Experienced Baristas | Weekdays Only | Higher Grounds Coffee + Café
Love the pace of a busy café and want your evenings and weekends back? Higher Grounds Coffee + Café is hiring two experienced baristas at our Kearny Mesa location, just off the 52. We’re a chef-owned café with two San Diego locations and a corporate catering operation. Our regulars come in for specialty coffee, fresh breakfasts and lunches, and friendly service they can count on during a short break.
Two openings
Five-day position — Monday through Friday, approximately 30–40 hours per week.
Part-time morning position — Shifts typically end around 11 a.m. We can be flexible on the schedule for the right candidate.
The café is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. We offer consistent weekly schedules so you can plan your life outside work. We’re closed Saturdays, Sundays, and major holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, and the Fourth of July.
What you’ll do
You’ll train across all three front-of-house stations, so you can jump in wherever the team needs you.
Barista bar — Prepare espresso drinks and seasonal beverages with speed and consistency. We provide recipes and hands-on training, and we welcome your ideas for new specials.
Register — Greet guests, take accurate orders, and help people find something they’ll enjoy.
Expo — Coordinate food and drink orders and keep them moving accurately through the rush. Our kitchen aims to serve made-to-order food within five minutes.
Our chef-driven menu changes with the seasons, and we make soup in-house daily. Between lunch specials and rotating drinks, there’s always something new to learn and share with guests. You’ll also help post daily specials, create occasional Instagram and Facebook Reels, and engage with our café community online.
What we’re looking for
At least two years of barista experience in a high-volume café. Additional front-of-house experience is a plus.
Warm, attentive customer service and clear communication with guests and teammates.
The ability to stay organized and keep drinks consistent when tickets stack up.
An interest in developing seasonal drinks and basic experience creating social media content.
Pay and perks
Base pay — $20/hr starting
Pooled tips — Café and catering gratuities are shared based on hours worked and paid through payroll. Tips typically add $4–$8 per hour and vary by pay period.
Free coffee drinks during shifts and 50% off coffee drinks off the clock.
Staff meals when available and 50% off food purchases.
Access to an on-site gym, locker rooms, basketball court, and pickleball court.
Access to a state-sponsored retirement savings plan.
As you learn all three stations and take on more responsibility, you’ll have opportunities to pick up additional shifts when available and grow with the team.
How to apply
Reply to this Craigslist post with your résumé, your weekday availability, and which opening you’re interested in. If you’ve created a seasonal drink you’re proud of, we’d love to hear about it.
