Company description

Wharfside Coffee & Events is a new community-focused café and event venue located in Tenants Harbor, Maine, designed to bring together coffee, coastal cuisine, and celebration in one gathering place. Housed in the historic former Wharfside Restaurant building, the business revives a beloved local site while reimagining it as a modern “third place” — a hub for locals, seasonal visitors, and small celebrations that reflect the character and hospitality of Midcoast Maine.

Our mission is simple: to create a space that feels authentically local, effortlessly welcoming, and endlessly adaptable — serving world-class coffee by morning and hosting lobster bakes, Sunday brunches, and intimate events by night.

Job description

Wharfside Café is hiring a Lead Barista to help launch and run our coffee program for the season.

This is a leadership role for someone who knows great coffee, enjoys building systems that run smoothly, and feels comfortable guiding a small team while creating a welcoming experience for customers. We are looking for someone experienced, organized, and excited to shape the café from the ground up. The Lead Barista will play a key role in setting up our drink menu, daily workflows, and standards for service.

Schedule & Pay
5 days per week, Three weekdays + both weekend days
Full time seasonal position beginning late May running through Mid-October
Starting at $20/hour, with higher pay available for highly experienced candidates

Responsibilities

• Lead daily barista operations during shifts
• Help develop and refine the coffee menu and drink offerings
• Create and maintain SOPs for drink preparation, workflow, and equipment care
• Serve as the go-to person for espresso equipment and brewing questions
• Train and support other baristas
• Ensure consistent drink quality and service standards
• Help maintain a clean, organized bar and workspace
• Make & serve basic menu items
• Provide warm, welcoming service to customers
• Assist with inventory, ordering, and supply organization as needed

Qualifications

• Strong barista experience, including dialing in espresso and milk steaming
• Comfortable working with and troubleshooting espresso machines and grinders
• Experience training staff or supervising shifts preferred
• Organized and able to create systems that help a small team run smoothly
• Friendly, calm, and customer-focused
• Comfortable working in a busy summer café environment, at times solo

This role is a great fit if you:

• Love great coffee and care about doing it well
• Want to work right by the ocean all summer
• Enjoy building systems and improving workflows
• Like mentoring others and helping a team succeed
• Want to help shape a café’s coffee program from the start

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $20/hr +

Application instructions

Deadline

April 20, 2026