Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders

Growing the business is probably the number one concern in the cafe industry. In general we tend to look at growth as either scaling the size of the business physically, or the revenue and profitability. What if I told you there was another way you can look at growth? On today's Shift Break we will be talking about ways to look at growth that don't rely only on the usual defaults of revenue and scale, but give you another option to be established and fulfilled as an owner. Recommended episodes: 469: Unremarkable Hospitality and Cafe Terroir SHIFT BREAK: Embracing Your Constraints Building your Coffee Shop's Capacity from Simplicity 327: Founder Friday! w/ Phuong Tran of Lava Java If you are a cafe owner and want to work one on one with me to bring your shop to its next level and help bring you joy and freedom in the process then email chris@keystothshop.com of book a free call now:  https://calendly.com/chrisdeferio/30min Key Holder Coaching Group Applications are Open! APPLY TODAY!   If you are a cafe owner and want to work one on one with me to bring your shop to its next level and help bring you joy and freedom in the process then email chris@keystothshop.com of book a free call now:  https://calendly.com/chrisdeferio/30min    Thank you to out sponsors! Everything you need for back of the house operations https://rattleware.qualitybystainless.com/   The best and most revered espresso machines on the planet: www.lamarzoccousa.com      

Ever since 2020, we as a coffee industry have been looking for ways to create more resiliency in our businesses. The cafe in particular is vulnerable to a lack of resiliency. Not only is the coffee shop a relatively low margin and high effort entity with an ROI that can take years, it also relies on the public consistently investing in its products and services. In times of economic trouble, coffee can be one of the first things cut. To hedge our bets and prepare for these times, we must build resiliency before it is needed. Today we are going to be talking about how you can go about creating this resiliency in several different facets of your cafe business. In the end, practicing these things will not only build strength and readiness for uncertainty, but will build trust in your brand that can even out the peaks and valleys of those inevitable times. We cover Mindset and Leadership Prioritizing Self-Care Agility and Diverse Income Streams Lean Operations and Efficient Tracking Connecting with Consumers Providing a Great Experience Effective Systems Staff Communication Related Episodes: 223 : Building a Financially Resilient Business w/ Andrew Carroll 276 : Six Ideas for Increasing your Revenue SHIFT BREAK: Making Minimum Viable Changes Focus on These Areas in the New Year 244 : Top 10 Ways to Lose Employees Leaner Teams, Better Results   Key Holder Coaching Group Applications are Open! APPLY TODAY!   If you are a cafe owner and want to work one on one with me to bring your shop to its next level and help bring you joy and freedom in the process then email chris@keystothshop.com of book a free call now:  https://calendly.com/chrisdeferio/30min    Get the best brewer and tool for batch espresso, iced lattes, and 8 minute cold brew! www.groundcontrol.coffee   The world loves plant based beverages and baristas love the Barista Series! www.pacificfoodservice.com  

Coffee is from Africa, yet the way we think of and enjoy coffee today is largely separated from the roots that produced that original fruit. The disparity we see in the value stream today, where those growing coffee do not receive the fruit of their labor, is the consequence.  Today we get to talk with someone who has been laboring hard to honor coffee's root in an effort to create a better future for both those who grow coffee as well as for under served communities whose own cultures are tied closely to coffee's history.  Bartholomew Jones is an emcee, cxffee nerd, and multi-hyphenate creative. Alongside his wife, Renata Henderson, he is the co-founder of Cxffeeblack and co-owner of the Anti-Gentrification Cxffee Club, a coffee educational center and cultural hub located in Memphis, TN. Founded in 2018, Cxffeeblack is a community-oriented, multi-disciplinary, education-based coffee company that became a trailblazer in the coffee industry by creating an entirely all Black coffee supply chain from Ethiopia to Memphis, TN, the first of its kind. Cxffeeblack is on a mission to return coffee to its African roots and in the process create an equitable Black future. Bart is a Sprudge 20 honoree, an annual list of the Top 20 coffee influencers cultivated by Sprudge Media Network, a renowned international authority on coffee and its culture; Cxffeeblack was one of the Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity’s 2024 Innovator of the Year awardees. We discuss: Creating a Space for Authentic Creativity Honoring the Roots and History of Coffee The Impact of Colonialism  Collaboration and Co-Creation in Coffee Culture The Evolution of Coffee Black Empowering Individuals to Find Themselves in Coffee Diverse expressions of Coffee Creating a Community Space: The Anti-Gentrification Coffee Club The Coffee Black Flagship: A Dining Room and Co-Generative Dialogue Inspiring Coffee Shops that Honor Roots and Engage with Communities Links: Invest in CxffeeBlack: Honor Your Roots   www.cxffeeblack.com https://www.instagram.com/cxffeeblack/   Related episodes: 116 : Understanding Gentrification w/ Dr. Stacey Sutton 352: Music, Culture, and Coffee w/ Hip Hop Artist, Propaganda 338: A Conversation w/ Martell Mason of The Sepia Coffee Project, Detroit, Michigan 279 : Founder Friday! w/ Daniel Brown and Nephthaly Leonidas of Gilly Brew Bar 230 : Making room for Community in your Shop 139 : Founder Friday w/ Kusanya Cafe co-founder, Phil Sipka 315 : Growing and Connecting w/ Stephen Zinnerman of The Coffee Enthusiast!   Learn more and put in your application for the next  Key Holder Coaching Group! APPLY TODAY!   If you are a cafe owner and want to work one on one with me to bring your shop to its next level and help bring you joy and freedom in the process then email chris@keystothshop.com of book a free call now:  https://calendly.com/chrisdeferio/30min    Get the best brewer and tool for batch espresso, iced lattes, and 8 minute cold brew! www.groundcontrol.coffee   The world loves plant based beverages and baristas love the Barista Series! www.pacificfoodservice.com  

It is assumed that we should constantly be growing our businesses and looking to expand, scale, and add-to what we have now. Trouble is that, in today's abundantly resourced and optimized environment, we may actually be able to do so at rates that out pace our ability to become the kind of people we need to be to properly handle that growth. On today's Shift Break we will be talking about why your own development as a person is key to successful growth as a business and why hardship and constraints are often not just signs of a problem, but rather an opportunity to shape you and prepare you for success.  Recommended episodes: Self-Awareness and Honesty 181 : Organizational Self-Knowledge 453 : The Craft of Operations The Myth of Hands Off / Automated Leadership Over Optimization 442 : We Need Confidence, Celebration, and Joy! If you are a cafe owner and want to work one on one with me to bring your shop to its next level and help bring you joy and freedom in the process then email chris@keystothshop.com of book a free call now:  https://calendly.com/chrisdeferio/30min Listen to related episodes:  159 : Addressing Unconscious Bias w/ Lauren Lathrop of Mill City Roasters 244 : Top 10 Ways to Lose Employees 278 : Making great Hiring Decisions Don't Hire on a Trial Basis Setting and meeting Standards in the Coffee Shop You Can't Automate Quality Emotions, Self-Sabotage, and Telling Ourselves the Truth Thank you to out sponsors! Everything you need for back of the house operations https://rattleware.qualitybystainless.com/   The best and most revered espresso machines on the planet: www.lamarzoccousa.com      

Every day in the cafe we are called on to communicate "in the moment". Whether we are baristas, trainers, managers, or owners ; how effective we are in those moments determines the culture and effectiveness of our business. Wouldn't it be great if there were tools and methods formed specifically to help you not freak out under the pressure of impromptu speaking but to be clear and confident instead? Well you're in luck because today we get to talk with the author of the book Think Faster, Talk Smarter, Matt Abrahams!  Matt Abrahams is a passionate, collaborative and innovative educator, author, podcast host, and coach. He is the Larsen Lam Family Lecturer in Organizational Behavior at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business where he teaches two very popular classes in Strategic Communication and Effective Virtual Presenting. He received Stanford GSB’s Alumni Teaching Award in recognition of his valued service to teaching Stanford Alumni around the world. In addition to his teaching, Matt is much sought-after keynote speaker and communication consultant for Fortune 100 companies. His online talks garner millions of views and he hosts the popular, award winning GSB podcast called Think Fast Talk Smart. Matt is also the author of the book that is the subject of today's conversation, "Think Faster, Talk Smarter" which equips the reader with tools and strategies to be confident, articulate, and effective when called upon to speak "in the moment" We cover The Importance of Impromptu Communication Reducing the Pressure of Spontaneous Communication The Role of Listening in Effective Communication Crafting Clear and Concise Messages The Role of Values and Reputation in Communication Improving Communication Skills through Reflection, Repetition, and Feedback LINKS: https://mattabrahams.com/   Related Episodes: Blog: Good Communication is “For Here” 443: Want Impactful Messaging? Keep it Simple! w/ Author Ben Guttmann 165 : The Art of Deep Listening w/ Oscar Trimboli 415: The Best Lessons On How to Listen w/ Listening Expert, Oscar Trimboli 379 : Encore Episode! How to Deliver Difficult Feedback w/ Tom Henschel : Plus Bonus Content 334 : How to Approach Deescalation w/ Melissa Tucker of Mind Over Matters and Pathways to Peace 331 : The 7 Deadly Sins of my Career Get the best brewer and tool for batch espresso, iced lattes, and 8 minute cold brew! www.groundcontrol.coffee   The world loves plant based beverages and baristas love the Barista Series! www.pacificfoodservice.com  

Seeing results form your efforts is what motivates most all of us. In the coffee shop you are engaged with a dynamic intersesion of moving and living communities that take your efforts and reward you with sometimes obvious and sometimes not-so-obvious feedback. It's when we don't see the results happening the way we imagined that we can be tempted to simply abandon the effort and sometimes the business altogether.  On today's Shift Break we will be talking about why you should not give up and how to be patient in the process of pursuing worthy goals in the face of frustrating but perhaps emerging results.  Recommended episodes: On a Resilient Coffee Community 414: Secret Ingredients for a Successful Coffee Shop 100! Why YOU are the Key SHIFT BREAK: Owners, It's OK to Make Mistakes   If you are a cafe owner and want to work one on one with me to bring your shop to its next level and help bring you joy and freedom in the process then email chris@keystothshop.com of book a free call now:  https://calendly.com/chrisdeferio/30min Listen to related episodes:  159 : Addressing Unconscious Bias w/ Lauren Lathrop of Mill City Roasters 244 : Top 10 Ways to Lose Employees 278 : Making great Hiring Decisions Don't Hire on a Trial Basis Setting and meeting Standards in the Coffee Shop You Can't Automate Quality Emotions, Self-Sabotage, and Telling Ourselves the Truth Thank you to out sponsors! Everything you need for back of the house operations https://rattleware.qualitybystainless.com/   The best and most revered espresso machines on the planet: www.lamarzoccousa.com      

One of the most heartbreaking things I see is when an established cafe is forced to upend everything due to changes to the cost or use of a space that they do not own. All the dreams, emotions, investment in the space itself, and developing a customer bases habits around that location are all up in the air. While renting may always be a great first step for most owners with limited resource, it may also not be the wisest long term play as you grow. If you are looking for an alternative to that volatility, you may want to consider ownership Joining me to unpack this topic is Paul Neal.  Paul Neal is the owner of Vantage Point Commercial Capital and a trailblazer in empowering business owners to create wealth, autonomy, and control by owning their commercial space. His new book, "Un-Lease Your Business: Unlock Wealth, Autonomy and Control By Buying Your Building and Firing Your Landlord," delves into this transformative approach to commercial property ownership.   Today on the podcast we are going to talk all about why you should consider owning your own space vs renting and what ownership can do for your businesses security, profitability and more! We cover The Availability and Challenges of Commercial Real Estate Ownership Financial Factors and Timing for Purchasing a Building Managing Risk and Building Confidence in Ownership The Benefits of Owning the Building Creating a Unique Culture and Attracting Customers Building Equity and Generating Income The Process of Owning a Building LINKS: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-neal-tea/ https://vpc.capital/about-us/ https://www.amazon.com/Lease-Your-Business-Autonomy-Building/dp/1955242747   Related Episodes: 223 : Building a Financially Resilient Business w/ Andrew Carroll 388 : Insurance and Risk Mitigation w/ Brennan Pothetes of Butter Insurance 447: Understanding the Business of Coffee w/ Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood 374: Opening a Coffee Shop: Fantasy vs Reality (w/ bonus commentary)” 330 : Establishing Systems in Your Coffee Shop   Get the best brewer and tool for batch espresso, iced lattes, and 8 minute cold brew! www.groundcontrol.coffee   The world loves plant based beverages and baristas love the Barista Series! www.pacificfoodservice.com  

Managing in a cafe is one of the ultimate forms of leadership. Part of leading as a manager is planning for, responding to, or avoiding altogether, problems with people, operations, and quality. But instead of spending our best energies in prevention of problems, we tend to manage reactively when problems turn into a crisis. It's a vicious cycle.  On today's Shift Break we will be talking about why we need to flip our focus and pull ourselves away from the dependency the business has on us being crisis managers, and instead become people whose best energies are spent in preemptive leadership and at the very least in creating solutions to issues when they happen to prevent them from repeating. Recommended episodes: SHIFT BREAK: Embracing Problems as Blessings Stop Glorifying Chaos When Small Problems Grow Up Don't Waste Problems If you are a cafe owner and want to work one on one with me to bring your shop to its next level and help bring you joy and freedom in the process then email chris@keystothshop.com of book a free call now:  https://calendly.com/chrisdeferio/30min Listen to related episodes:  159 : Addressing Unconscious Bias w/ Lauren Lathrop of Mill City Roasters 244 : Top 10 Ways to Lose Employees 278 : Making great Hiring Decisions Don't Hire on a Trial Basis Setting and meeting Standards in the Coffee Shop You Can't Automate Quality Emotions, Self-Sabotage, and Telling Ourselves the Truth Thank you to out sponsors! Everything you need for back of the house operations https://rattleware.qualitybystainless.com/   The best and most revered espresso machines on the planet: www.lamarzoccousa.com      

The Industry. What does that even mean? Owners and professionals use this term as though it has specific power to give clarity or meaning to the work they do, when in fact it is merely the most readily observable manifestation of millions of individual decisions across the supply chain, all made worse when based on a fixation on that reflection.  For many operators there is an assumption that their cafe and the decisions they make need to be compared against the wider industry to find validation and success. Today we will be talking about how this dependency is a mistake and why freeing yourself and your business from this collective narcissism is critical to sustaining your business, doing more good, and serving your community.  We cover Why the Industry is You Questioning Industry Trends Separating Ethic from Business Understanding Customer Habits Rootedness and Prioritizing Your Shop Success Beyond Industry Validation Related Episodes:  Peers 317 : Encore Episode: Death by Comparison 227 : Connecting with Hearts and Minds 230 : Making room for Community in your Shop 181 : Organizational Self-Knowledge Your peers are not your Customers Who do we Serve?   Thank you to our amazing sponsors! Get the best brewer and tool for batch espresso, iced lattes, and 8 minute cold brew! www.groundcontrol.coffee   The world loves plant based beverages and baristas love the Barista Series! www.pacificfoodservice.com  

Hiring is probably the most important decision you make in your coffee shop. As important as it is to choose the right people, we often are at the mercy of bad habits or are missing key practices we need to make that decisions and end up making too many mistakes that drain you, the business, and the your team of energy.  On today's Shift Break we will be discussing three BIG hiring mistakes that I see countless cafes making and how you can take steps to avoid them.  This is not just about the well being of your team and business, but also the ones you hire who were not a good fit. When you hire them, it cuts off other possibilities for them in places where they might have been more suited and that can really mess up their career.  So when you listen, hear this as an episode intended to care for ALL the people involved.  If you are a cafe owner and want to work one on one with me to bring your shop to its next level and help bring you joy and freedom in the process then email chris@keystothshop.com of book a free call now:  https://calendly.com/chrisdeferio/30min Listen to related episodes:  159 : Addressing Unconscious Bias w/ Lauren Lathrop of Mill City Roasters 244 : Top 10 Ways to Lose Employees 278 : Making great Hiring Decisions Don't Hire on a Trial Basis Setting and meeting Standards in the Coffee Shop You Can't Automate Quality Emotions, Self-Sabotage, and Telling Ourselves the Truth Thank you to out sponsors! Everything you need for back of the house operations https://rattleware.qualitybystainless.com/   The best and most revered espresso machines on the planet: www.lamarzoccousa.com