JOB DESCRIPTIONHead of Coffee – Sourcing, Roasting & Product DevelopmentCompany: Geetham Veg Restaurant

Location: Chennai

Department: Coffee & Beverages

About GeethamGeetham is a growing South Indian vegetarian restaurant chain with a robust focus on delivering an authentic yet evolving South Indian dining experience.

As we continue to expand, we are looking to build a dedicated coffee vertical that celebrates the heritage of South Indian filter coffee while exploring the possibilities of speciality coffee, premium blends and modern brewing techniques.

We are looking for an experienced coffee professional who can lead this vision end-to-end.

Role OverviewThe Head of Coffee will be responsible for developing, building and managing Geetham's entire coffee vertical, covering bean sourcing, procurement, roasting, blending, product development, quality control and operational execution across our outlets.

The ideal candidate should possess deep technical knowledge of coffee, hands-on experience in roasting and sourcing, and a strong understanding of traditional South Indian filter coffee as well as contemporary speciality coffee.

This is a leadership role that requires both technical expertise and the ability to build a scalable coffee business within a growing restaurant chain.

Key Responsibilities1. Coffee Sourcing & Procurement

- Identify and establish relationships with coffee growers, estates, plantations, cooperatives and green coffee suppliers across India.
- Source premium Arabica, Robusta and other suitable coffee varieties from different coffee-growing regions.
- Develop a strong understanding of coffee origins, varietals, processing methods, altitude, grading and flavour profiles.
- Evaluate green coffee beans based on quality, consistency, pricing and availability.
- Establish long-term sourcing partnerships to ensure consistent quality and a reliable supply chain.
- Explore opportunities for direct sourcing from coffee estates.

2. Coffee Roasting & Blending

- Lead the end-to-end roasting process, including roast profiling, batch management and quality evaluation.
- Develop customised roast profiles for different coffee applications.
- Create proprietary coffee blends exclusively for Geetham.
- Develop signature blends for traditional South Indian filter coffee.
- Experiment with Arabica-Robusta ratios, roast levels and different bean origins to achieve distinct flavour profiles.
- Establish roasting standards, protocols and consistency benchmarks.
- Work towards developing an in-house roasting capability for the brand.

3. South Indian Filter Coffee Development





- Possess an in-depth understanding of traditional South Indian filter coffee preparation.
- Develop signature filter coffee blends with the right balance of aroma, body, strength and flavour.
- Standardise coffee-to-chicory ratios and evaluate different blending combinations.
- Experiment with different coffee origins, roast profiles and grind sizes.
- Optimise decoction extraction, brewing time, water temperature and coffee-to-water ratios.
- Standardise the preparation of filter coffee across all Geetham outlets.
- Develop a consistent and distinctive Geetham filter coffee experience.

4. Speciality Coffee & Product Innovation

- Develop a speciality coffee portfolio that complements Geetham's traditional South Indian identity.
- Experiment with single-origin coffees, speciality blends and different processing methods.
- Explore brewing methods such as pour-over, French press, AeroPress, espresso and other relevant techniques.
- Develop signature coffee beverages and innovative hot and cold coffee offerings.
- Conduct regular coffee tastings, cupping sessions and product trials.
- Stay updated with global coffee trends, emerging brewing techniques and new product innovations.

5. Quality Control & Standardisation

- Establish quality benchmarks for green beans, roasted beans, blends and finished beverages.
- Implement cupping and sensory evaluation protocols.
- Monitor consistency in aroma, acidity, body, flavour and extraction.
- Establish standard operating procedures for grinding, brewing, storage and handling.
- Conduct regular quality audits across outlets.
- Ensure consistency of coffee quality irrespective of outlet location or volume.

6. Operations & Supply Chain Management

- Build a centralised coffee procurement, roasting and distribution system.
- Plan coffee inventory, production schedules and supply requirements across outlets.
- Establish systems for bean storage, freshness management and shelf-life monitoring.
- Work closely with the procurement, operations and finance teams.
- Manage coffee costs, wastage, yields and gross margins.
- Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency without compromising quality.

7. Team Building & Training

- Build and lead a dedicated coffee team.
- Train chefs, beverage staff, supervisors and outlet teams in coffee preparation.




- Develop training modules and standard operating procedures.
- Establish coffee preparation standards and competency assessments.
- Build a culture of coffee appreciation, product knowledge and quality consciousness.

Desired Qualifications & Experience
- 7–12 years of relevant experience in the coffee industry, preferably with hands-on experience in roasting, sourcing and product development.
- Proven experience in green coffee procurement and relationships with coffee estates or suppliers.
- Strong practical knowledge of coffee roasting, roast profiling and blend development.
- Experience in developing commercial coffee blends and proprietary coffee products.
- In-depth knowledge of traditional South Indian filter coffee and its preparation techniques.
- Understanding of speciality coffee, coffee origins, processing methods and sensory evaluation.
- Experience with coffee cupping and quality assessment.
- Familiarity with commercial roasting equipment, grinders, brewing equipment and extraction techniques.
- Experience in managing teams, production operations and quality standards.

Certifications such as SCA Coffee Skills, Q Grader or equivalent coffee education will be an added advantage, but practical expertise and demonstrable results will carry greater weight. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)The candidate will be evaluated on:
1. Development of Geetham's signature filter coffee blend.
2. Development of proprietary speciality coffee blends.
3. Consistency of coffee quality across all outlets.
4. Improvement in coffee procurement costs and gross margins.
5. Successful establishment of a centralised roasting and supply system.
6. Reduction in coffee wastage and quality variations.
7. Successful launch of new coffee products and beverages.
8. Training and capability development of outlet teams.
9. Customer satisfaction and coffee product performance.

What We Are Looking ForWe are looking for someone who is genuinely passionate about coffee and understands it beyond the beverage itself. Someone who can identify the right beans, understand their origins, roast them to perfection, create unique blends and translate that expertise into a consistent, high-quality coffee experience at scale.

The ideal candidate should be equally comfortable working with coffee estates, operating a roaster, developing a new filter coffee blend, conducting a cupping session and implementing processes across multiple restaurant outlets.

The larger vision is to build a distinctive Geetham coffee identity — one that respects the heritage of South Indian filter coffee while embracing the possibilities of speciality coffee.

📌 Head Of Coffee (Chennai)
🏢 Geethamvegrestaurant
📍 Chennai