Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders

I hear it all the time, "My baristas just don't use the manual!" Of course it is frustrating to work into a document and resource only to have people forget or disregard it. Before you get too bent out of shape, you may want to ask yourself, do YOU use your manual? What about your managers? Today on Shift Break we are going to be talking about why you and your manager team need to integrate and adopt the regular usage of your manuals, guides, and docs if you want your staff to do the same. Related episodes: Your Employee Handbook is Worthless 329 : How to Teach Company Values to Your Staff Bridging the Values-Actions Gap Visit our Sponsors!!! The best espresso machines in the world! www.lamarzoccousa.com Custom branded mobile apps for your shop! www.espressly.co.

The culture of your management and leadership team is perhaps the most important one to focus on if you want the over all company culture to be healthy. What we see most of the time is that each manager or leader becomes an island, isolated, defensive and eventually burnt out striving in their own area without helping or being helped by others. Today we will be talking about essential behaviors that you need to cultivate in your in your management culture in order for both the individual and the business to thrive. Each of these behaviors will create a very healthy culture of mutual care that will be a catalyst for change across the cafe. After listening to this, please consider setting up a meeting with your team to work out how to make these a real practice. We Cover: Humility Support and uplift Pursue understanding Colaborative solutions Mindful actions and communication Related episodes: 261 : The Basics of Managing Managers 378: 5 Areas to Develop in Managers 229 : 7 Tips for New Managers 109 : Leadership Abandonment Syndrome : Lack of development in senior staff and what to do about it 179 : What you MUST Know About Employee Culture w/ Stan Slap 329 : How to Teach Company Values to Your Staff Visit our awesome Sponsors! GROUND BREAKING BREWING MADE SIMPLE! www.groundcontrol.coffee THE BEST PLANT-BASED BEVERAGES ON THE PLANET! www.Pacificfoodservice.com 30 years of resourcing you with the best products and education! www.coffeefest.com Use Code: "KEYS" for 50% General Admission

It's Founder Friday! Leaving a legacy and making an impact on the industry is something we all want for our businesses. Few companies get to the place where they can say they have not only achieved this but done so it a way that stays true to their values and traditions, while also artfully evolving with the changing landscape of coffee. Mr. Espresso in Oakland, CA is one such company. Established in 1978 and now celebrating 45 years in business, Mr. Espresso is a specialty coffee roasting company that has stayed true to the Italian coffee culture and roots of founder Carlo Di Ruocco while embracing innovation to inspire the next generation of coffee drinkers. In keeping with the sensibilities of the modern coffee consumer, Mr. Espresso is committed to responsible sourcing, sustainable production and investment in community. Offering wholesale beans, premium commercial brewing equipment, and service and training support, Mr. Espresso made its mark as one of the first full-service, coffee roasting retailers in the U.S. and has since become a trusted supplier to noteworthy restaurants, cafes, bakeries and coffee houses around the San Francisco Bay Area and nationally. Additionally, Mr. Espresso has expanded its online presence and grown its retail customer base well beyond the Bay Area. Mr. Espresso uses traditional wood-roasting methods over oakwood. This technique results in high moisture content and an increased retention of natural oils, producing a complex and full-bodied coffee with less acidity. Mr. Espresso has received numerous high-scoring reviews and accolades over its long history, and is a two-time Good Food Awards winner for its organic single-origin coffees. Founder Carlo Di Ruocco was awarded the 2015 Alfred Peet Passionate Cup, one of the Specialty Coffee Association's most prestigious awards. In early 2023, Mr. Espresso will open a cafe in downtown Oakland, not far from its roastery in Jack London Square. Today we are talking with Carlo DiRuocco's sons, John and Luigi DiRuocco, who Co-Own and run Mr. Espresso. Luigi Di Ruocco is Co-owner and Sales & Marketing Vice President of Mr. Espresso, and Co-owner of The Caffè by Mr. Espresso. An alumnus of Saint Mary's College, Luigi earned a double major in Business Administration and Economics, followed by two years in portfolio accounting. However, in 2001 at age 24, Luigi returned to the family business, drawn by the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the family enterprise. Currently, Luigi is at the helm of the newly opened – The Caffè by Mr. Espresso, in the heart of Downtown Oakland. John Di Ruocco is Co-owner and Vice President of Coffee for Mr. Espresso, and Co-owner of The Caffè by Mr. Espresso. After earning an undergraduate degree in architecture from UC Berkeley. After receiving his degree, he returned to the family business, learning the art of wood-roasting coffee from his father. John went on to become roastmaster in the early '90s, and eventually Vice President of Coffee. John has moved the company forward as a leader in both single-origin and blended coffees. John has been instrumental in expanding the offerings to reflect changing coffee preferences, adding distinguished lighter-roasted coffees, most often organic and fair trade in origin. In this conversation we discuss the rich history of this iconic company, their values, traditions, and how they have grown and evolved over the past 45 years! We discuss: The beginning of Mr. Espresso The importance of tradition and craft Creating an authentic product and brand Why wood roasting is unique in method and outcome How they source coffee and approach QC Evolving with the industry Knowing what to say no to and trusting your gut Advice for impact and longevity in coffee Offering a product that appeal widely but keeps tradition Links: www.mrespresso.com Instagram: @mrespressooak @thecaffeoak Listen to these episodes next! 081 : Founder Friday w/ David Schomer of Espresso Vivace 205 : Inside Caffe Florian, the World's Oldest Coffee Shop ! | Venice, Italy 380 : Founder Friday! w/ Cary and Cindy Arsaga of Arsaga's Coffee Roasters 327: Founder Friday! w/ Phuong Tran of Lava Java 320 Founder Friday! w/ Francesco Sanapo of Ditta Artigianale, Florence, Italy Visit our awesome Sponsors! GROUND BREAKING BREWING MADE SIMPLE! www.groundcontrol.coffee THE BEST PLANT-BASED BEVERAGES ON THE PLANET! www.Pacificfoodservice.com Reach out to KTTS! chris@keystotheshop.com

In all the building of systems and curating of culture we do, the one culture that tends to get short changed is the managers. Whether it is just you and one manager or a team of admin staff, the relationship between leaders in a coffee shop is critical to focus on and develop. Today on Shift Break we will be talking about this important set of relationships and why it is critical to the health of the entire company. Stay tuned to next week's episode where we dive even deeper into this subject with some solid practical steps. Related episodes: Don't Forget Relationships Proactivity in the Owner - Manager Relationship 194 : Encore Episode! Leadership in the Cafe: 10 Steps to being a People First Leader | Aire Expectations for Growth Reasonable Expectations The Myth of Hands Off / Automated Leadership Visit our Sponsors!!! The best espresso machines in the world! www.lamarzoccousa.com Custom branded mobile apps for your shop! www.espressly.co.

Taylor Minor, Co-Founder of Third Wave Water, shares his journey from running a roastery to revolutionizing home brewing. He discusses how Third Wave Water makes high-quality water accessible to coffee lovers, emphasizing its crucial role in enhancing flavor profiles. The conversation delves into the science of water chemistry and its impact on various roast styles, including espresso. Taylor also highlights the importance of equipping customers for success and the evolution of coffee culture in the specialty coffee industry.

Part 2 of 2023 Coffee Fest Live Louisville, KY interviews! In these interviews I sit down with stellar presenters and lecturers to dig deep into a range of relevant and important topics that will help make you and your coffee business better. For this part 2 we get to talk with Lauren Lathrop and Rob Arnold! First up is Lauren Lathrop of Mill City Roasters! For well over a decade Lauren has been a leading educator and impactful member of the coffee industry. From barista, to shop manager, to trainer some of the best brands and companies in the world, Lauren's approach to education creates progress and understand for all she teaches. That educational prowess is has, in recent years, been applied to roasting through Mill City Roasters where she helps roasters achieve quality and repeatability and gives them the keys to unlock their potential. At Coffee Fest I sat down with Lauren to discuss the most important aspects of training roasters and how we can not only learn well under instruction and give effective instruction, but how we can guide our own roasting education. ​​Next we chat with Rob Arnold of Pre-Game Coffee Rob is the founder, owner, roaster, and creative at Pre-Game Coffee here in Louisville, KY. For 4 years now Pre-Game has been the premier sports, coffee, and cocktail venue in Louisville and focuses on providing what is likely one of the most unique hospitality experiences in the city. Cocktails and signature drinks have been a focus since day one and Rob was able to talk with the attendees at Coffee Fest about the secrets to success with these beverages. I sat down to chat with Rob about that very thing so you too can benefit from his field tested approach to cafe cocktails and sig drinks! Links: Lauren: www.millcityroasters.com Rob: www.pregamecoffee.com Related episodes: 159 : Addressing Unconscious Bias w/ Lauren Lathrop of Mill City Roasters SPECIAL: Coffee Fest Live! Chicago 2022 Part 1 w/ Luke Waite, Kris Christian, and Perfect Cube SPECIAL: Coffee Fest Live! Chicago 2022 Part 2 w/ Marissa Childers, Jess Gulino, and Tony Dreyfuss 157 : Four from the Floor : Interviews from Coffee Fest Indianapolis 2019 142 : Entrepreneur Interviews from Coffee Fest NYC! www.coffeefest.com

Part 1 of 2023 Coffee Fest Live Louisville, KY interviews! In these interviews I sit down with stellar presenters and lecturers to dig deep into a range of relevant and important topics that will help make you and your coffee business better. To start us off on part 1 we are going to talk with Jackie Nguyen of Cafe Caphe! Jackie Nguyen is the founder of Cafe Caphe in Kansas City, MO. From broadway to coffee shop owner, Jackie has been a dynamo in the coffee scene of KC with Cafe Caphe. A space focused on highlighting Vietnamese coffee as well as marginalized communities, Jackie has lead the way for vibrant cafe culture. Part of her success is a strong and deep social media presence that connects people to her brand before even visiting. Today we get to chat with her about how we too can use our social platforms to connect and grow our community and our business. ​​Next we chat with Sean Roberson of West Lou Coffee! Sean Roberson is the founder and roaster at West Lou Coffee in Louisville, KY. A West Louisville native Sean fell in love with coffee roasting after a career in finance and has been running an growing West Lou coffee as a business based in West Louisville and with an aim to enrich and inspire locals in West Louisville and other overlooked and under resourced areas of cities world-wide. Today we chat with Sean about his journey in starting West Lou Coffee, the challenges, importance of his work, and advice to other who live in marginalized areas to start and build something for their communities as he has. Links: www.westloucoffee.com @westloucoffee www.cafecaphe.com @cafecaphe Related episodes: SPECIAL: Coffee Fest Live! Chicago 2022 Part 1 w/ Luke Waite, Kris Christian, and Perfect Cube SPECIAL: Coffee Fest Live! Chicago 2022 Part 2 w/ Marissa Childers, Jess Gulino, and Tony Dreyfuss 157 : Four from the Floor : Interviews from Coffee Fest Indianapolis 2019 142 : Entrepreneur Interviews from Coffee Fest NYC! www.coffeefest.com

If we work with people long enough, we are going to face frustrations and challenges. Too often these normal relational issues go unresolved and solidify into something called resentment. Today on Shift break we will be talking about how boss and barista alike can fall into this trap and what to do to avoid the toxicity that results by leaving it unaddressed. Related episodes: Don't Forget Relationships Avoiding Toxic Loyalty Proactivity in the Owner - Manager Relationship Understanding and Bitterness Visit our Sponsors!!! The best espresso machines in the world! www.lamarzoccousa.com Custom branded mobile apps for your shop! www.espressly.co.

Phil Beattie, an industry leader with over 20 years at Dillanos Coffee Roasters, dives into the coffee culture's evolution and the essential connection between consumers and roasters. He discusses the disconnect between industry jargon and consumer preferences, advocating for more accessible communication. Phil highlights the importance of embracing diverse flavors while avoiding coffee snobbery. He emphasizes nurturing relationships across the coffee supply chain to enhance understanding and enjoyment, ultimately bridging the industry-consumer flavor gap.

Growing you coffee shop is about more than just adding locations. Growth has to do with developing internal resilience, culture, and practices that are life giving to those who work in the business and to you as the owner. Ultimately the path for sustainable growth is a people-first path and today we are talking with someone who has a lot of experience charting that path. I am thrilled to welcome back to the show, Mike McFall of Biggby Coffee! BIGGBY is a fast-growing coffee franchise with over 350+ locations across the U.S. Within the company, Mike has worked every position, from minimum-wage barista to his current role of Co-CEO. Grow, the second book in Mike's three-book series, picks up where Grind leaves off–when an entrepreneur is in the midst of the bootstrapping entrepreneurial phase and asking, "what's next?" The book offers a strategic blueprint for entrepreneurs trying to reach the promised land of stability and sustainability in their businesses. Filled with real-life examples from Mike's 26 years of experience, Grow plants the seeds to help readers recreate themselves as the leaders their organizations need them to be and take their business from chaos to calm. In this conversation we dive into some of the most critical element outlined in his book that, if applied and practiced, will definitely help you grow your business the right way. We cover: How to recognize the lessons you learn in business Telling the truth Becoming irrelevant Providing emotional stability Cultivating trust Mastering time management and prioritizing Being a constant learner and helping others do the same Links: www.Michaeljmcfall.com www.biggby.com Related episodes: 263 : Founder Friday w/ Mike McFall, Co-Founder of BIGGBY Coffee! 239 : 5 Best Practices for the Best Small Business w/ Henry Lopez 223 : Building a Financially Resilient Business w/ Andrew Carroll 194 : Encore Episode! Leadership in the Cafe: 10 Steps to being a People First Leader | Aired January 17 2017 Visit our awesome Sponsors! GROUND BREAKING BREWING MADE SIMPLE! www.groundcontrol.coffee THE BEST PLANT-BASED BEVERAGES ON THE PLANET! www.Pacificfoodservice.com 30 years of resourcing you with the best products and education! www.coffeefest.com Use Code: "KEYS" for 50% General Admission