Find & Apply For Barista Jobs in Lake Forest, Illinois

Cafe Gimme — Lake Forest About Cafe Gimme Cafe Gimme is an all-day café and evening wine and liquor bar, with locations in Chicago and Lake Forest. By day, we serve coffee, smoothies/ bowls, cold-pressed juices, and small food plates. In the evening, the space transforms into a relaxed, neighborhood-driven wine and cocktail destination. We hold a high standard of hospitality, product quality, and consistency across the business, and our team reflects that commitment. The Role We are hiring Café & Bar Team Members for our Lake Forest location — a single, cross-trained position that works across all three sides of our operation: barista, smoothie operator, and bartender. You'll pull espresso, blend smoothies, cook a few things throughout the day, and pour wine, beer, and cocktails in the evening. Full training is provided on any side you don't already know — what we look for first is hospitality instinct, reliability, and craft. This is not a high-volume nightclub role, and it's not a barista role either. We expect care, conversation, and consistency. The ideal candidate is genuinely interested in coffee, smoothies, wine, and cocktails as crafts, takes pride in execution, and treats every guest as a regular in the making — whether they're ordering an double espresso at 8 a.m. or a spritz at 8 p.m. Responsibilities Café service (daytime). Pull espresso drinks, brew coffee and tea, and steam milk to standard. Build smoothies to recipe with consistent texture, balance, and presentation. Plate light food items — toasts, salads, pastries — per spec. Maintain station mise-en-place and cleanliness throughout the shift. Bar service (evening). Pour wine and beer to standard. Execute cocktails to recipe with consistency, including multi-step drinks under volume. Set up the bar before service (ice, garnishes, glassware, mise-en-place) and break it down to standard at close. Guest engagement. Greet every guest warmly. Guide guests through whichever menu is in front of them — coffee program, smoothie and juice lineup, wine list, or cocktail menu — with confidence and genuine knowledge. Make recommendations based on their preferences. Build relationships with regulars across visits and across dayparts. Responsible alcohol service. Verify IDs on every alcohol service without exception. Recognize and handle over-service situations professionally. Comply with all Illinois and City of Chicago liquor laws and Cafe Gimme service standards. Maintain BASSET certification at all times. Product knowledge. Maintain working knowledge of the full menu — coffee origins and brewing methods, smoothie and juice ingredients and nutrition, and every wine, beer, and spirit we carry. Stay current with menu changes and seasonal additions. Participate in tastings, cuppings, and ongoing education. Operations and teamwork. Communicate clearly during service. Support inventory counts and ordering input. Handle opening and closing duties, including cleaning, restocking, and cash handling per procedure. Help train new team members as the team grows. Qualifications 1+ year of experience in café, bar, or restaurant hospitality. Experience on all three sides (barista, smoothie/juice, bartending) is a plus, but we will fully train the right candidate on any side they don't already know. Working familiarity with at least one of: espresso and milk technique, smoothie and acai bowl preparation, or wine/beer/cocktails. Genuine fluency in your strongest area and willingness to keep learning across the others. Strong interpersonal skills and a natural hospitality instinct. Reliable, professional, and steady under pressure. Comfortable on your feet for full shifts, lifting up to 40 lbs, and working in a confined café and bar space. Available for a consistent schedule that includes a mix of morning, afternoon, evening, and weekend shifts. Hours can range from 6am to 10pm. Must be 21 or older and legally eligible to serve alcohol in Illinois. BASSET certification required before first shift serving alcohol Illinois Food Handler certification required within 30 days of hire

Compensation and Benefits Location:

Lake Forest, IL Pay:

$15-$28 per hour, based on experience, plus tips.

Schedule:

Part-time and full-time positions available. Mornings, evenings, and weekends required.

Benefits:

Paid time-off Tip share Paid training Staff discount on food, beverages, and retail items BASSET and Illinois Food Handler certification paid for by Cafe Gimme Ongoing coffee, wine, and cocktail education, including supplier tastings and menu development sessions Flexible scheduling within posted availability

Work Location:

In person Equal Opportunity Cafe Gimme is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military or veteran status, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, arrest record, conviction history (consistent with the Illinois Human Rights Act and Chicago Human Rights Ordinance), or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Applicants with disabilities who need accommodation during the application or interview process are encouraged to let us know.

Pay:

$15.00 - $28.00 per hour

Benefits:

Employee discount Flexible schedule Paid time off Paid training

Work Location:

In person