Coffee Specialist
About the job
- Must be 18 years of age or older at time of employment.
- Passion for coffee and in-depth knowledge of brewing methods, coffee origins, and equipment.
- Ability to create engaging, hands-on experiences for customers.
- Strong enthusiasm for coffee and eagerness to share knowledge with others.
- Ability to communicate, solve problems, and make decisions effectively.
- Passion for community engagement and delivering exceptional customer experiences.
- Ability to communicate verbally and work cooperatively with associates and customers.
- Ability to remain standing for up to 4 hours at a time.
- Ability to move about the store while directing class participants, selling to customers, and retrieving merchandise from the stockroom or sales floor.
- Ability to accurately perceive and differentiate variations in the intensity or quality of flavors or odors and identify specific tastes or scents using the tongue or nose.
- Ability to grab, reach, push, pull, bend, stoop, kneel, and crouch to retrieve and replenish merchandise.
- Ability to use hands to seize, hold, grasp, turn, grind, tamp, steam, pour, froth, and demonstrate coffee brewing techniques.
- Ability to lift or move merchandise weighing up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to ascend and descend ladders to retrieve or move merchandise.
- Ability to operate a computer, point-of-sale system, keyboard, merchandise scanners, and mouse.
- Availability to work 12 to 16 hours per week with a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
- Regular and predictable attendance with flexibility to adjust class assignments based on demand and teach 3 to 4 classes per week.
- Ability to work in a coffee bar area with exposure to hot equipment, steam, varying temperatures, and potential coffee-related allergens.
- Ability to comply with food safety standards, local health codes, sanitation regulations, wage and hour laws, company policies, and standard operating procedures.
- Represent the company brand and culture by creating memorable, educational experiences that inspire repeat visits and customer loyalty.
- Lead engaging coffee brewing demonstrations that showcase the company's expertise and product offerings.
- Educate customers on pour-over, French Press, AeroPress, espresso, cold brew, and coffee art techniques.
- Guide customers in selecting coffee beans based on flavor profiles, roast levels, and origin.
- Recommend coffee equipment and maintenance practices based on customer needs.
- Promote and sell coffee products, equipment, and accessories.
- Assist the store in achieving revenue goals by driving customer engagement and conversion through education.
- Deliver culinary classes that drive customer engagement and sales, measured through second-class sign-ups, retail culinary product sales, and guest feedback.
- Partner with store leaders to align culinary programming with store priorities.
- Collaborate on merchandising strategies that highlight tools and products featured in classes.
- Maintain a coffee-ready store environment and ensure quality and consistency across in-store brewing methods.
- Maintain accurate inventory levels, minimize shrink, and control supply and culinary expenses.
- Ensure store safety and cleanliness and address maintenance needs promptly.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and retail management systems.
About the company
CSC Generation acquires underperforming retail brands and grows them into profitable ventures by integrating them into its shared operating platform. It operates across retail, e-commerce, and wholesale, leveraging technology, skilled staff, efficient processes, and scalable operations to optimize product sourcing, marketing, fulfillment, and customer experience. Its portfolio includes brands like DirectBuy, One Kings Lane, Sur La Table, Touch of Modern, and Cherry Man Industries, collectively offering over 325,000 products and attracting about 10 million monthly page views. The company differentiates itself by targeting “unsexy” opportunities others overlook and by applying its centralized platform to turn around and scale these brands into sustainable revenue generators. Its goal is steady growth and profitability by transforming underperforming brands into thriving parts of its portfolio, serving a wide range of consumers and business clients.
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
Series E
Total Funding
$107.6M
Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois
Founded
2016
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- CSC says 2026 revenue exceeded $1 billion across 13 brands.
- It added Backcountry in September 2024, expanding into outdoor recreation.
- Backcountry launched a 2026 brand incubator, showing acquisition-led growth momentum.
What critics are saying
- Indeed reviews in 2026 cite low pay, burnout, and constant layoffs.
- Headcount fell to 2,836 in March 2026, signaling continued operating pressure.
- Backcountry CEO Melanie Cox left in January 2025, exposing integration and retention risk.
What makes CSC Generation unique
- CSC Generation uses Genesis, a shared AI-enabled operating platform across 13 brands.
- It buys distressed retailers like Backcountry, Sur La Table, and One Kings Lane.
- It monetizes turnaround expertise, not standalone software, across home and outdoor verticals.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
401(k) Company Match
Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
Life Insurance
Paid Holidays
Paid Vacation
Pet Insurance
Employee Discounts
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 13%1 year growth
↑ 13%2 year growth
↑ 12%Backcountry.com, the Utah outdoor brand known for its goat logo and semi-annual sales at its West Valley City warehouse, has sold to investment firm CSG Generation, according to a report from Pulse Ratings, Inc.
CSC Generation Enterprise acquires Backcountry, expanding its portfolio of consumer-centric brands.
CSC acquired the company from TSG Consumer Partners, which acquired the business in July 2015.
In October, global employment nonprofit Generation, in partnership with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), released a report entitled The Midcareer Opportunity: Meeting the Challenges of an Ageing Workforce.
CSC Generation had purchased the intellectual property through The Bon-Ton Stores Inc.’s bankruptcy proceedings.