Coffee Quality Specialist Role Purpose Reporting to the Technical Services Manager, you will act as a Coffee Quality ambassador by providing green bean and finished product technical assistance and data support from incoming inquiries from all UCC stakeholders, working seamlessly with the Roasterys production team to ensure customer satisfaction. Key Responsibilities
* Responsible for day to day production blend conformity including correct roasting profile, colour, grinding and moisture standards to get the optimal results and document accordingly.
* Evaluate quality of raw materials and finished products by preparing daily coffee cupping tables with appropriate grading methods, ensure sampling process is robust from green bean tasting through to finished product.
* Produce timely structured feedback on any non-conformities concerning taste or quality, with clarity on issues, and providing traceability information.
* Provide support and feedback on implementation of a panel approach for cupping procedures along with providing training to the wider train on coffee taste notes.
* Brewing and preparation, calibration of equipment and ensure optimal extraction for tastings and demonstrations.
* Provide insight, support, and feedback to NPD requests regarding new coffee blend creation and complete relevant documentation. (Create roasting blends and roast profile for new products).
* Responsible for procedurally detailing and reporting on small roasting, transfer to large scale roasting.
* Liaise with customers on new products needs and lead customer coffee tasting and product experiences on-site, promoting the best possible coffee quality from green coffee selection to optimizing blends.
* Develop strong working relationships across UCC Coffee, including UCC buying team in Geneva, Coffee Quality assurance team, offering training support internally and externally, demonstrating an ongoing focus for continuous improvement for site processes.
* Participate, lead or manage ad hoc tasks to meet UCC / client requirements including promoting a culture of continuous coffee excellence within the site.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
* Strong coffee quality knowledge of coffee quality, including origin, variety, processing, and roasting.
* Trained and skilled in food and drink sensory, ideally coffee certified as a Q Grader and/or with SCA qualifications.
* Passion for coffee trends with product development experience.
* Experience of roasting on sample roaster and upscale to commercial roaster.
* Skilled in multiple brewing methods, and equipment calibration.
* Proven ability in coffee cupping, grading and sensory evaluation.
* Highly organised, self-motivated with the ability to prioritise own diary and workload.
* Excellent communication and training skills, with the ability to engage both experts and non-experts and inspire others in coffee knowledge.
* Strong organisational, problem solving and deductive reasoning skills.
* Maintain cleanliness and organisation in cupping lab and customer experience room.
* Ability to impress and liaise effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
* Strong attention to detail, in record keeping, plus trending and analysis of data.
* Computer usage including MS Office skills - Word, Excel and Outlook.
* Must be able to work at our Dartford site on a daily basis.
* Flexible approach to work with occasional UK/ European travel.
Salary: Competitive
LNKD1_UKTJ #J-18808-Ljbffr