Coffee Mixologist

Job purpose/ summary of the overall job assignment:

About Us

Qima Cafe is the UK’s first tree-to-cup café, rooted in a vertically integrated supply chain that connects some of the world’s most exclusive coffee producers directly to consumers. Known for sourcing and roasting the highest-quality coffees, we offer an elevated experience that pairs exquisite drinks with a thoughtful food menu inspired by the regions we source from.

Following the success of our patisserie-led counter and specialty coffee, we are expanding our culinary vision to include a curated hot savoury food menu that draws inspiration from Latin America, the Middle East, and East Africa. With this evolution, we're looking for a beverage professional to help us craft a truly world-class beverage program that enhances the guest experience and pairs beautifully, both with our new refined menu and as a standalone drink.

About the Role

As Beverage Developer / Mixologist, you’ll lead the development of signature drinks — hot, cold, caffeinated and non-caffeinated — that capture Qima’s spirit of innovation, quality, and origin-inspired storytelling. You’ll play a hands-on role both behind the bar and in R&D, designing drinks that complement our food offerings, reflect our sourcing ethos, and surprise and delight our customers.

Key accountabilities/main responsibilities:

• Signature Beverage Creation: Develop a core and seasonal drinks menu including coffee-based and non-coffee options that align with the Qima brand, with subtle culinary references to our sourcing origins (Latin America, the Middle East, East Africa).
• Food Pairing Focus: Design drinks that pair harmoniously with the new savoury menu (e.g. shakshuka, spiced flatbreads, manakish, tamales, brunch waffles), enriching the guest's full sensory experience.
• Hands-On Service: Serve guests directly, championing both quality and hospitality. Bring drinks to life at the bar with excellent execution and storytelling.
• Innovation with Purpose: Use coffee creatively as an ingredient where relevant — in infusions, rubs, flavour pairings, or drink garnishes — without overusing it.
• Training and Collaboration: Train baristas on new drink builds and presentation. Collaborate with the culinary team to ensure beverages and dishes work cohesively.
• Menu R&D: Keep a pulse on global beverage trends, seasonal ingredients, and cultural references to inspire new creations.
• Quality Control: Ensure consistency, precision, and excellence in all beverage preparation and presentation.
• Operational Input: Assist with ingredient sourcing, costings, and stock management. Create clear SOPs and recipe specs.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, skills and experience:

Required

• A creative mixologist or specialty coffee barista with a passion for flavor, technique, and storytelling.
• A natural collaborator with front-of-house confidence and back-of-house precision.
• Deep understanding of flavour pairings, global ingredients, and modern beverage techniques.
• Passionate about quality, sustainability, and provenance.
• Experience working in high-end cafes, bars, or restaurants.
• Comfortable working from concept to execution — from ideation and sourcing to pouring and presenting.
• Able to balance creativity with operational practicality.

Bonus Points For

• Experience working in environments that fuse coffee and culinary concepts.
• Familiarity with coffee flavour profiles and using coffee in unexpected ways.
• Knowledge of Middle Eastern, East African, or Latin American flavour profiles.
• Background in food & drink pairing, or multi-sensory drink design.

Why Join Us

• Be a part of a pioneering concept that’s redefining the coffee and café experience in London.
• Work with one of the most quality-driven and ethically rooted coffee companies globally.
• Shape a beverage program that will be central to Qima Cafe’s identity and growth.
• See your creations come to life, enjoyed by a discerning, design-savvy, and global-minded customer base.

Job Type: Full-time

Expected hours: 40 per week

Additional pay:

• Performance bonus

Schedule:

• 10 hour shift
• 12 hour shift
• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Weekend availability

Application question(s):

• Why do you think you would be great for this position?

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person