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Coffee Cupping Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Equator Coffees

Production Roaster

San Rafael, CA · On-site

$23 - $25/hr

Possessing an obsessive commitment to green coffee sourcing and unparalleled roasting expertise ... Participate in Quality Control exercises such as cupping Qualifications and Requirements * At least ...

Mahaska

Sales Representative- Markets

Salina, KS · On-site

Ability to lift and move product samples (e.g., coffee bags, syrup cases). * Excellent presentation skills-you're as comfortable behind a cupping table as you are behind a spreadsheet. * Valid driver ...

Mahaska

Sales Representative- Markets

Salina, KS · On-site

Ability to lift and move product samples (e.g., coffee bags, syrup cases). * Excellent presentation skills--you're as comfortable behind a cupping table as you are behind a spreadsheet. * Valid ...

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Coffee Cupping information

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How much do coffee cupping jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for coffee cupping in the United States is $20.40, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.27 and $21.88 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How much does a coffee taster make?

A coffee taster, also known as a Q Grader or cupping professional, typically earns between $30,000 and $70,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and employer. Skilled tasters with certifications and extensive palate training can earn higher salaries, especially in specialty coffee regions or high-end companies.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Coffee Cupping Specialist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Coffee Cupping Specialist, you need a deep understanding of coffee flavors, sensory evaluation techniques, and usually some formal training or certification in coffee tasting, such as SCA Coffee Skills or Q Grader certification. Familiarity with cupping protocols, scoring systems, and tools like cupping spoons, scales, and grinders is essential. Attention to detail, strong communication skills, and a refined palate are key soft skills that set top professionals apart. These abilities ensure accurate coffee quality assessment, consistent product standards, and clear feedback for growers and roasters.

What is the difference between Coffee Cupping vs Coffee Roaster?

AspectCoffee CuppingCoffee Roaster
CredentialsNone required, but sensory training helpfulRoasting certifications or training often preferred
Work EnvironmentSpecialized tasting room or cupping labRoasting facility or coffee production plant
Industry UsageUsed for quality assessment and flavor profilingResponsible for roasting beans to develop flavor
Common Search/ComparisonOften compared for sensory skills and industry rolesFocuses on production and flavor development

While Coffee Cupping involves evaluating coffee beans' aroma and flavor through tasting, Coffee Roaster focuses on roasting beans to enhance flavor profiles. Both roles are essential in the coffee industry but serve different functions—one for quality assessment and the other for production.

How do I become a coffee roaster?

To become a coffee roaster, gain experience through training programs or apprenticeships at coffee roasting facilities, and develop knowledge of roasting equipment and coffee beans. Building skills in sensory evaluation, understanding roasting profiles, and obtaining certifications like the Specialty Coffee Association's certifications can enhance your qualifications.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in coffee cupping, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in coffee cupping often encounter challenges such as palate fatigue, maintaining objectivity, and ensuring consistency across multiple tasting sessions. To address these issues, regular palate training, following standardized cupping protocols, and using calibrated reference samples can be helpful. Additionally, working in teams allows for cross-verification of results, which improves accuracy and reduces bias. Staying hydrated and taking breaks between sessions can also help preserve tasting acuity throughout the day.

Can you make money as a coffee roaster?

Coffee roasters can earn income through the sale of roasted coffee beans to cafes, retailers, or directly to consumers. Profitability depends on factors such as scale, quality, branding, and operational costs, with experienced roasters often increasing their earning potential by developing a strong customer base and refining their roasting skills.

What is coffee cupping?

Coffee cupping is a standardized method used by coffee professionals to evaluate the aroma and flavor profile of coffee beans. During cupping, ground coffee is steeped in hot water, and participants smell the aroma and taste the brewed coffee to assess qualities like acidity, body, sweetness, and aftertaste. This process helps roasters, buyers, and producers determine the quality of a coffee and compare different beans. Coffee cupping is essential in the coffee industry for quality control, product development, and sourcing decisions.

What is a coffee cupping experience?

A coffee cupping experience is a professional or hobbyist process of evaluating and tasting coffee to assess its aroma, flavor, and body. It involves smelling, slurping, and analyzing brewed coffee samples, often using standardized methods and tools like cupping bowls and spoons. This practice helps roasters and buyers select high-quality beans and understand flavor profiles.
Infographic showing various Coffee Cupping job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 43% Full Time, and 57% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $42,434 per year, or $20.4 per hour.

Production Roaster

Roastery - Equator Coffees

San Rafael, CA

$23 - $25/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 10 days ago

Job description

POSITION: Production Roaster

CLASSIFICATION: Non-Exempt

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS: Head Roaster & Quality Assurance Manager

COMPENSATION:$23.00 to $25.00/HOUR
About Equator
In 1995, Equator Founders Helen Russell and Brooke McDonnell began their values-driven path, roasting coffee in a Marin County, CA garage. Possessing an obsessive commitment to green coffee sourcing and unparalleled roasting expertise, Equator has committed over 30 years to sustainable and fair trade coffee practices all in the name of creating a remarkable coffee experience for consumers. Today, Equator Coffees is a retail and wholesale coffee roaster and coffee farm owner with twelve retail cafes throughout California-from Marin County to San Francisco to Oakland to Los Angeles and beyond. Throughout the years, Equator Coffees has spearheaded industry-leading sourcing and roasting practices, and has forged progressive partnerships with Michelin-starred chefs, specialty grocers, tech campuses, and more. Women-owned, LGBTQ-founded, and an early adopter of Fair Trade certification, Equator Coffees is the first California coffee roaster to achieve B Corp Certification.

Position Summary
As a Production Roaster at Equator Coffees, you will support the daily operations of our Roastery, roasting on our Loring S35 and Loring S70, while maintaining high levels of quality control and safety. The Production Roaster keeps their work area clean while maintaining a pace of work consistent with the needs of our Production Team. We're seeking a full-time, experienced Roaster with flexible availability, including early morning shifts starting at 5:00 AM and Sunday coverage.

Key Responsibilities
  • Understand Pre-Operational procedures
  • Accurately roast to profile 3 batches per hour
  • Organize, move, and maintain green coffee inventory.
  • Learn and adhere to Equator's food safety and hygiene standards.
  • Observe and assist with production roasting on Loring and other systems.
  • Support roastery cleanliness and help with daily cleaning tasks.
  • Perform daily and weekly maintenance on all roasting equipment
  • Assist in the preparation of post-roast blending and packaging.
  • Participate in roastery "huddles" to understand daily schedules, goals, and workflow adjustments.
  • Log roast data including, but not limited to, weight loss and ColorTrack data.
  • Fill, seal, strap and wrap SuperSacks for bulk orders.
  • Participate in Quality Control exercises such as cupping
Qualifications and Requirements
  • At least 1 year of professional production roasting experience preferred.
  • Experience roasting on Loring roasters is a plus.
  • Ability to work well in a team environment.
  • Strong attention to detail and a willingness to learn new skills.
  • Ability to follow directions and adhere to company policies and procedures.
  • Basic math and computer skills.
  • Capable of lifting, pushing, and pulling 25 to 70 pounds, and can repeatedly co-lift or move up to 150 pounds with mechanical assistance.
  • Familiarity with fulfillment, shipping, receiving, and general warehouse work is a plus.
  • Experience with Espresso and Quality Control is not required, but will make a candidate stand out.
Physical Requirements
The physical tasks described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. The Roastery is not a climate-controlled environment. It will be hot in the Summer and cold in the Winter.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and read. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. This position is active and requires standing (or being on your feet for up to 8 hours at a time), walking, bending, stooping, climbing (ladders), and crouching throughout the shift, lifting product and packaging above the head. The employee must frequently lift or move items weighing 25 - 70 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus-finger & wrist dexterity.

Compensation
  • Available to all employees
    • Commuter Benefits - pre-tax parking and transit
    • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - Physical and mental health, financial and legal coaching available at no cost to the employee
    • Free mental health app subscription
    • Employee discount on merchandise, coffee gear, and at Equator cafes
    • Continuing coffee education classes
    • Free coffee
    • Paid Time Off for voting on Election Day
  • After 60 days as an employee at Equator
    • Healthcare Benefits(for full-time employees working over 30 hours per week)
      • 100% employer-covered premium medical insurance
      • Voluntary Insurance Plans - dental, vision, long-term disability, pet, and supplementary life insurance
      • Employer covered life insurance premium
      • Flexible Spending Account (FSA) - healthcare and daily dependent care
  • After 90 days as an employee at Equator
    • Holiday Pay after 90 days of employment. Eight Equator-observed holidays per year
    • Paid Time Off with tenured increases for full-time employees
    • 1 paid volunteer day per year
  • After six months as an employee at Equator
    • 401K with up to a4% company match on employee contributions

Compensation will be commensurate with experience.

We'd love it if you used the video answer feature for our screening questions. It's a great way for us to get a better sense of your roasting experience and how comfortable you are talking about it. Plus, it helps us see your personality and passion for the role!

This position description intends to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. It is not intended to include all duties and responsibilities. Job responsibilities can change according to the operational needs of the business. The order in which duties and responsibilities are listed is not significant.

Equator Coffees is an equal-opportunity employer. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, and discharge will be based on competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability or any other applicable legally protected characteristics.

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