The Student Room Group

Scroll to see replies

Reply 1
They don't seem to give much training from what i've seen - My nearest caffe nero has one decent barista and TONS of useless feckers who can only make like 4 coffees. pay can't be that good as the prices are low compared to costa et.al - the training takes a whole week (wooh!) However, they say they want minimum 6 months commitment so not sure if you can get a summer job - Pay can't be too great as store managers only get £16k p.a, and baristas will get FAR less - I would expect min. wage + perks.
Reply 2
Haven't worked for them, but from what I have seen and heard it's a hard job. But I heard the training was actually quite good.
Reply 3
you say your 17? ive heard that you have to be 18 to work there. might be best to check it out before you apply though
Hey, I applied today to be a Barista at Caffe Nero, they didn't seem to be too bothered about how old I was (I'm 16, and don't look any older than I am) I'd also like to know about salaries and stuff- also where did people hear that you need to say you wanna work there for 6 months plus? I wrote ''summer holidays plus'' on the form... but I did think it was a weird question.
Reply 5
i worked for Caffe Nero for about a month til i got a better summer job since i'm back from university for the summer.. it is minimum wage, #4.45 per hour for anyone under 22. #5.25 per hour for anyone over.

my advice is DON'T BOTHER! shocking job, no incentives aside from free coffee which to be honest is very poor, training was crap. managers are unprofessional, no bonuses, no time + 1/2 on bank holidays etc. they try to give you half an hour breaks for 9/10 hour shifts, unless you work over 6 and a half hours you don't get a break, very underpaid and overworked.

when serving customers you're expected to take 3 or 4 orders at once.. obviously not straight away but they expect you to work up to that level, it wouldn't be that bad if you didn't have to memorise the orders in your head. 1st customer might order 2 drinks, 2nd customer might order 2 drink, 3rd might do the same.. so by the time you've got to the 4th you cant remember what the 1st and 2nd customer ordered.

when you're new and untrained and in their eyes quite useless they make you clean toilets and give you dirty jobs like that. the fact that you clean toilets for #4.45 is bad enough never mind doing it everyday for your first 5 shifts!

apart from busy periods where you have to take loads of orders the job is relatively easy, it's just the fact that coffee places generally are quite small so you're always in the eyes of customers or managers so no slacking, not even for 2 minutes, maybe it's better at other stores than the one i worked at which was just terrible. the managers accepted very very little excuses for sick days, they try to make out as if it's the most important job in the world.. the fact you'll be paid #4.45 just adds to the insult.

screw them i say, don't bother with it, there are plenty of better jobs, Caffe Nero is pretty much the same standard as McDonalds, it's just the customers that differ. if you wanna slave away to pervy old europeans and small-time ungrateful "business men/women" that complain their coffee is too cold after they've been sat there for half an hour and literally drank it all anyway then this is the job for you. i can't actually think of anything positive to say about the job other than the fact it saves you from sitting on your arse all day but hey, so does McDonalds.
Haha, I love this last post! I was getting depressed about how competitive it is to get a job these days and then I saw this, and now I'm happy I don't have one.
Ohhh dear... I'll see how it goes :wink: I've heard from others that they really like it, so maybe it depends on which store you work at...
Reply 8
This is really late but I'm on my first week of training starting tuesday (it's thursday evening now) The training is hard but quick, you have to do 20 hours, complete some food hygiene tests and stuff like that. They ask you to make coffee after coffee and then tell you what's wrong with them. I've been told I'm getting minimum pay but not sure which age group they've put me in as I'm turning 18 in 6 months. They don't give you a lot of information and you get no discount ever, one sandwich and 2 cokes or waters etc if you're working 6.5 hours or more. Plus your break is 20 mins which is barely enough time. They do expect you to serve 2 people at once which sounds easy but try remembering all the different recipes and sizes and the order of things and it does get confusing. But most of the people are nice where I work and it is kinda fun at times though they're really strict on hair colour, piercings, tattoos etc
Reply 9
5 years have passed since bamboozled wrote, and things in Caffè Nero have not changed at all.
I won't repeat what he said, I will just say that in Caffè Nero you will do overwork for free, I mean, you won't get paid if you don't close the store by the time they tell you. And this happens every day. Yesterday I worked half an hour more, today I worked 1 hour and a half more, I asked to be paid, guess what... I won't get paid.
Often you will have to close the store and open the day after, which is against the low if less than 11 hours from each shift. You will often close at 10pm and open at 6am, completely against the law, but they don't give a ****.
Managers are very rude and incompetent, staff gets very rude as well: you will work with very rude people.
Caffè Nero needs to be taken to Court and SHUT DOWN!
I am about to give the notice, but if anybody wants to create a group to take them to court, I'll be glad to be lead it. Just reply to this message.
Thanks
Creyl
Reply 10
i've been working at caffe nero for about 2 weeks and ive already worked 6 hours extra unpaid. I'm currently applying for jobs anywhere else and about to hand my notice in too. It's illegal how they work out breaks, as i worked 2 hours after my shift one night I had worked 6 and a half hours meaning by law i should have had a break but as it wasnt my scheduled shift i didnt.

in my interview i was asked if I would mind cleaning toilets, nothing was said about working for free.

i agree, they need to be sent to court.

Clare
D O N O T W O R K F O R C A F F E N E R O !!!

I’m a previous experienced Store Manager from another business and have had many years’ experience within the food and catering industry, so my point of view will be a well-judged and unbiased.

Thank God I found something in common! I thought it was just me with a problem, but obviously not! Okay…! So where do I start?!

Well… From a customer point of view; the Caffe Nero stores are well presented, staff are always busy and hardworking, and toilets are well maintained.
Caffe Nero prices are affordable compared to most other places, plus they conduct a loyalty scheme.
In regards to toilets, you cannot fault the hygiene maintenance. Caffe Nero by far and remarkably have a closely monitored toilet cleaning schedule which you cannot compare to other high street brands. These include; Costa Coffee, Starbucks, McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut, Burger King.

Toilet Facilities
These businesses listed don’t employ external cleaners for toilet facilities and only their staff routinely check them, but only briefly ensuring they’re only visibly clean. The exception is Pizza Hut and their company employs cleaners depending on the store to maintain toilet hygiene, but this is done once before the store opens.
Caffe Nero on the other hand, have a toilet cleaning schedule where staff must bleach the toilet, sanitise toilet lid, toilet seat, soap dispenser, sink, door handles, air freshener, toilet roll holder, wall surface under hand dryer…. Basically everything you can think of. This is done a minimum of 4 times a day! Yes! Bleaching 4 times a day!
For a customer this is excellent, but from a member of staff that is paid minimum wage, it’s not very motivating at all.

Customer Loyalty
Caffe Nero have a loyalty card scheme where training is given where the employee’s should never challenge a loyalty card. (by for example assumption that a stamp is fake etc, or a customer repeatedly claims loyalty cards without ever seen purchase one…) So Caffe Nero invites all members of the public including people that want something for free and smelly trampy people, thus producing an ever-growing clientele - which obviously is important to the business.

Store Budget
All stores run very tight and aren’t based on a labour budget. All stores are working on a target based on previous years takings. This is bad as the yield of customers can change yearly rather than the company basing them weekly, so they seem short staffed. Ideally, I think another member of staff would be sufficient for the typical running of each store.
Not only this, staff are required to complete cleaning schedules throughout the morning and night and also required to come in for an evening deep clean which may not last long. No overtime is paid and the times stated on the roster for finishing are always exceeded.


Caffe Nero state in their Terms and Conditions of contract under bank holidays;
…“Due to the nature of the business, Caffe Nero does not recognise UK public or bank holidays (including CHRISTMAS and Boxing day) and you may be required to work these. Caffe Nero reserves the right to require you to take Christmas Day/Boxing Day as part of your annual leave”…

I find this ridiculous. Even McDonalds are closed on Christmas Day. At least change conditions for the UK? I can really understand staff needs for a business running a Hotel or function, but a coffee shop on Christmas day in the city centre?? …Airport café I could contemplate….
No perks really exist within the company itself. Discounts do not exist and there is no staff price for items. Employees can take advantage of free unlimited coffee and tea.

Terms and Conditions of Employment in conjunction with current legislation and regulations
Caffe Nero adhere to employment law. Unfortunately, it is the bare minimum.

Coffee Quality and Training
Coffee training is very brief and not at all in depth anyone could learn it. Rather than a passion or talent, it is solely more of a method to work on, rather than a skill.
No latte art is encouraged and is forbidden due to a standardised brand which is understandable.
Training on coffee grinder is good - important as espresso is the heart of the business
Milk stretching? Milk texturing? Caffe Nero have never heard of it.
Caffe Nero do not free pour their milk and spoons are aided within the coffee making which in the eyes of a professional barista at a SCAE level is very unprofessional.

They claim to have the best espresso this side of Milan. Can be true and somewhat not - It depends how you like your coffee. A majority of customers ask for half the dosage of coffee as it is too strong.

Espresso has excellent crema and is guaranteed almost everytime.

The introduction to their Barista introduction states: For the past 7 years we have been voted the UK’s No1 coffee company in the UK….”
- This may be true but I haven’t looked into it. Why hasn’t word gone around because for sure I haven’t heard about it! And I would most certainly go to Boston Tea Party.
This judgement may be made in accordance to price/value for money maybe?

Personal Statement
There is a lot to say about Caffe Nero, they accommodate brilliantly in all areas apart from their staff. I have witnessed high staff turnovers amongst the Caffe Nero stores I have worked in.
They make baristas serve at least two customers at a time.
Drink quantity over quality.
I feel sorry for the staff that work there because they have nothing else to compare it to, but trust me, other companies pay minimum wage and the workload is so much less.
Supervisor at Caffe Nero = £6.10, equivalent at Pizza Hut = £16,000!

Personally I’d go back to McDonalds. Really, but thankfully I have finished my BA at university which means I can now get a proper respected job!
If you live in Bath like I do and want proper coffee training, go work for Jika Jika. Highly recommended.

Good Luck guys!
Reply 12
I fell across this thread/forum by accident but I worked in Caffe Nero (Bath) in 2004-2005. Apart from being sacked for speaking honestly to a customer who was clearly up his own arse I had a great time working there.

For the person who said something along the lines of "you can't slack because there's always someone watching you" I hope all your future employers see you for what you really are. No one wants to work with a slacker.

Caffe Nero is great for students. It was very flexible and I always took enough food home to last a good few days.

Cleaning should be part of any hospitality/coffee retail job. If that includes toilets, get over it. Go be a pen pusher instead. What's that? You can't get a job being a pen pusher? :rolleyes:

I went into the High Street store recently and unfortunately it really needs a good clean and a refurb. Standards have slipped.

I find Jika Jika too pretentious. It has what I call 'hippy wannabies' working there.

To the OP- go for it. There are much worse jobs out there. There might be a lot of better jobs, but that's for the future.
On behalf of Caffe Nero and probably one of the only ones who actually work at the company here.

I'm 16 and have worked at Caffe Nero since the end of November. I started at the new store in Bangor, Northern Ireland. All of the staff members had a full 3 day training program, so the training is very good and staff members have a chance to be qualified to train themselves on a Maestro course.

The hours are flexible and I can ask my boss to change hours if it is an inconvenience and she doesn't mind. Everyone who works there is very nice.

As for the pay, I get £5.15 an hour, and for a first job I class that as very good, never mind for a 16 year old considering most of the jobs out there going for 16 year olds are on minimum wage. During my shifts I get two waters and two cokes and at the end of the night we are all allowed to take some of the stuff that is going to wastage (sandwiches, pastries).

The job itself is challenging, it is good experience though, you have to be willing to do the work. You are not always being watched but if the store is quiet then you can take it slow and relax a bit, but if the store is busy then you have to work hard.
Hi guys

I worked at Nero for quite a long time. Started full time, then went part-time due to uni. At the beginning I really enjoyed it, could get flexible hours as well which is good for students. However, the way Nero staff are treated is disgraceful. I was a shift leader and was getting £6.15 an hour for all that hard work on the bar, cleaning, cashing up etc. Had to work overtime nearly every day. Staff are working their socks off and still area manager is never happy with what they do. Beating the budget is all that matters. Plus they're not very happy when there's a shift that needs to be covered and you say no. Basically, they expect you to live in the shop. My social life didn't exist when I worked there. Personally, I recommend Nero to students who want to work flexible hours. Nero is good for a short period. I still like Nero coffee and keep in touch with my friends I worked with but I would never work there again. NEVER EVER.
Reply 15
It may well just be a freak occurrence, but all the baristas in all the Neros I've ever been in have been above-averagely attractive :awesome:
Reply 16
Caffe Nero have the best staff when it comes to Customer Service. I use Nero, and other stores of necessity, all over the South East - and whatever Nero do in head office certainly has an impact on the in-store teams. Great coffee, great service. And my favourite store for anyone nearby - Woking.
Reply 17
I have worked for Caffe Nero for a year and a half and it is without a doubt the best decision I ever made. Nero is a fun and friendly place to work and ive never had so much banter while on shift with my colleagues and our customers.
I make close to £7 an hour as a shift leader and after my MIT that will go up considerably. The training is very adequate and the fact you get thrown into the job after the first week only strengthens your skills and heightens your confidence. Anyone that cannot follow simple training techniques and take more than one order at a time is clearly incapable of doing any job that involves using your brain.. so good luck with that one.
Caffe Nero provide 1/2 hour breaks for under 18s every 4 hours and 20 minute breaks every 6 hours for over 18s. These breaks are also provided with free food and drink from the store. I will be shocked If you can tell me any other hospitality establishment that consistently provides this.
According to some you dont get paid for over time at the store closing.. you get 30 whole minutes to close the store!! If you take longer than this its probably because you are incompetent and incapable of decent labour. Seriously, who cant clean a coffee machine, a dishwasher and the floor in half an hour.. especially when there is TWO of you doing it.
In regards to progression, store and area managers are constantly on the look out for "rising stars" (this, for all you work shy/lazy people means someone who is great at their job, customer service, cares about the company etc and therefore will become great managers. Not for the people to strive to work at mcdonlads or want a job where you can skive off, not give a damn and go home early.. yeah folks.. you will never get employed) and they will be helped to climb the ladder within the company using appropriate training courses which involve travel, which is also completely paid for, leading to running your own store or area or becoming part of the team at head office, all of which are incredibly highly paid jobs with lots of bonus's.
All in all I believe that Nero is a fantastic company to work for and for the unfortunate lot who didnt think so I reckon its because they have no idea what a days work involves, have no people skills and probably dont work at all now. Benefits much?
I work for Caffé Nero, a standard full trained barista (black t-shirt) are normally put on £6.20 which is pretty good depending on how many hours your entitled too (full or part) the higher job role obviously higher wage. You also get paid every 2 weeks instead of the whole pay once a month (like most jobs <.<)
The job role is reasonably hard, your first day they will teach and train you on their high standard drinks and test your knowledge on health and safety regulations and food hygiene, they will give you two books an induction book to learn and revise and another about cafe nero itself. They give you a few hours a week to get started then your on your own with the baristas that will guide you. The manager runs the store, they are not bothered about you, they just want you to do your job properly and perfectly and make sure customers are satisfied and the queue runs smoothly because no matter what city/town you live in, you'll never have a quiet day!
It's a good job, it's cafe Nero. but you have to be determined to work (especially early and long hours) and a fast learner, it will also help if you've had similar experience as they expect high standard drinks and professionalism. Hope this has helped.
Reply 19
Hi there,

I myself have worked for caffe nero for nearly 6 months (feels like foreverrrrrrrrrrrrr) and I must agree completly with what you are saying.

The managers are the most lazy staff I have ever met, spending all their time in the office doing "paper work", disappearing and leave you to serve 10 people by yourself, making you do all the cleaning! Absoutley worst job I've had in my life.

How can we sue these ********sssssssssssssss and get some money from the hours we slaved away for free!!!