Now Hiring
We're hiring team members for the 2026 summer season at Cafe Meria in Charlevoix.
Cafe Meria isn't your average cafe. We build an experience around house-made food, quality ingredients, and a warm, vibrant atmosphere — and we're looking for teammates who care about food, hospitality, and working in a fast-moving cafe environment.
The menu runs wide: coffee and espresso, matcha, tea, Meria Chai, smoothies, refreshers and juices, and made-to-order food. Every teammate learns every part of it.
The role
There is one role at Cafe Meria, and every teammate learns every station — espresso, smoothies, food prep, bowls, register, stocking, cleaning. The team rotates with the day and supports each other across stations.
The role rests on two ideas: be present with guests, and stay ready. When guests are in the cafe, they come first — greet them as they walk in, hold the door when your hands are free, and stay attentive enough that nobody has to wave or get up to ask a question. If a guest is looking around for help, walk over before they have to ask.
Our kiosks are part of the experience and they help the day move — we're glad to have them. But any guest who'd rather have a person walk them through the menu and place the order with them gets that, every time.
When the cafe is quiet, that's the moment to ready it for the next group. There is always something to prep, clean, organize, or reset — and a shift that uses its quiet minutes well is the one that handles the next rush smoothly.
When you notice something that needs attention — a dirty surface, a low supply, something out of place — handle it if you have the time. If you don't, add it to the team list so the next teammate with a quiet minute picks it up.
A typical shift
How pay works
Your weekly pay is three pieces stacked together — paid every Monday through Square direct deposit:
- Base wage — $5.50/hour (Michigan tipped rate). The smaller piece.
- Pooled tips — every tip from the POS, jar, and gratuities goes into a shared pool, split among the team by hours worked. This is where most of the money is. Tips are distributed automatically through Square based on who was clocked in when each transaction happened, so the effort you put into a busy shift directly affects what you and your shift mates take home. Owners and managers don't share in the pool.
- Tier floor — a guaranteed minimum of $14, $16, or $18 per hour depending on tier (see below). If a slow week leaves base + tips short of your tier, the cafe makes up the difference on your next paycheck. Floors protect you on quiet weeks. Tips drive the upside on busy ones.
What the team earned in 2025
These are actuals from last summer's payroll, not promises about this one — every season runs differently. What the cafe guarantees is the floor.
Where every teammate begins. You'll be paired with experienced staff and trained on every station.
You've learned the systems and shown you can handle them. You're capable across stations and reliable through the day.
You've learned every station, and you carry the work without being asked. The cafe runs because you're on.
Advancement isn't about seniority — it's about what you've learned and how independently you can work. As you build skill across stations and the team can count on you without prompting, you move up to the next tier.
What you'll do
- Prepare and serve food and drink items with care and consistency
- Welcome guests at the door, walk them through the menu when they want a hand, and place orders with them at the kiosk or the counter
- Run and serve tables, and take care of guests throughout their visit — anticipate needs before guests have to ask
- Learn the menu and the ingredients behind it, so you can speak about Cafe Meria with confidence
- Operate the POS and handle transactions accurately
- Use quiet stretches to prep, clean, organize, and reset stations so the cafe is ready for the next group
- When you spot something that needs attention, handle it if you have time — or add it to the team list so the next teammate with a quiet minute picks it up
- Restock and organize supplies, and follow food safety and handling practices
- Collaborate with the team to keep the day moving
- Contribute to the cafe's social media when time allows — photos, ideas, daily specials
What we're looking for
- Interest in barista or culinary work — experience is a plus, not a requirement; we train every station
- Strong customer service instincts — the ability to engage warmly and effectively
- Composure and efficiency through busy rushes
- Time management across multiple tasks in a fast-moving environment
- Basic math for cash handling
- Comfortable lifting 40+ lbs (stocking, deliveries, ice). Reasonable accommodations available — let us know what you need
- Availability for weekends and seasonal peak hours
- Dependable, motivated, and willing to grow with the team
- Natural with making guest recommendations
- Interest in creative social media content is a plus
Schedule and benefits
- Seasonal: May through October
- Full-time, part-time, and seasonal positions available
- Open scheduling — any availability welcome
- The cafe is aiming for 8am – 10pm daily through the summer
- Employee discount on food and drinks
- Flexible scheduling around school, family, and other work
- Seasonal growth opportunities — more hours and higher tier as you build skill and reliability
As the season builds, additional hours and prime shifts go first to teammates who are consistent and committed to the work.
How to apply
Fill out the form below and we'll be in touch. Attach a resume if you have one — and if you don't, that's fine, the form covers everything we need.
Stop in any time — we're at 101 Mason St, Charlevoix.