Barista

Empire JointStar (Empire) is a leading retailer in the United States and an affiliate of Dallas Holdings International (Dallas), a global organization with a strong presence in the food and retail industry. Dallas is a strategic partner of Pret A Manger (Pret), a renowned Food To Go and coffee shop franchise chain that offers freshly made food and organic coffee. Dallas owns over 70 Pret A Manger shops across the US and UK and continues to expand rapidly, with 50+ Pret locations in New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania facilitated through Empire. The company is also expanding into California, demonstrating a strong growth trajectory. Empire is headquartered in New York City and is committed to delivering excellent customer experiences through its Pret A Manger shops.

Pret A Manger embodies a vibrant culture focused on high-quality food and drink, outstanding service, and a welcoming environment. Empire JointStar supports this mission by hiring passionate team members who want to contribute to a fast-paced, friendly workplace and deliver exceptional coffee and food to every customer. The company emphasizes teamwork, high standards of cleanliness, customer engagement, and continuous training to ensure that each Pret shop operates smoothly and profitably.

The role of Barista at Pret A Manger, offered by Empire, is a full-time position paying $18.50 per hour along with a Mystery Shopper Bonus and tips. Additionally, a $100 referral bonus is available to encourage team growth and camaraderie. Baristas work as an essential part of the team, ensuring all drinks meet the required Pret standard with an emphasis on drink quality, service excellence, drink counter operation, cleanliness, maintenance, and team training.

As a Pret Barista, the employee will coach and train others on Barista Prepared Drinks and standards, collaborate with management to plan and implement training, conduct coffee team briefs, and maintain training materials. A key part of the role includes delivering the Pret Buzz, characterized by engaging customers positively and serving drinks within 60 seconds while impressing with latte art. The Barista will also maintain coffee counter cleanliness and equipment according to Pret’s standards, manage ingredient waste to maximize profitability, and contribute to sales growth by understanding shop sales metrics and promoting drinks effectively.

Working as a Barista at Pret offers a dynamic work environment with passionate teams where employees can develop their coffee knowledge through the Pret Academy and enjoy generous benefits such as health, dental and vision insurance, 401K retirement plans, paid time off, company-sponsored life insurance, and various other perks including free meals during shifts and quarterly team events. The employer is committed to equal opportunity employment, creating an inclusive workplace free from discrimination and bias.

This role is ideal for individuals with at least one year of barista experience who are enthusiastic about coffee culture, customer service, and teamwork. The high standards of Pret ensure that each Barista is highly skilled and motivated to create a welcoming customer experience that encourages repeat business and fosters a positive work culture.