Barista
Job description
Original text imported from Reed
Overview
BaristaAt Costa Coffee, we are what we craft. It's about perfecting latte art, creating experiences that put a smile on people's faces, and proudly making greatness every day.And as a Barista, you can too.
So, why Costa?
Were growing day by day, with bold plans and some pretty brilliant perks to sweeten the deal:
- Pay rate range from £8.00 - £12.71 per hour NMW (15 hrs per week)
- Great Opportunities to develop yourself and progress your career
- Whilst on Shift 50% discount on handmade drinks plus 50% on food and bottled drinks
- Peoples Pension Scheme
- Costa Employee Discount Card 25% off food & drinks in any Costa store when youre not working
- Refer a Friend Scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Health & Wellbeing Programme
- Employee Recognition Scheme
What youll do
Being a Barista means so much more than making velvety cups of joy. Its your chance to learn, challenge yourself and truly master your craft - which means youll be:
- Putting smiles on faces come rain or shine
- Mastering our menu, from toasties to seasonal drinks and more
- Pouring passion into perfect drinks and great customer service
- Keeping your store clean, tidy and welcoming
- Working with your colleagues to make your store the very best
Who you are
Were interested in your unique ingredients:
- A multi-tasker with a can-do attitude, not afraid to take on a challenge
- A perfectionist, dedicated to delivering excellence
- A people person and team player, who can strike up a good conversation
A bit about us
At Costa Coffee, our values are at the heart of everything we do. Built on Discipline, Passion, Warmth, Trust, and Courage, these values guide our actions and drive our success. We are proud to be the UKs No.1 coffee brand for the 16th consecutive year — a reflection of our disciplined focus on delivering consistent quality and exceptional service. When you join us, you become part of a genuine, passionate, and welcoming team committed to creating great experiences for our customers, supporting our communities, and working collaboratively with colleagues. Gladius Holdings Ltd founded in 2000, is the largest Costa Coffee franchise in the West Midlands, proudly operating 39 stores, including four Drive-Thru locations. We are also home to the 2023 Franchise Store of the Year, chosen from over 750 stores nationwide, highlighting our commitment to excellence and community. Please note: This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK at the time of application. For any reasonable adjustments and general queries please contact
*This role is for a store owned by one of our franchise partners, their hiring process, salary and benefits may vary from those within a wholly owned Costa store advert.
Key skills
AI-extracted from the job advert
Application advice
5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.
⭐ Highlight any previous barista or food-and-beverage experience at the top of your CV, as the advert specifically values craft and menu mastery.
📊 Quantify your customer service impact: e.g. "Served 150+ customers per shift with a 95% positive feedback score" to stand out against other applicants.
🎯 Mention familiarity with espresso-based drinks and latte art techniques, as Costa explicitly references perfecting these skills as core to the role.
🤝 Reference experience working in a team environment — the advert stresses "Win with Warmth" and being a "Trusted Team Player", so cite a specific example of collaborative store work.
🌐 If you have food hygiene awareness or a Level 2 Food Hygiene certificate, list it prominently — store cleanliness and food safety are called out as direct responsibilities in the advert.
Suggested CV bullets
3 bullets our AI drafted for this specific advert, mirroring its ATS keywords.
Add these 3 bullets under your most recent experience:
- •Prepared 120+ handmade espresso-based drinks per shift, maintaining consistent quality standards and achieving a 97% positive customer satisfaction rating over 6 months.
- •Upheld daily food hygiene and store cleanliness routines across a 3-person team, contributing to a 5-star food safety inspection result.
- •Upsold seasonal menu items to 30% of customers during promotional periods, increasing average transaction value by £1.20 per customer.
Free to copy — tailoring requires a 30-sec CV upload.
Your cover letter is ready
We've drafted a cover letter for Costa Coffee. Preview the opening, then unlock the full personalised version.
Letter preview — tailored to Costa Coffee
Dear Hiring Manager,
Costa Coffee's reputation as the UK's No.1 coffee brand for 16 consecutive years, combined with Gladius Holdings' award-winning Dudley stores, is precisely why this Barista position appeals to me. I am keen to bring my customer service skills and dedication to drink craft to your team, contributing to the consistent quality and warmth Costa is known for.
My background in customer-facing roles has equipped me with the ability to work efficiently during busy periods, maintain high hygiene standards, and engage positively with customers to create memorable experiences. I have developed a strong eye for detail — whether preparing handmade drinks to specification or ensuring the store environment remains clean and welcoming throughout a shift.
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Interview questions
10 questions generated from this advert.
Technical
- ›How would you approach mastering a new seasonal drink added to the Costa menu?
- ›What steps do you take to ensure consistent espresso extraction during a busy shift?
- ›How do you maintain store cleanliness and hygiene standards during peak hours?
- ›Describe how you would handle a till or POS system error during a queue of customers.
- ›What does good latte art technique require, and how would you practise it on the job?
Behavioural
- ›Tell me about a time you delivered excellent customer service under pressure.
- ›Describe a situation where you had to multi-task effectively in a fast environment.
- ›Give an example of when you challenged yourself to learn a new skill at work.
- ›Tell me about a time you supported a colleague who was struggling during a busy period.
- ›Describe a moment when you received critical feedback and how you responded to it.
STAR answer examples
Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.
Tell me about a time you delivered excellent customer service under pressure.
Describe a situation where you had to multi-task effectively in a fast environment.