Coffee Equipment Tester and Researcher

Coffee Equipment Tester and Researcher

£30,000 - £34,000 per annum

The James Hoffmann YouTube channel is looking for a Coffee Equipment Tester and Researcher to join the growing Weird Coffee People team full time. With 1.75M subscribers, the channel is a well-established source of factual entertainment that shares James Hoffmann’s unique knowledge of all things coffee.

In this role, you will support the production of product review videos by extensively testing coffee equipment, and by collecting and analysing quite a lot of data. You'll research these products in-depth, and help with fact-checking the information presented in the videos.

This role does not involve any on-camera responsibilities.

The Role

As a fellow Weird Coffee Person and Coffee Equipment Tester and Researcher, you will be gathering and fact-checking information and summarising your findings in preparation for review videos. An important part of your research will be digging deeper into claims made about specific coffee products.

Your main task will be data collection from coffee equipment, such as logging temperatures, extraction metrics and other performance data from equipment. You'll help design the experiments the team runs. Your responsibilities will also include maintaining the testing areas in the studio, and helping to maintain coffee equipment and water quality.

Making coffee repeatedly will be a very large part of the role, coupled with data collection and data entry. You should ideally really enjoy both coffee making and collecting data.

You may at times be asked to help share data from your experiments with external researchers and academic institutions, and to incorporate your research findings into video scripts. In the final stages of video production, you’ll be asked to submit each video to a rigorous quality control.

In addition to this, you will be involved in other practical aspects of preparing the filming of fun and informative videos, i.e. experimenting with different recipes, preparing them, and running taste tests with the team.

This role offers the opportunity for growth within the production team, so helping with video ideas and development could be an option in the future. There is also the opportunity to be involved more with the technical filmmaking side should this be of interest to you.

For this role, you will be required to work in the London-based studio at West Hackney/Lower Clapton, but there is an option for hybrid working. Though it is unlikely that this will be a frequent occurrence, some travel for shoots may be required.

The Candidate

If this job is right for you, you’ll have a real passion for all things coffee, a proven aptitude for conducting data collection and analysis, and practical experience in handling coffee equipment. The ideal candidate will know how to prepare coffee for cupping, espresso, pourover and other brew methods (though there is plenty of training available for less common methods).

Experience as a professional barista is not required, but is highly desirable.

You’ll have a minimum of 2-3 years’ experience in the workplace and great organisational and communication skills. You’ll be comfortable working independently.

You’re someone who understands the challenges and benefits of working in a small creative team. Ideally, you’re excited by the flexibility, responsibility and room for growth that this setting provides.

An understanding of copyright and broadcasting content may be beneficial for growth in the role.

Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK.

Expected start date: Immediate start available for the right candidate.

About James Hoffmann

James Hoffmann has worked in coffee since 2003 and is passionate about sharing what he’s learned along the way. James won the World Barista Championship in 2007 and is credited as being the pioneer of the UK’s third-wave coffee movement. He has since co-founded his own coffee company, successfully published three books on coffee (including a Sunday Times bestseller), and has established himself as one of the most influential figures in specialty coffee today.

The James Hoffmann YouTube channel is dedicated to making James’ expertise accessible to all. It has a loyal following of over 1.75M subscribers. James Hoffmann videos cover how-to recipes, guides, reviews, video essays and mini-documentaries. Professional and yet often humorous, they aim to provide useful information on all things coffee in an entertaining way.

Applying

Please include a cover letter with your application explaining why you would be suitable for this position and including any relevant experience you have to support your application. Applications close Friday 9th June 2023.

Please note: Ziggurat is assisting with the hiring process for this role, this role is to work with our client directly, you will not work for Ziggurat XYZ.