Lead Roaster Equator Coffees

POSITION:
Lead Roaster

CLASSIFICATION:
Non-Exempt

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:
Head Roaster

COMPENSATION: $26.00 – $28.00 per hour

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, Helen and Brooke have 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 thirteen 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.

Reporting to the Head Roaster, the Lead Roaster supports Equator Coffees’ commitment to quality through hands-on production roasting on Loring and Giesen systems. This role develops and refines roast profiles for seasonal coffees and core blends in collaboration with the Head Roaster and Director of Coffee, while leading the roasting team to meet daily production goals with professionalism and care. The Lead Roaster partners with the Head Roaster and Production & Fulfillment Manager to plan daily production, adapt to changing priorities, and uphold high standards for quality, sanitation, equipment maintenance, and safety.

Committed to continuous improvement, the Lead Roaster leads with accountability, supports team development, and upholds Equator’s culture of care, curiosity, and excellence.

• Execute production roasting on Loring and Giesen roast systems.
• Develop roast profiles for new seasonal coffees and refine profiles for year-round blends in partnership with the Head Roaster and Director of Coffee.

• Act as lead-on-shift, modeling professionalism, kindness, and a strong commitment to quality.
• Guide the team to meet daily production goals by delegating tasks, supporting teammates, and ensuring breaks are taken on time.
• Troubleshoot immediate issues as they arise and elevate to the appropriate manager when needed—often with a proposed solution.

• Collaborate with the Head Roaster and Production & Fulfillment Manager to plan daily production schedules.
• Remain flexible and solution-oriented, maintaining a positive attitude when priorities shift or plans change.

• Perform routine cleaning and maintenance of roasting machines, destoners, and related equipment.
• Accurately log maintenance and repairs, demonstrating strong attention to detail.
• Foster an environment where attention to detail and proactive communication are standard practice.

• Support Equator’s quality standards through cupping, sample roasting, espresso dialing, pour-over recipe development, and data collection.
• Utilize tools such as Sinar, Color Track, Cropster, and TDS meters to support consistency and continuous improvement.

• Engage with industry trends and ongoing learning within the specialty coffee space.
• Contribute to growth initiatives by researching new tools or systems, attending workshops, participating in competitions (e.g., US Roasters Championship), collaborating cross-functionally, or pursuing food safety certifications.

• 3+ years of production roasting experience, preferably on Loring Smart Roast systems.
• At least 1 year of experience supporting or leading a small team (3–5 people), such as acting as lead-on-shift or senior team member.
• Working knowledge of roasting equipment, maintenance, and routine repairs.
• Experience with sample roasting and quality evaluation.
• Familiarity with specialty coffee brewing, including espresso.
• Experience using…