0395 Cafe Barista

Job Description

About the Job

Great café products get people in the door. Great service is what brings them back. This is an hourly role based in the café of one of our Books-A-Million retail store locations. As a Barista, you’ll bring the café to life—from crafting great coffee and specialty drinks to preparing fresh food and keeping the space clean and inviting. Your friendly, consistent service will create an experience that keeps customers coming back.

Role Summary

Under the direction of the General Manager, the Barista performs a variety of tasks specific to the successful operation of the Café. Great service is the foundation here. You'll take ownership of every drink, every transaction, and every customer interaction, keeping the café running smoothly throughout each shift.

Role Responsibilities

Café Operations

• Take ownership of the café and make every shift count. You’ll work independently for most of your shift, using your focus, pace, and judgment to keep the café running smoothly and create a great experience for every customer.
• Create the kind of café experience customers come back for. Bring skill and care to every interaction, crafting great coffee, specialty drinks, and fresh food that customers love —crafting every order like it is the customer’s new favorite item.
  
  

Customer Experience

• Make someone's day memorable. Greet customers entering the store and café with genuine warmth, and provide exceptional customer service on each transaction.
• Bring genuine excitement to every customer interaction by highlighting customer benefits and company-sponsored programs that add value to their experience—just as naturally and enthusiastically as you’d recommend a great drink or café item.
• Take ownership of every transaction by balancing your cash drawer following each shift. Follow loss prevention standards and take pride in protecting our customers, our team, and the company.
  
  

Cleanliness & Café Presentation

• Create a café that feels as fresh and inviting as the products you serve by keeping the space clean, welcoming, and consistently aligned with all local, state, and federal sanitation standards.
• Create a café customers are excited to spend time in by keeping food surfaces, equipment, utensils, and customer areas clean, fresh, and ready for every guest.
• Stock and merchandise the café in accordance with company policies and procedures, maintaining a straight, organized, and clean shopping environment that invites customers to stay and explore.
  
  

Additional Responsibilities

• Every café shift is different, and great cafés run on teammates who are ready to jump in wherever they’re needed. Be someone your team can count on—supporting fellow café teammates, helping keep supplies stocked, assisting with cleaning and restocking, and stepping in across the store to keep the entire customer experience welcoming, seamless, and ready to go.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  
  

Role Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• 16 years of age or older
• Successful completion of all required background screenings
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Genuine love of great coffee and food — with curiosity to learn about our café offerings, ingredients, and what customers are excited to try next.
• Strong communication and connection skills — creating warm, genuine interactions with customers and teammates through thoughtful listening and friendly, clear communication.
• An ownership mindset — taking initiative, staying organized, and confidently balancing multiple priorities to keep the café running smoothly.
• Previous café, food service, retail, or customer service experience — bringing an understanding of what it takes to create a welcoming environment, serve customers well, and take pride in the details.
• Comfort with technology and transactions — using registers, café equipment, and other technology accurately while staying curious and willing to learn new systems and processes.
  
  

Work Environment & Expectations

Physical requirements:

• Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods of time
• Must be able to use hands/arms to operate a keyboard and telephone for repetitive motion activities
• Must be able to lift or team lift objects up to 50 lbs., with or without assistance
• Must be able to communicate using speech, sight, and sound with or without an assistive device
• Must be able to stand, walk, climb, bend, stoop, or crouch while performing daily activities of the job
  
  

The Perks

At Books-A-Million, we're in the business of connecting people with stories—but our story starts with our associates. We believe that when our people feel supported, valued, and cared for, they're empowered to do their best work and create exceptional experiences for our customers.

• Competitive Compensation: Competitive pay with opportunities to earn performance-based incentives that recognize your contributions.
• Health & Wellness: Medical, dental, and vision coverage, along with Healthcare and Dependent Care Spending Accounts to help you care for yourself and those who depend on you.
• Financial Protection: Life insurance and disability coverage that provide peace of mind when you need it most.
• Retirement Savings: A 401(k) plan with company matching contributions to help you invest in your future with confidence.
• Paid Time Off: Generous paid time off so you can recharge, celebrate life's moments, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
• Employee Discounts: Special discounts on books, gifts, toys, collectibles, and more—because we believe the things you love should be a little more accessible.
• Employee Assistance Program: Confidential counseling, resources, and support for you and your family whenever life brings unexpected challenges.
  
  

Benefit availability and eligibility are based on applicable requirements, including hours worked, employment status, position, and other plan-specific eligibility criteria.

When you join Books-A-Million, you're joining more than a workplace—you're becoming part of a team that believes in supporting one another, celebrating successes, and growing together as a community. We're proud to invest in our associates because when you thrive, we all do.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

Books-A-Million is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.