other stores as needed to support the wider cluster.
• Build café knowledge of beverage, bakery, savory, and gifting products; use it to maintain an appealing presentation.
• Speak about and support key sales objectives such as new LTO items or café promotions, sharing knowledge with customers and colleagues.
• Make effective food and beverage customization recommendations.
• Build knowledge and engagement for execution of café retail options.
• Understand and use café training tools appropriately.
• Apply café safety, hygiene, and sanitation guidelines to maintain standards.
• Use product knowledge to support the success of key products and promotions.
• Enjoy being a barista and comply with all company policies and procedures.
• Advance to Senior Barista after demonstrating mastery of the role.

Skills

• Maintain reliable and punctual attendance for scheduled shifts.
• Fill scheduling gaps when able, being flexible and responsive to store needs (open early mornings to late evenings daily, including weekends and most holidays).
• Approach work positively and willingly, performing tasks with purpose, energy, and reliability.
• Be supportive and considerate of colleagues, helping others and showing kindness.
• Remain consistently cheerful with customers, going out of your way to assist them.
• Show aptitude and willingness to learn new skills and acquire new knowledge.
• Demonstrate enjoyment of being a barista.

Benefits

• All scheduled employees receive Employee Discount, EAP, and Sick Pay.
• Employees scheduled 20–29.99 hours per week additionally receive Paid Time Off (including paid Maternity and Parental Leave), Company Paid Holidays, Transit, and 401(k) with Company Match.
• Employees scheduled 30 or more hours per week receive all of the above plus Comprehensive Health Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision), Healthcare and Dependent Care Spending Accounts, Healthcare Spending Account, Disability Benefits, Life Insurance, Transit, and Tuition Reimbursement.
• Benefits are subject to the current plan terms and may vary by location/state regulations.

Schedule

The café is open from early mornings to late evenings every day, including weekends and most holidays. Baristas are expected to be flexible, fill scheduling gaps when able, and work varying shifts as needed by the store.