boulanger-pâtissier

barista

baker

surveillant du service alimentaire

service technician

JJ Bean Coffee Roasters

One can apply for the in-store barista & baker positions without no prior experience: as i was hired, i had neither professional nor personal experience in baking at all. I believe what the hiring manager/supervisor looks for as the most important in a candidate are an earnest attitude, keenness to learn, eagerness to grow with the company, and of course, ideally, potential longevity of employment. 

Although it is a 'chain coffee shop' and has recently expanded to beyond Vancouver, it remains a chiefly local business and it seems to me that all the locations are substantially interconnected as though we are all in one big family. At the location where i work, all of us -- the baristas, bakers, supervisors and the store manager --
 work and get along very well with each other. I don't feel any hierarchy or work politics, but rather everyone tries to help each other out to get the works done and get the place running as smoothly as possible. But it's constantly a very busy location and i do find it difficult to finish all my work without the regular work hours. As such, overtime is permissible, and is properly compensated. 

I feel appreciated as i am entrusted to do my work with much autonomy, where i get to make certain daily decisions (e.g. what & how many to bake, whether i think a baked item is good enough to sell, etc.) chiefly on my own. Meanwhile, i appreciate being given feedback and being able to seek advice whenever needed from the head bakers/managers. These help me improve and flourish, and in fact inspire me to pursue an ongoing career in baking.

There is a 'levels' system for both the baristas and bakers, wherein for every level passed, we get a significant hourly salary increase. The company also gives quite excellent benefits (you can find some more details on the website).

I have worked for JJ on two separate locations at separate times. Both times I was let go with little explanation during probation.

Expectations are not made clear in the interview, and you will be expected to do duties outside of the job description. As soon as your two days (if that) of training is done, you will be expected to perform at the same level as people who have been there for longer than you. Understaffing is a problem that seems consistent throughout the company, and you will be expected to do 1.5 roles. 

They also do raises on a “level” system instead of on tenure, experience, and merit. On paper, raises and training in more advanced roles are based off of how well you perform your job and you must pass tests to level up. In reality, understaffing prevents training opportunities and thus, raises and advancement.

Management either leaves you alone entirely or micromanages you. Constructive feedback is rarely given, again preventing opportunities to correct your actions and advance in your role.

Pay is on the lower end of the industry standard. Retail staff are started either at or cents above minimum wage, with tips. Commissary staff are paid average prep cook prices but there are no tips.

I loved much of my time at JJ Bean, the staff were fun, lovely people and the job itself was rewarding for an entry level service position.

That being said, I don't know if they still use the 'casual list' system, but it was pretty exploitative imo. It's lower pay for the same work and very little chance to be brought back as a regular employee – even though you'll be covering the shifts no one wants (weekends holidays etc). It's frustrating trying to get back into a real position once you become a casual employee, while watching them hire new and inexperienced staff. 
It's also impossible to get casual shifts covered once you agree to them, since you're the last resort.
It honestly felt like the casual list was some bizarre scheme to avoid hiring enough people to cover each other at different locations, while scrimping on overall employee wages. 

Anyways, overall I enjoyed the job itself and the people I worked with, but be careful you don't get taken advantage of by the sometimes sketchy management.

I have had a very positive experience working in this environment. The workplace promotes a culture of respect, teamwork, and professionalism, making it an enjoyable and productive place to work. Management is supportive and approachable, providing employees with the guidance and resources needed to succeed while also encouraging independence and growth.

Communication throughout the organization is clear and effective, helping everyone stay informed and aligned with team goals. Colleagues are friendly, collaborative, and always willing to assist when needed, creating a strong sense of community and mutual support.

The company values employee contributions and recognizes hard work, which helps maintain motivation and job satisfaction. There are also opportunities to develop new skills and gain valuable experience, making it an excellent environment for both personal and professional growth.

Overall, the positive atmosphere, strong leadership, and commitment to employee success make this a great place to work and build a career.


Customers are always friendly and satisfied. I learned a lot about culture through working with diverse individuals. I appreciate the space given to be creative/professional within the dress code. I appreciate that owner makes an effort to treat his employees as equals and to stay down to earth and humble. I appreciate the room for growth within the company. I enjoy and have pride in selling good quality products that are ethically sourced and wholesome. I enjoy the intimacy that the coffee shop provides to welcome regular and new customers alike. I enjoy the minimal restrictions on creativity for the employees in terms of appropriate music and work attire selections. I enjoy the inclusive atmosphere that JJ bean emits; it was the reason I was always attracted to the coffee shop and always wanted to work there; the employees were always so kind, down to earth, and attentive.

JJ Bean is an amazing place to work because of the team spirit that’s constantly displayed. However, it didn’t appear to be genuine. I appreciated the dedication of putting in an honest days work, but minimum wage is offensive, especially considering the hours and education to be in this industry. The company itself has amazing benefits that were promoted. Lastly, the management style is concerningly weak. The leadership was minimal, and rather petulant. Other employees outshone the management by a landslide in more ways than one. 

The hardest part of the job was also the easiest. Working in a team environment without cohesion and management teaches a person to be completely self motivated and exceedingly organized. I cannot thank the company enough for giving me the opportunity to develop and learn in this manner.

I love working at JJ bean. I wish I could work there for years because of the amazing people you get to meet. My only and big but would be the managers. In the past year I’ve had two different managers that I can’t stand, probably because they are young and immature. No work ethic, they tell you and treat you like they want. The worst part is that head office know about this and won’t do anything to change it. The bullying coming from managers is unbelievable. Hopefully they get to send HR people so we can tell them what is actually going on with those hypocrites running the stores. Overall, if you have good luck you can get to have a decent manager with some people skills and you’ll truly love the job. 

I enjoyed the first year working at jj bean as a prep cook. But i noticed a lot of changes over the years. The hours were okay because we left early so we had time for our separate personal lives. The only thing is the supervisors love to rush and you can feel it as a worker. If you try to express your issues with the manager , she listens more to the supervisors than the actual cooks. Super divided. The job is hard work but theres no room for learning… its just doing the same thing everyday. Theres the same routine for years and years. The wraps are not even delicious. They do have different levels that offer $0.50 per level race, but thats it. 

I worked at multiple locations. some were fantastic and had wonderful supportive managers that ran their store well and appreciated their staff. and some didn’t. I worked for a while at two that didn’t. If you like coffee it’s a great place to learn lots. You get free drinks and day old pastries/wraps, and coffee beans which is a bonus. Overall a good company with good ethics but the enjoyment of the job depends on which location you’re at, how well you handle stress, and if your manager treats you like a human being or not.

Coffee is more than coffee here and everyone will let you know that. I saw a review before I interviewed here calling it a boys club and that is absolutely accurate. This was by far one of the most toxic work environments I have been apart of. Extremely cut throat. As a POC myself and a lot of my coworkers (POC as well) were skipped over for advancement even though we had more seniority and skill and other non POC were chosen to advance. This is also not a stand alone experience. They do pay more than most coffee shops and that is appreciated, and tips are good depending on what location you are at. 

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Boulanger-pâtissier 10 salaries reported	$20.76 per hour
Barista 3 salaries reported	$18.67 per hour
Baker 1 salary reported	$19.13 per hour
Surveillant du service alimentaire 4 salaries reported	$21.25 per hour
Service technician 1 salary reported	$26.50 per hour

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