Roaster Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

POSITION:  Associate Roaster

CLASSIFICATION​:  Non-Exempt

REPORTS TO: Warehouse Compliance Manager

COMPENSATION: $23.00 to $26.00/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 and Regenerative Organic certifications, Equator Coffees is the first California coffee roaster to achieve B Corp Certification.

Reporting to the Head Roaster, the Associate Roaster is responsible for production roasting, QC and QA, order fulfillment, and tasks related to production workflow and Roastery cleanliness. This role requires previous commercial production roasting experience and a strong foundation in specialty coffee to ensure consistency, quality, and operational excellence.

• Roast daily on all production systems: Loring S70 Peregrine, Loring K35 Kestrel, Giesen, and Probat sample roaster. 
• Develop working knowledge of all roasting systems (manual, mechanized, electrical, and digital.)
• Communicate daily with Head Roaster, Lead Roaster, Production Supervisor and Roastery Operations Manager regarding order fulfillment, roasting, maintenance, and green inventory needs. 
• Move, organize, and maintain green coffee inventory
• Participate in quality assurance through sample roasting, dialing in espresso, data collection with ColorTrack laser, and cupping as directed by Head Roaster and Quality Assurance Manager.
• Under guidance from Head Roaster and senior roasting team members, learn roast theory and roast profiling as it pertains to Equator’s roasting parameters.
• Complete daily, weekly, monthly & annual maintenance of roasting equipment & facility cleaning.
• Participate in "huddles" to understand schedule changes, production issues, and workflow.
• Actively work to grow coffee knowledge via on the job training and personal study.
• Support a collaborative environment through engagement with all Roastery teams.
• Show initiative, present a positive attitude, and a willingness to learn and take direction.

• Demonstrated production roasting experience in a commercial coffee roasting environment.
• Working knowledge of specialty coffee, roast development, coffee processing methods, and green coffee handling.
• Experience operating commercial production roasting equipment (Loring, Probat, Giesen or similar roasting systems preferred).
• Ability to accurately follow roast profiles, SOPs, quality standards, and production schedules.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to identify and communicate quality concerns.
• Basic math and computer proficiency.
• Able to lift, push, and pull up to 70 pounds repeatedly throughout the shift. 
• Strong communication, organization, and self-management skills.
• Ability to work safely and efficiently in a fast-paced production environment.

• Required: Previous production roasting experience in a commercial coffee roasting environment.
• Required: Working knowledge of specialty coffee, including coffee origins, processing methods, roast development, and quality standards.
• Experience participating in coffee cuppings, quality assurance, or sensory evaluation preferred.
• Familiarity with green coffee inventory management and production workflow.
• Experience working in a food manufacturing or production environment.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to consistency and quality.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Forklift certification or willingness to become certified is preferred.