Coffee Laboratory Technician

At Costa Coffee, we are what we craft. We’re reimagining coffee experiences in over 50 countries and counting, as a key part of the Coca-Cola System. Whether you get your coffee in a store, from a machine, at home, or on the go – we’ve got you covered.
The Coffee Laboratory Technician is accountable for the day-to-day running of the operations and research activities at our Basildon laboratory, ensuring that all coffee testing and product development aligns with Costa's quality standards and innovation goals.
The role ensures laboratory processes, tasting activity and data capture are carried out accurately, safely and on time, supporting product quality, innovation and consistency across Costa production sites.
Our teams make a difference. Whether that’s working on new tech for the perfect pour, helping our teams grow, creating award-winning campaigns, crunching the numbers, or developing the latest exciting menu item; together, we stir up success.
We may be a global brand, but we haven’t forgotten our roots. That’s where the Costa Foundation and our fantastic community agenda come in. Whatever your role, you can help us change lives in coffee growing communities and help your local community too.
We also want to help you grow in your career through amazing experiences, our apprenticeship scheme, and development programmes. At Costa, you can go beyond the day-to-day.
And as a Coffee Laboratory Technician, there’s never been a better time to join.
So, why Costa?
We didn’t become a global coffee brand by sitting back. When you work here, you join a community that values passion, progression and integrity, with some pretty brilliant perks to sweeten the deal:
• Own a piece of Costa’s success by becoming a share owner in Coca-Cola with our Share Investment Plan (SIP)
• An annual discretionary bonus scheme, based on business results and individual contribution.
• A smart pension that saves you money on tax and national insurance, and matches your contributions up to 10%
• The Costa Financial Support Fund, supporting team members who find themselves in unexpected financial pressure
• 50% discount in all Costa-owned stores, and 25% off in other participating stores
• Private medical cover thanks to our Private Healthcare scheme
• And that’s not all. Explore even more of our perks here: https://bit.ly/costaperks
We’re passionate about being a great place to work, where you can bring your unique self into our mix. We firmly support diversity, equity and inclusion, and continue to work with our teams to shape the future of our culture and values: Disciplined to Deliver, Passion for Progress, Win with Warmth, Courage to Challenge and Trusted Team Players.
What you’ll do
Being a Coffee Laboratory Technician is about so much more than bringing our coffee to the world. It’s your chance to stir up real success - which means you’ll be:
• Run daily laboratory operations, including sample handling, equipment setup, cleaning and calibration to maintain a safe and efficient environment.
• Conduct coffee testing across green, roasted, and finished products using defined methods to ensure consistent quality standards.
• Lead and support sensory (cupping) sessions, accurately capturing tasting data to inform product decisions.
• Maintain accurate records and data systems, ensuring full traceability of samples, testing and results.
• Support product development and continuous improvement by preparing samples, identifying insights and following quality, safety and food standards.
Who you are
It’s your unique ingredients we’re interested in:
• Strong knowledge of coffee (green, roasted and ground), including roasting, production processes and sensory principles.
• Proven experience working in a coffee laboratory, production or similar environment, including hands-on testing and sample handling.
• Excellent sensory (cupping) ability, with confidence in evaluating coffee quality and interpreting test results.
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail, able to accurately manage data, records and laboratory processes.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to work collaboratively in a technical environment and follow safety and quality standards.
Where you’ll work:
This role is based full-time at our fantastic Basildon Roastery, where you’ll be at the heart of our coffee craft five days a week, working closely with our expert teams in a fast-paced, hands-on environment.
For any reasonable adjustments and general queries, please get in touch with the recruitment team.