Dutch Colony Coffee Co. Hiring! Full Time Retail Barista Training - Development Lead in , Earn up to SGD 2,600 - Ricebowl

About Dutch Colony Coffee Co.

At Dutch Colony Coffee Co., we are more than a specialty coffee roaster—we are a community built around quality, service and a shared passion for coffee.

Across our retail cafés, roastery, academy, online store and wholesale business, we are committed to delivering an exceptional coffee experience from bean to cup. As our retail operations and team continue to grow, we are looking for an experienced specialty coffee professional to strengthen how we train, develop and inspire our baristas.

About the Role

The Retail Barista Training & Development Lead will take ownership of developing, implementing and continuously improving our retail coffee training programme.

Your primary responsibility is to elevate the technical capability, confidence and consistency of our baristas across all retail outlets. You will ensure that every cup served reflects Dutch Colony Coffee Co.’s recipes, quality standards, presentation requirements and accepted specialty coffee practices.

This is a hands-on role that combines technical coffee expertise, training programme development, outlet coaching and beverage quality assurance. You will work closely with the retail leadership team, outlet leaders, senior baristas, roastery and other relevant departments to translate our coffee standards into consistent daily execution.

You will not only teach baristas how to prepare coffee—you will help them understand coffee, develop their sensory abilities, take pride in their craft and grow into capable coffee professionals and future leaders.

Key Responsibilities

Training Programme Development

• Review, structure and advance the existing barista training programme for different levels of competency, from new baristas to senior baristas and retail leaders.
• Develop clear training modules covering coffee fundamentals, espresso preparation, grinder calibration, extraction, milk texturing, latte art, manual brewing, sensory development, workflow, equipment care and customer engagement.
• Create and maintain training materials, lesson plans, practical exercises, assessment criteria, trainer guides and competency records.
• Ensure training content remains relevant to current specialty coffee practices, operational requirements and the coffees served by Dutch Colony Coffee Co.
• Build structured learning pathways that support onboarding, skills progression, cross-training and career development.
• Establish refresher and remedial training programmes based on operational observations, assessment results and quality gaps.

Barista Training and Development

• Conduct engaging classroom, academy-based and on-the-job training for baristas across all retail outlets.
• Coach baristas on espresso extraction, recipe adherence, grinder adjustment, milk texture, beverage balance, latte art, manual brewing and final presentation.
• Develop the team’s understanding of coffee origins, processing methods, roasting, flavour profiles and brewing variables so that they can confidently communicate with customers.
• Conduct regular calibration, tasting and sensory-development sessions.
• Identify individual strengths and development needs, then provide practical coaching and follow-up.
• Train and develop selected senior baristas and outlet leaders to become effective outlet-level coaches and assessors.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning, curiosity, discipline and pride in specialty coffee.

Coffee Quality and Standards

• Conduct regular scheduled and unannounced outlet visits to assess beverage quality, bar workflow, recipe compliance and presentation.
• Verify that espresso recipes, grinder settings, brewing parameters and milk standards are consistently followed.
• Taste and assess beverages during outlet visits, documenting findings and providing immediate, constructive coaching.
• Establish clear coffee quality audit standards and maintain accurate records of observations, corrective actions and follow-up results.
• Work with retail leaders to address recurring quality gaps and ensure improvements are sustained.
• Review beverage preparation standards whenever new coffees, equipment, recipes or menu items are introduced.
• Support troubleshooting involving extraction, water, grinders, espresso machines, brewing equipment and bar workflow.
• Ensure all coffee equipment is used, cleaned and maintained according to established procedures.

Assessment and Certification

• Establish practical and written assessments for each stage of the barista development pathway.
• Conduct competency assessments and certify baristas only when the required standards have been consistently demonstrated.
• Maintain an accurate skills matrix and training record for the retail barista team.
• Monitor the progress of new hires during onboarding and probation, providing recommendations to the relevant leaders.
• Identify high-potential baristas and recommend development opportunities, advanced training or competition exposure.
• Use training and assessment data to identify common capability gaps and improve the programme.

Retail and Cross-Functional Support

• Work alongside baristas during service to understand real operating conditions and demonstrate effective quality, speed, workflow and customer engagement.
• Partner with outlet leaders to incorporate training priorities into daily operations without compromising service.
• Collaborate with the roastery to understand each coffee’s intended flavour expression and translate this into practical retail brewing standards.
• Support new product launches, seasonal coffees, new outlet openings and equipment changes through training and operational readiness.
• Participate in recruitment trials or practical assessments for barista candidates when required.
• Represent Dutch Colony Coffee Co. professionally at workshops, coffee events, industry activities and competitions where appropriate.

What We Are Looking For

• Strong professional background in specialty coffee, with advanced practical knowledge of espresso extraction, grinder calibration, milk texturing, latte art, manual brewing and sensory evaluation.
• Ideally at least five years of relevant specialty coffee experience, including experience as a Senior Barista, Head Barista, Coffee Trainer, Quality Lead or in a comparable role.
• Proven experience designing, delivering or managing structured coffee training programmes.
• Experience competing in, winning, coaching for or judging recognised coffee competitions is highly advantageous.
• Relevant coffee certifications or professional qualifications—such as SCA, CQI, recognised sensory qualifications or authorised trainer credentials—are advantageous.
• Strong palate and the ability to identify, explain and correct beverage-quality issues.
• Confident communicator who can teach technical subjects in a clear, practical and engaging way.
• Passionate about developing people, with the patience and discipline to coach individuals of different experience levels.
• Structured, organised and comfortable managing training calendars, materials, assessments, records and follow-up independently.
• Able to give honest, constructive feedback while building trust and motivating the team.
• Strong leadership presence, personal discipline and attention to detail.
• Comfortable working hands-on in a fast-paced retail environment and travelling between outlets.
• Willing to work occasional weekends or outside standard office hours when operational training, assessments or events require it.
• Valid WSQ Food Safety Course Level 1 certification, or willingness to obtain it before commencing work.

The Person We Hope to Meet

You are an accomplished coffee professional who still enjoys being behind the bar. You understand that excellent coffee depends not only on knowledge, but also on discipline, repetition, sensory awareness and care in every detail.

You are equally comfortable calibrating an espresso recipe, demonstrating milk texture, leading a group workshop, observing a busy service and holding a constructive conversation about performance.

You take ownership, work independently and follow through. Most importantly, you find genuine satisfaction in helping others develop their skills, confidence and careers.

Measures of Success

Success in this role will be reflected through:

• Improved beverage quality and consistency across all retail outlets.
• Stronger compliance with coffee recipes, preparation and presentation standards.
• Completion and competency rates within the barista training and certification programme.
• Measurable improvement following outlet quality audits and coaching visits.
• Faster and more effective onboarding of newly hired baristas.
• Development of capable internal trainers, senior baristas and future coffee leaders.
• Positive feedback from retail leaders, baristas and customers regarding coffee quality.
• Successful implementation of new coffee products, recipes and equipment standards.

What We Offer

• A key role in shaping the coffee standards and development culture of an established Singapore specialty coffee company.
• The opportunity to lead and advance a training programme with visible impact across multiple retail outlets.
• Access to a wide range of coffees, equipment, tastings, workshops and professional development opportunities.
• Opportunities to participate in industry events, competitions and coffee-related initiatives.
• Medical and dental benefits.
• Progressive annual leave entitlement.
• A collaborative working environment that values craftsmanship, professionalism, initiative and heart.

If you are ready to use your coffee expertise to develop people, strengthen standards and inspire the next generation of specialty coffee professionals, we would love to hear from you.

Please submit your résumé together with a short introduction outlining your specialty coffee background, training experience, certifications and involvement in coffee competitions.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: From $2,600.00 per month

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Food provided
• Health insurance
• Parental leave
• Professional development

Work Location: In person