La Prima Careers
We are looking for several baristas to join the La Prima team! We will have barista positions opening up starting in mid-August at our Oakland location and at our Gates and Wean stores on Carnegie Mellon University's campus.
Prior barista experience is not required. However, a service-oriented attitude and desire to learn new skills is a must. Below is a snapshot of what we're looking for and who we are as a company.
Expectations of Baristas:
- Welcoming and respectful customer service and conversations with customers
- Quick and efficient order taking
- Accurate cash handling
- Well-crafted drinks made to La Prima company recipe standards
- Attention to detail, such as:
- - correct milk texture and temperature
- - noticing when beverages, food, or espresso beans need stocked
- - responding to customers asking questions
- Reliable work attendance, arriving on time for scheduled shifts and being ready to work when your shift starts
- Open and early communication about schedule, process, or coworker issues
- Asking questions and seeking guidance from your manager when confusions or concerns arise
- Working well with others in a team setting while also being able to assess priorities and work independently
Day-to-Day Duties & Responsibilities:
- Opening and/or closing the store
- Crafting espresso and tea drinks to-order
- Brewing coffee
- Cleaning espresso machines, washing dishes, and keeping a neat work area
- Side work such as brewing cold brew, receiving orders, and restocking fridges
- Discussing coffee or menu questions with customers
- Working as part of a team of 2-5 baristas
- Clocking in on time via the Homebase app
- Take credit card and cash transactions on the POS
Ideal Candidates are:
- Willing to be flexible and adapt to a dynamic environment
- Customer-service oriented and excited to work with the general public
- Open-minded to learning new skills and new ways of completing tasks
- Able to stand for a full shift length of 5-8 hours, with breaks
- Able and open to accepting constructive feedback and taking steps to improve
You are a dedicated and reliable barista who comes to work ready to craft delicious drinks and assist with customers in a respectful and kind manner. You are attentive to the needs of the store while on shift, receptive to feedback, and determined to create a pleasant and efficient work environment that’s helpful and inviting to customers, positive for coworkers, and good for La Prima’s business.
Benefits & Job Details:
Union position - UFCW Local 1776 KS
$12.75 for tipped stores, $20.25 for non-tipped stores ($.50 raise September 2025)
1 hour of PTO for every 35 hours worked (30 starting Jan 2026)
Personal days and 401K match after 1 year of service
La Prima’s Story:
Sam Patti founded La Prima Espresso Co. in 1988. His original business plan was to sell and service commercial espresso machines from his showroom in the city’s historic market and restaurant district known as The Strip.
Soon the showroom evolved into a full-service espresso bar, where it became a must-stop Pittsburgh destination. Join the locals and visit the first La Prima Espresso location at 21st Street and Penn Avenue. If you're near the Convention Center, you can enjoy our beautiful caffè at 11th and Smallman Street. If you're near Carnegie Mellon University and wish for thought fuel, we have full caffès in the lobbies of Wean Hall & the Gates Hillman Center. Our newest caffè is on Fifth and Halket and serves the Oakland community.
Our caffès are served by our roaster in the Manchester neighborhood on Pittsburgh's North Side. There, at Torrefazione La Prima, we roast over 20 varieties of coffee to order. We sell espresso and coffee to caffès, markets, restaurants, and businesses across the United States.
Through laprima.com, we send espresso and fine filter coffee, roasted to-order and shipped daily (M-F), in one pound bags. Providing superior customer service is important to us. It's the La Prima way and it's part of the reason why La Prima customers are decidedly loyal.
Many Pittsburghers will tell you, a trip to La Prima is like a little trip to Italy … only closer to home. Thank you for considering La Prima Espresso Co.