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Cafe Assistant Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Main Street Markt

Grocery Store Assistant Manager

Pella, IA · On-site

$50K - $55K/yr

Main Street Markt is looking for an Assistant Store Manager to add to their customer service team ... An in-house cafe serves fresh, made to order meals in a convenient quick service setting. Catering ...

Main Street Markt

Grocery Store Assistant Manager

Pella, IA · On-site

$50K - $55K/yr

Main Street Markt is looking for an Assistant Store Manager to add to their customer service team ... An in-house cafe serves fresh, made to order meals in a convenient quick service setting. Catering ...

K-1 Speed Inc

Cashier Supervisor

Grimes, IA · On-site

... Assistant and General Managers regarding disciplinary and operational issues · Prepare front desk and café prior to opening · Instruct new customers on race package options, pricing and the ...

NewAldaya Lifescapes

Guest Services Team

Cedar Falls, IA · On-site

$12/hr

Guest Services staff will assist with daily operations and support the NewAldaya Lifescapes Pub, Café and Front Desk in our Main Street lifestyle center. We are looking to add staff for afternoon ...

Marcus Hotels

Assistant Restaurant Manager

Coralville, IA · On-site

$50K - $55K/yr

This position supports operations across all Watermill outlets, including the Cafe, Bar, Restaurant ... Occasionally assist other departments when needed to support hotel operations and guest ...

Hotels

Assistant Restaurant Manager

Coralville, IA · On-site

$50K - $55K/yr

This position supports operations across all Watermill outlets, including the Cafe, Bar, Restaurant ... Occasionally assist other departments when needed to support hotel operations and guest ...

Waverly Health Center

Cook

Waverly, IA · On-site

$13.25 - $17/hr

Informs manager or assistant of equipment, food, supply, or training needs. * Preps and prepares main dishes for special functions. * Provides input on café menu selection. 2. Patient Service * Uses ...

Waverlyhealthcenter

Cook

Waverly, IA

$13.25 - $17/hr

Informs manager or assistant of equipment, food, supply, or training needs. * Preps and prepares main dishes for special functions. * Provides input on cafe menu selection. 2. Patient Service * Uses ...

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All JobsCafe JobsCafe Assistant JobsCafe Assistant Jobs in Iowa

Cafe Assistant information

See Iowa salary details

$9

$14

$16

How much do cafe assistant jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for cafe assistant in Iowa is $14.44, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $12.64 and $15.82 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Cafe Assistant vs Barista?

AspectCafe AssistantBarista
CredentialsNone required, some experience helpfulFood safety certification often preferred
Work EnvironmentGeneral cafe duties, customer servicePreparing coffee, espresso, and beverages
Employer & Industry UsageCommon in cafes, restaurants, cateringPrimarily in coffee shops and specialty cafes
Search & Comparison IntentLooking for general cafe support rolesInterested in coffee preparation skills

While both roles work in cafes, a Cafe Assistant provides general support including customer service and cleaning, whereas a Barista specializes in coffee and beverage preparation. The roles often overlap, but Baristas typically require specific coffee-making skills and certifications. Understanding these differences helps job seekers find the right position based on their skills and interests.

What are some common challenges faced by cafe assistants and how can they be managed effectively?

Cafe Assistants often encounter challenges such as handling busy rush hours, maintaining excellent customer service under pressure, and balancing multiple tasks like operating the register, preparing drinks, and restocking supplies. Effective time management, strong communication skills, and teamwork are crucial in overcoming these challenges. Many cafes provide training and encourage a supportive environment, where staff members help each other during peak periods, making it easier to manage high workloads and provide a positive customer experience.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a cafe assistant, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Cafe Assistant, you generally need experience in food preparation, basic food hygiene knowledge, and strong customer service skills, often supported by a food safety certificate. Familiarity with point-of-sale (POS) systems, coffee machines, and inventory management tools is typically required. Excellent communication, teamwork, and the ability to remain calm under pressure help you stand out in this role. These skills are crucial for delivering efficient service, maintaining food safety standards, and ensuring a positive customer experience in a busy cafe environment.

What does a cafe assistant do?

A cafe assistant supports the daily operations of a cafe or coffee shop. As a cafe assistant, your job duties may include taking food and beverage orders, stocking pastry displays and other inventory, and cleaning the facility. You may also make simple drinks and be trained to use an espresso machine. Although there are minimal qualifications to become a cafe assistant, you need strong customer service, communication, and multi-tasking skills, as well as attention to detail. Employers typically provide on-the-job training in this entry-level role, which can help you gain valuable career experience in the service industry.

How to get a cafe assistant job with no experience?

To get a cafe assistant job with no experience, focus on demonstrating good communication skills, a positive attitude, and a willingness to learn. Highlight any customer service or teamwork experience on your resume, and consider volunteering or taking short courses in hospitality to build relevant skills. Employers often value reliability and enthusiasm, even without prior work history.

What does a cafe assistant do?

A Cafe Assistant is responsible for supporting the daily operations of a cafe, which includes tasks such as serving customers, preparing and serving food and drinks, handling payments, and maintaining cleanliness in the dining and kitchen areas. They often assist with restocking supplies, setting up tables, and ensuring that customers have a pleasant dining experience. Good communication and customer service skills are essential for this role, as Cafe Assistants frequently interact with customers and work as part of a team.
More about Cafe Assistant jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Cafe jobs in Iowa? The most popular types of Cafe jobs in Iowa are:
What job categories do people searching Cafe Assistant jobs in Iowa look for? The top searched job categories for Cafe Assistant jobs in Iowa are:
What cities in Iowa are hiring for Cafe Assistant jobs? Cities in Iowa with the most Cafe Assistant job openings:
Cafe Assistant jobs near you
Infographic showing various Cafe Assistant job openings in Iowa as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 21% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $30,029 per year, or $14.4 per hour.

Assistant Food & Beverage Manager

Surety Hotel, Autograph Collection

Des Moines, IA

$46K - $62K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life

Re-posted 23 days ago

Job description

Assistant Food amp; Beverage Manager Position Profile
Reports to: Food amp; Beverage Manager, position is exempt
WHO WE ARE
Located in the historic Hippee Building in downtown Des Moines, Surety Hotel celebrates the city’s past while helping shape its future. Housed in a beautifully restored, 1913 Beaux-Arts landmark and now part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, Surety blends independent character with world-class hospitality. Inspired by the meaning of a surety bond, we make a promise as well; unmatched service, incredible design, and a superior level of hospitality rooted in connection and community. With 137 guest rooms and suites, vibrant gathering spaces, and onsite dining at Mulberry Street Tavern, Surety is both a destination for travelers and a point of pride for the City of Certainties.
WHO YOU ARE
You are excited and passionate about being a leader in the three-ring circus that is Food amp; Beverage. You pride yourself in controlling chaos; and are adept at making each guest — whether in the Tavern, Café, Bar, In-Room Dining or at a Banquet — feel like they are the only person in the room. While your mission is to provide an unmatched experience for your guests, you value the work and feedback of your associates as well. You enjoy and excel in the fast-paced and often high-pressure environment to execute what is needed in exceeding our guest’s expectations and demonstrating the Aparium difference. You are attentive, courteous, efficient and motivate others by inspiring confidence, respect, enthusiasm, and collaboration. You are highly organized and can work in an often-unpredictable environment to meet deadlines, all while maintaining a positive and professional demeanor.
THE ROLE
The Assistant Food amp; Beverage Manager reports directly to the Food amp; Beverage Manager. It is critical the person in this position is tactical and strategic; if you only prefer to “see the forest” and not “plant the trees,” then this is not a role for you. All leaders of Aparium are required to get down and dirty to unearth existing needs and personally ensure what needs to be fixed is repaired. We are a young company that is in hyper-growth, so having the ability to be a soldier is as critical as being a general.

As the Assistant F amp;B Manager, you will help lead the Restaurant, Bar, Café, In-Room Dining and Banquets F amp;B Team through breakfast, lunch, brunch, dinner and event services. You will serve as Manager on Duty during assigned shifts, lead by example, and spend the majority of your day engaging with associates and guests before, during, and after services. We encourage our leaders to inspire and challenge each other to be their best. A large degree of self-motivation is needed to drive the operation, while collaborating with the Culinary Team to execute our food amp; beverage concepts at a high level. As a leader within Aparium Hotel Group, you will work with a phenomenal group of peers who insist that you are collaborative, humble, experienced, and open-minded — no egos are allowed.

The Assistant F amp;B Manager will maintain and execute the Standards of Service across all F amp;B areas, assuring success for both the associate and guest experience.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
  • Uphold and model the company’s principles of People, Place and Character; and ensure your team also models the way our values drive collaboration, intuition and translocal hospitality
  • Partner with the F amp;B Manager in recruitment, training, scheduling, supervising, coaching, and motivation of all Restaurant, Bar, Café, In-Room Dining and Banquets associates in order to create an environment that nurtures ideas and develops future talent for succession planning in the F amp;B program; effectively use corrective action to address root causes of issues, course-correcting any missed opportunities
  • Serve as Manager on Duty for assigned shifts, owning pre-shift, service execution and post-shift recap; ensure timely set-up of the dining room and adhere to food amp; beverage standards and guest requests through active communication with the F amp;B and Culinary Departments
  • Build and maintain strong guest and VIP relationships; ensure all requests are accurately communicated to staff and executed without compromise
  • Review reservations and cover count reports to determine appropriate staffing levels and station assignments; collaborate with the F amp;B and Culinary teams to align on service flow
  • Assist in managing inventory, controlling breakage and loss of china, glass and silver; inspect and oversee the cleanliness and maintenance of all restaurant space, public areas, and service areas
  • Support daily POS hygiene, end-of-shift reconciliation, cash handling controls, and accurate ringing of all banquet and event covers
  • Assist the F amp;B Manager with labor and cost-of-goods discipline, including time-card audits, schedule adherence, and outlet-level cost tracking
  • Assist in other food amp; beverage departments as needed
  • Maintain regular communication with the F amp;B Management team to provide updates, discuss plans, communicate needs, and align on priorities, understanding that flexibility with your responsibilities is paramount to support a successful operation
HOW YOU LEAD
  • Offer direct support for your team through coaching, counseling, gentle correction, and constructive feedback
  • Collaborate effectively with all hotel departments including Sales, Culinary, Food amp; Beverage, and Hotel Operations to provide an exemplary guest experience
  • Be respectful in your daily interactions with your managers, direct reports, and peers, exemplifying the utmost level of professionalism and being a pillar within your community
  • Build subject matter expertise in the Steps of Service across Restaurant, Bar and Café, as well as in the history of the cuisine and beverage program most closely related to the hotel concepts, effectively guiding others in their personal search with a gentle hand, never admonishing their lack of knowledge
  • Demonstrate business acumen by ensuring that initiatives align with operational goals and budgets; show passion to further develop this skillset in preparation for advancement

WHAT YOU WILL NEED
  • Passion for the People, Place and Culture of our community, love of Restaurants and Guest Service also required
  • Minimum of three (3) years’ experience in Food amp; Beverage, with at least one (1) year in a supervisory or leadership role (Restaurant, Bar, Café, and/or Banquets/Events)
  • Must be proficient in Word, Excel and other applicable computer systems
  • Working knowledge, or ability to obtain, in reservations systems such as OpenTable and Tock, as well as POS systems such as Micros, Silverware and Lightspeed
  • Working knowledge, or ability to obtain, in reporting and inventory management tools such as Avero, Beverager and Accubar
  • Solid understanding of service standards, labor control, maintenance, merchandising and accounting
  • Ability to obtain and maintain Alcohol Awareness certification (TIPS) and Food Handlers Certification (ServSafe) within 30 days of hire
  • Thorough understanding of all food amp; beverage items offered, including ingredients, methods of preparation, and proper service, including In-Room Dining (IRD) standards
  • Mastery of the full Steps of Service: greeting cadence and guest acknowledgment, table set and water service, sequence of service, course pacing and fire timing, table touches and pace control, position numbering and pivot points, allergen protocol, wine and beverage service standards, table maintenance and marking, quality check cadence, check presentation, expo and runner handoff, pre-shift line-up execution, and service recovery
  • Working knowledge of wines and spirits, with appetite to grow into expert-level
  • Due to the cyclical nature of the hospitality industry, associates may be required to work varying schedules to reflect the business needs of the hotel, including nights, weekends, and holidays
  • Fluency in English both verbally and non-verbally
  • Ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time; push, pull, lift up to 50 lbs.
  • Must be able to work in extreme temperatures like freezers (-10°F) and kitchens (+110°F), possible for one hour or more

Benefits: We are pleased to offer a comprehensive array of valuable benefits to protect your health, your family and your way of life. All full-time regular associates are eligible to enroll in our benefit plans that include medical, dental, vision and supplemental insurances.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Aparium Hospitality Services celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an equitable and inclusive environment, and sense of belonging for all employees. We do not discriminate and believe every individual should be proud of who they are, where they come from and take pride in who we serve. Aparium Hotel Group is an E-Verify employer.

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