Coffee Quality Specialist

Step into a role where your passion for coffee will directly impact the customer experience. As a Coffee Quality Specialist, you'll conduct post-roast evaluations, manage quality control, and collaborate across teams to ensure every blend meets our high standards. You'll also engage in developing coffee quality training programs, manage the coffee lab, and assist in launching new products. Become a key player in delivering exceptional coffee experiences and shaping the future of our beloved product offerings. Read on for more details!  

This on-site role is based at our roasting plant in Oakland, CA.

 

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Post-roast Coffee Quality Evaluations and Quality Lab Management 

• Manage incoming post roast coffee samples with roasting and production
• Perform regular cupping sessions and sensory evaluations to ensure consistency in blend quality
• Maintain quality control protocols for all post-roast quality before it leaves the roasting plant
• Identify and document any non-conforming issues for quality specifications to appropriate teams
• Oversee the maintenance, calibration and operation of all lab equipment to ensure reliable testing
• Report to Quality Manager post roast coffee trends based on quality data and feedback to elevate quality
• Manage and maintain and general housekeeping of the coffee lab area and organization of all samples
• Perform and analyze tea physical and sensorial evaluations or any sensory product evaluations as needed
• Organize, set up and break down of all tasting evaluations and any on-site visits

Education and Project Support 

• Liaisons with Roasting, Production, Sourcing to align on quality goals and reports any quality related issues
• Develop and deliver training programs for team members on coffee quality standards, sensory evaluation techniques and best practices
• As needed, develop educational materials and conduct sessions for customers and clients to enhance their understanding of the importance of coffee quality
• Assist with coffee quality projects or quality related subjects as needed ex.  R&D
• Supports Retail Operations to ensure consistent coffee quality in stores and communication to customers and reports to Quality Manager any trends based on data or customer feedback

Green Coffee Quality Support 

• Prepare sensory evaluations and quality assessments of green coffee (training provided)
• Communicate green coffee evaluation results to coffee suppliers
• Organize quarterly green and coffee audit evaluations
• Perform and record physical (moisture, density, water activity, sample shrinkage) quality data of green coffee
• Sample roasting (training provided)

 

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• Minimum 2 years coffee quality lab experience
• Arabica Q-Grader certificate preferred
• Familiarity with roasting plant operations
• Coffee technical expertise (sensory experience and knowledge of specialty coffee industry standards for brewing method and equipment, and roasting)
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to quickly learn new processes and information and apply
• Collaborative and cooperative mindset
• Strong written & verbal English communication skills
• Ability to travel locally in the San Francisco Bay Area
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office and cloud-based equivalents (eg Google sheets).  Preferred: NetSuite, Cropster, Eximware, Google Workspace
• Tea analysis experience preferred

 

**Compensation & Benefits A reasonable estimate of the starting annual base salary for this role is $67,000 to $72,000. Please note that the base salary will vary based on qualifications, previous experience, and work location. When you join our team, we better your days through our benefits and support programs – we offer our team members medical, dental, and vision insurance, company-paid basic life insurance, optional family life insurance, 401(k) with company match, flexible spending accounts, commuter benefits, mental health support, holiday pay, Vacation & Sick Time, Team Member discounts, freebie drinks and discounted beans, fun Philz swag, opportunities for growth and advancement, and more!

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Last updated on Jul 11, 2024