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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Tearista

💰 $ - $

Food & BeverageHospitalityRetailBeverage Service

🎯 Role Definition

The Tearista is the front-line tea expert responsible for preparing and serving tea-based beverages with consistency, quality, and a sense of hospitality. This role blends hands-on beverage craft (tea extraction, infusion, matcha preparation, tea lattes), point-of-sale operation, product storytelling, and daily operational tasks like inventory control and sanitation. The ideal candidate is customer-focused, detail-oriented, and passionate about tea culture, flavor, and guest education.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Barista or Coffee Bar Attendant
  • Retail Sales Associate (food & beverage)
  • Foodservice Crew Member

Advancement To:

  • Senior Tearista / Lead Tearista
  • Shift Supervisor or Team Lead (Beverage)
  • Beverage Manager / Tea Program Manager
  • Regional Trainer or Beverage Operations Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Tea Sommelier / Tea Educator
  • Product Development (beverages)
  • Retail Buyer or Merchandise Planner (tea & specialty beverages)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Prepare and serve a wide variety of tea beverages (hot teas, iced teas, matcha, chai, tea lattes, specialty infusions and seasonal offerings) consistently to quality and presentation standards, ensuring optimal extraction, temperature, and balance for each menu item.
  • Execute precise brewing protocols including water temperature control, steep times, leaf-to-water ratios, and multi-step infusion techniques to preserve flavor profiles and reduce waste.
  • Maintain deep product knowledge of tea origins, cultivars, processing methods (green, black, oolong, white, pu-erh), and flavor profiles so that you can confidently recommend pairings and educate guests.
  • Deliver outstanding customer service by greeting guests warmly, taking orders attentively, answering product questions, and guiding guests to selections based on preferences and dietary considerations.
  • Operate point-of-sale (POS) systems accurately for order entry, cash handling, card transactions, and end-of-shift reconciliation, following company policies for payment security and refunds.
  • Manage inventory for tea leaves, concentrates, milks (dairy and non-dairy), sweeteners, and consumables: conduct daily/weekly counts, rotate stock (FIFO), place reorders, and report discrepancies to management.
  • Perform daily sanitation and cleaning routines for tea equipment (brewers, kettles, whisks, shakers, filters), service counters, utensils, and storage areas to comply with health and safety regulations.
  • Follow food safety and hygiene procedures, including proper handling and storage of perishable ingredients, temperature logging, and compliance with local health codes and ServSafe or equivalent standards.
  • Create and maintain visually appealing beverage presentations, including garnish placement, latte art for tea lattes, and branded packaging for to-go orders to enhance customer experience and social media visibility.
  • Monitor beverage quality through routine tasting, calibration of brewing equipment, and adjusting recipes or portioning to maintain consistency across shifts and locations.
  • Train and mentor new tearistas and bar staff on brew methods, menu knowledge, customer service best practices, and POS use to ensure a cohesive service standard.
  • Implement upsell and suggestive selling techniques to increase average check size by recommending add-ons, seasonal items, or retail tea products that match guest preferences.
  • Prepare retail tea samples and support in-store tastings and events to drive product education, customer engagement, and retail sales.
  • Execute opening and closing procedures, including equipment start-up/shutdown, cash drop, cleaning checklists, and securing the store or service area.
  • Collaborate with store management to plan and launch seasonal menus, limited-time offerings, and cross-promotions; provide feedback on customer response and operational feasibility.
  • Maintain accurate records of daily sales, waste logs, temperature logs, and incident reports; communicate anomalies to supervisors for continuous improvement.
  • Assist with merchandising of tea retail products—labeling, pricing, restocking, and creating attractive displays that drive conversions in-store and online.
  • Support quality assurance by participating in periodic audits, taste panels, and recipe standardization sessions to help refine beverage formulations and SOPs.
  • Actively solicit guest feedback and resolve basic service issues on the spot; escalate more complex or policy-driven concerns to management while preserving brand reputation.
  • Adapt quickly during peak periods to manage multiple orders, prioritize tasks, and maintain a calm, service-oriented demeanor to meet service time expectations.
  • Contribute to local marketing initiatives by capturing on-brand photos, suggesting promotional ideas, or hosting small community events that increase foot traffic and brand loyalty.
  • Keep up-to-date with tea trends, ingredient innovations (e.g., adaptogens, alternative milks), and competitor offerings to suggest menu improvements and innovation opportunities.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
  • Assist with simple merchandising analytics such as tracking best-selling teas and recommending reorder cadence to reduce stockouts.
  • Help prepare weekly product usage and waste reports to support cost control and supplier negotiations.
  • Act as a brand ambassador at community events, pop-ups, and tastings to grow brand awareness and customer engagement.
  • Support cross-functional teams (marketing, operations, procurement) with frontline insights on customer preferences and operational constraints.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Expert-level knowledge of tea brewing techniques: steep times, temperatures, infusion ratios, and multiple-steep protocols.
  • Matcha preparation and whisking proficiency, including traditional and modern matcha-based beverages.
  • Experience with espresso/steam equipment and milk steaming for tea lattes (if applicable).
  • Strong POS and cash-handling skills; familiarity with common retail POS systems (square, Toast, Clover, etc.).
  • Inventory management and stock rotation (FIFO), purchase order basics, and supplier communication.
  • Food safety and sanitation certification or demonstrable training (e.g., ServSafe, local equivalent).
  • Basic recipe scaling and portion control to maintain cost targets and consistency.
  • Familiarity with retail merchandising principles and product presentation for in-store sales.
  • Basic troubleshooting and routine maintenance of beverage equipment (brewers, kettles, steam wands).
  • Ability to use scheduling, timekeeping, and internal communication tools (e.g., Slack, scheduling apps).

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional customer service and active listening skills; ability to build rapport and personalize recommendations.
  • Strong attention to detail and a commitment to consistent product quality.
  • Excellent verbal communication and product storytelling—able to explain tea provenance and steep methods in approachable language.
  • Multi-tasking and time management in fast-paced, high-volume shifts.
  • Team player with the ability to train, coach, and positively influence peers.
  • Problem-solving mindset and the ability to stay calm under pressure.
  • Adaptability and openness to menu experimentation and seasonal pivots.
  • Sales-oriented with confidence in upselling and suggestive selling without being pushy.
  • Cultural sensitivity and knowledge of international tea traditions when communicating with diverse guests.
  • Initiative and accountability—able to take ownership of tasks and follow through.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or equivalent.

Preferred Education:

  • Certificate in Hospitality, Culinary Arts, or specialized Tea Sommelier training.
  • Short courses in food safety, beverage management, or specialty beverage certifications.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Hospitality Management
  • Culinary Arts or Beverage Management
  • Food Science / Nutrition
  • Cultural Studies with a focus on tea-producing regions

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 0 to 3 years in food & beverage service for entry-level Tearista roles; 1–3+ years preferred for mid-level positions.

Preferred:

  • 1–3 years as a barista, tea specialist, or in specialty beverage service.
  • Demonstrated experience with retail tea sales, product education, or leading tastings.
  • Previous supervisory or training experience for lead or senior Tearista positions.
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