Prep, Culinary, & R&D Barista – Chicago, IL

Prep, Culinary, & R&D Barista – Chicago, IL
PREP, CULINARY, & R&D BARISTA
The person who helps turn Fat Miilk’s ideas into consistent, thoughtful products, while staying connected to the guest experience.
Reports to
General Manager and designated company leadership
Classification
Nonexempt; part-time or full-time based on availability and business needs
Location
Assigned Fat Miilk café or production location; may support other locations as needed
The role
The Prep, Culinary & R&D Barista is a hybrid position supporting both behind-the-scenes production and café service. This person prepares the house-made components that shape the Fat Miilk experience, from creams and syrups to seasonal ingredients, while also working barista shifts and understanding how those products perform in real time with guests.
This role is for someone who enjoys both creativity and structure. You should be curious about flavor, thoughtful about process, and committed to producing the same high-quality result every time. Research and development responsibilities may be assigned when applicable, based on business needs, experience, and current projects.
What you’ll own
Prep & Culinary Production
- Prepare creams, syrups, sauces, toppings, beverage bases, and other house-made components according to current recipes and production standards.
- Follow prep lists, batch quantities, labeling, dating, storage, rotation, and food-safety procedures.
- Maintain accurate production records and communicate low inventory, inconsistencies, waste, or quality concerns.
- Organize ingredients and workspaces so café teams can execute products efficiently and consistently.
- Monitor freshness, texture, flavor, appearance, and yield throughout the production process.
- Maintain a clean, sanitary, and organized prep environment, including equipment, tools, storage, and dishes.
- Support inventory counts, receiving, stocking, and ingredient organization as assigned.
Barista & Café Support
- Work scheduled barista shifts and support café operations based on business needs.
- Prepare espresso, phin, batch coffee, tea, specialty drinks, and menu items according to current standards.
- Welcome guests, explain the menu, make thoughtful recommendations, and complete orders accurately.
- Learn and communicate the story of Fat Miilk, Vietnamese coffee, Robusta, and the purpose behind our products.
- Complete opening, closing, restocking, cleaning, and station responsibilities.
- Share useful feedback on how prep components perform during service and within the finished guest experience.
Research & Development
When applicable, this position may also:
- Support the testing and development of seasonal drinks, culinary components, and new menu ideas.
- Assist with recipe trials, tasting sessions, batch testing, and product evaluations.
- Document ingredients, measurements, methods, yields, observations, and revisions accurately.
- Help translate creative concepts into recipes that can be trained, scaled, costed, and executed consistently.
- Evaluate products through both a culinary and consumer-facing lens, including flavor, texture, appearance, speed of service, and guest response.
- Work collaboratively with company leadership, Quality & Sourcing, and Operations & Brand to refine products before launch.
- Protect confidential recipes, methods, product concepts, and other proprietary information.
What we’re looking for
- Genuine interest in Fat Miilk’s culture, Vietnamese coffee, hospitality, culinary development, and learning.
- Previous experience in café prep, culinary production, baking, beverage development, restaurant kitchens, or a similar environment is preferred.
- Barista or hospitality experience is helpful, but training may be provided to the right candidate.
- Strong attention to detail and the ability to follow recipes, measurements, production systems, and food-safety standards.
- A curious palate and the ability to give clear, thoughtful feedback about flavor, texture,