Barista

Barista / Café Team Member — Mehfil Coffee House

Location: 401 N. Riverside Dr, Gurnee, IL 60031 (across from Six Flags Great America)
Type: Full-time & Part-time · Pay: $15–$18/hr + pooled tips

About Mehfil
Mehfil is a South Asian– and Middle Eastern–inspired coffee and dessert lounge in Gurnee — slow-brewed chai in multiple regional styles, signature lattes like Pistachio, Ras Malai, and Honey Cardamom, matcha, refreshers, and a warm space built for people to linger. We're a small, founder-led team with hospitality and cultural identity at our core.

What you'll do

• Prepare espresso drinks, specialty lattes, chai, matcha, and refreshers to recipe and to a consistent standard
• Deliver warm, genuine hospitality — greet guests, take orders, answer menu questions, make recommendations
• Run the register and process payments accurately on Square
• Keep the bar, dining area, and equipment clean, stocked, and health-code compliant
• Support dessert service and light food prep and plating
• Stay composed and efficient during high-volume weekend and summer rushes
• Follow all food safety and sanitation standards

What we're looking for

• Reliable, punctual, and a genuine team player
• Strong customer-service instincts and a positive attitude
• Able to stand for long shifts and lift up to ~30 lbs
• Weekend and evening availability (our busiest periods, especially in summer)
• Able to obtain an Illinois Food Handler certification (we can help arrange it)
• Must be 16+

Nice to have (we'll train)

• Prior barista, café, or food-service experience
• Familiarity with espresso equipment and milk steaming
• An appreciation for South Asian / Middle Eastern coffee, chai, and dessert culture
• Multilingual a plus

What we offer

• Competitive pay plus a shared tip pool
• Free drinks and shift discounts
• Flexible full-time and part-time scheduling
• Hands-on training and room to grow into lead roles

Pay: $15.00 - $18.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Employee discount

Application Question(s):

• Are you able to lift 30+ lbs

Work Location: In person