Assistant Roaster/Production Operative

About Origin

We’ve come a long way since 2004—and we’re just getting started.

As one of the longest-standing independent coffee roasters on UK shores, the love of coffee fuels everything we do. We are on an exciting growth journey, striving to deliver our own unique take on speciality coffee and hospitality to more people than ever before.

We build, nurture, and champion relationships at the source, celebrating producers, seasonality, and provenance. We support direct trade, traceability, and quality. From crop, to cup, every step of our journey is considered; we’re proud to be held accountable, always striving for better ways to do business, placing people and planet before profit.

Our product spans more than just amazing coffee, we are also passionate about bringing the world of speciality to life through a programme of education. From teaching professional SCA qualifications to at-home enthusiast brewing courses. Our digital channels are also an opportunity for us to offer engaging learning content such as onsite ‘how to guides’ and inspiring social content series.

We are proud to roast for some of the UK’s leading independent speciality coffee shops, bakeries, hotels, and restaurants. We have 1000’s of at-home coffee subscribers and 8 beautiful coffee shops across London, Cornwall, Bristol, and Edinburgh.

The role overview

In this dual role, you will divide your time between the Roasting Team & the Production Team, within the Operations department, with a view to moving fully over to the Roasting Team as we grow. Full training will be provided for all aspects of this role.

As an Assistant Roaster, you will be responsible for learning and assisting in the coffee roasting process to ensure the production of high-quality roasted coffee beans from Origin’s roastery in Porthleven, Cornwall. Under the guidance of our Head Roaster, Quality Coordinator and senior Production Roasters, you will gain training and hands-on experience in operating roasting equipment, monitoring roast profiles, and ensuring consistency and flavour development.

As a Production Operative, you will be an integral part of our production team, responsible for packaging freshly roasted coffee with precision, ensuring quality control, and upholding the highest standards of health and safety. This role requires attention to detail, teamwork, and a passion for ensuring our products are meticulously packaged.

This role is ideal for individuals passionate about coffee and seeking to develop their skills in the art of coffee roasting for one of the UKs leading speciality coffee roasters.

The role responsibilities

Assistant Roaster

• Safe procedural operation of coffee roasting equipment, ensuring correct input and maintenance of proper settings and following all specified warm-up, between batch, idle and cool down protocols.
• Accurate identification and loading of green coffee, following safe handling procedures and using appropriate equipment.
• Following roast schedules in accordance with daily order and stock-building requirements
• Close monitoring of roast profiles, adjusting as necessary to achieve specified targets for time, end temperature and development.
• Recognising and reporting profile issues to the Head Roaster, Quality Coordinator and Head of Coffee.
• Assisting with regular roasting machine maintenance, under guidance of the Head Roaster
• Assisting in the space management of the green coffee store, shifting pallets and bags between day stock and the green store following set manual handling policies, monitoring the usage and inventory, and communicating any stock issues or damage to the Head Roaster.
• Maintaining high levels of cleanliness and organisation in the roasting and cupping area, following a clean-as-you-go process and adhering to food safety, hygiene, production flow and operational safety standards.
• Learning and following quality control procedures to ensure roasted coffee meets Origin’s standards and specifications.
• Participation in production cupping sessions to evaluate roast quality and consistency, identify flavour characteristics, and provide feedback for continuous improvement.
• Supporting quality control tasks as needed, such as set up & clean down of cupping sessions, conducting physical QC tests
• Supporting other production functions as needed, such as packaging, labelling, and assisting in the despatch processes.

Production Operative

• Pack freshly roasted coffee into various packaging formats while adhering to quality standards and ensuring accurate weights.
• Operate the weigh and Fill machines, coffee grinders, and sealing machines with care and efficiency.
• Conduct quality assurance checks on packaged coffee to identify any defects or inconsistencies, and ensure quality control is applied at all stages of the production process
• Collaborate closely with the roasting and production team to meet daily production goals and deadlines.
• Follow established procedures to ensure the cleanliness and maintenance of equipment.
• Embrace and champion Origin Coffee’s values, including honesty, authenticity, and a commitment to excellence.
• Work collaboratively with team members, fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment.
• Prioritise health and safety by following established protocols and guidelines.
• Contribute to process improvement discussions, sharing ideas for enhancing efficiency and product quality.
• Participate in training and development opportunities to enhance your skills and knowledge.
• Maintain accurate records of production activities and quality control measures.
• Working as part of a team, ensuring production activity retains momentum including meeting targets and deadlines
• Always following standard operating procedures
• Assist with regular stock taking and notifying the designated person if stock appears to be an issue
• Daily and weekly cleaning priorities
• Comply with hygiene and health and safety regulations
• Communicate with your line manager if there is an issue with any part of the production process in a timely manner
• Be an Origin Ambassador, led by our core values and behaviours.

Requirements

To be successful in this role, these are the key attributes for success:

• A strong passion for speciality coffee and developing your career
• Honesty & accountability, showing the confidence to report mistakes and take responsibility for your actions
• The ability to remain calm under pressure and prioritise tasks and responsibilities, as well as working to tight operational deadlines.
• The ability to work both autonomously and as part of a team
• Great communication skills; able to receive and follow instructions and feedback, as well as report on key production information to Head Roaster, Head of Coffee, and the wider Production Team
• The ability to show initiative and be quickly adaptable to changing daily demands, as well as to the roll-out of new policies, procedures, and processes
• A healthy mix of humility and ambition, with a desire to develop your career in speciality coffee

Essential Qualities:

• Physical fitness - the ability to lift heavy loads, perform repetitive tasks, and stand for extended periods.
• A diligent, methodical, and process-driven work style, along with great problem-solving skills
• Precision and punctuality, with great timekeeping skills
• Highly organised, with a drive to maintain a clean, safe, and tidy workspace at all times
• Focused attention to detail, as well as being curious, observant, questioning, and critically minded
• Numerate – a good ability to read numerical and graphical information to make decisions on the fly

Desirable Qualities:

• Experience working in a food production warehouse
• Experience with MO365 including Microsoft Excel
• Prior knowledge of speciality coffee roasting, or experience working in a speciality coffee business
• Cupping experience and/or sensorial skills, with a good sense of taste and smell
• An understanding of coffee, including different varieties, origins, flavour profiles, and processing methods.
• An understanding of the broad philosophical values of the speciality coffee industry

Benefits

Competitive Salary

Up to £25,000 FTE per annum.

Nature of contract and working pattern

Permanent and full-time.

Base

Porthleven, Cornwall

Holidays

26 days including your birthday off, as well as 8 bank and public holidays.

Pension

Employer (5%) and Employee (3%) pension contribution, employees can increase their contribution.

Mental Health and Physical First Aid Training

We provide our employees with a toolkit for both preventing and addressing mental health crises in and out of work, providing genuine support, safety and happiness in the workplace.

Enhanced Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, IVF Journey Leave and Pay

We recognise the importance of family and provide enhanced pay to support all parents and their journey to becoming one.

Transitioning at Work Policy

We want everyone at Origin Coffee to feel comfortable to be themselves at work. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity supporting our colleagues who identify as trans and providing support through any transitioning process.

Financial Wellbeing Support

We have partnered with Wagestream, a financial well-being provider that offers financial coaching, money management, debt advice, and individual-tailored advice.

Employee Assistant Programme

A comprehensive suite of support from an (EAP) including help with physical, mental, and financial wellness at work.

Continued Professional Development

We invest in all our employees by supporting personal development and encouraging you to broaden your experience and learning potential, led by you.

SCA Training

Everyone who works for Origin can embark on the SCA training programme. Depending on your readiness to learn you can dip your toe in or immerse yourself fully. It’s quite addictive!

An Employee Referral Scheme

Once you join Origin, you’ll want to introduce like-minded people to us. When you do, they settle in and pass their probation, you earn £200.

Other

Time off for volunteering, cycle to work scheme, free coffee at work and to take home, discounts in all our cafés and on our merchandise and partners. And of course, regular social and team events serving exceptional food, drink, and of course, amazing coffee!