

Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
Chris Deferio
A coffee podcast providing coffee shop owners and leaders, with insights, inspiration, and the tools you need to grow and advance your coffee business or coffee career. We learn from experts both in and outside the coffee industry as they deliver specific, practical, and actionable advice about ownership, optimization, profitability, barista work, employee culture, management, scaling, leadership, personal development, and anything else that will help you achieve success in the coffee shop.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 11, 2022 • 1h 27min
372 : Milk Steaming Master Class: Science + Craft w/ Morten Munchow and Emilee Bryant!
Every day on bars across the globe baristas are using milk to create amazing drinks. For almost as long as coffee has been served in coffee shops, milk has been a staple ingredient. Yet, in spite of its ubiquity in coffee culture, we tend to focus (understandably) more on understanding and crafting coffee than we do the milk that today makes up such a. large portion of our menus. Today you are in for a treat. We will be diving into the subject of milk from both a scientific perspective and a craft perspective. To do this we talk with two establish authorities on the subject, Morten Munchow and Emilee Bryant. Morten Munchow is the Founder of Coffee Mind a coffee roasting academy, research, and consultancy company based in Denmark. Morten is a scholar of biology who through over ten years of intense practical and scientific research and application gained a unique insights that have pushed the specialty coffee industry forward worldwide. He is a sought after speaker and presenter having published several papers in scientific journals. Emilee Bryant is a long time award winning barista, latte art champion, internationally revered coffee content creator, and trainer with Counter Culture Coffee in NYC. When it comes to breaking down the craft of coffee, milk steaming and latte art, Emilee is second to none in effectively communicating concepts that lead to consistently great results. In both conversations we get very technical and specific about the how what and why of milk as a product and then the practical steps needed to craft that milk into a beautiful texture to add to our coffee. I hope you listen deeply and leave this episode with more clarity, understanding, and confidence regarding the science and craft of milk! Links: Morten: www.coffee-mind.com Instagram Emilee: Youtube @emstagrim Related episodes: 047 : Mastering Latte Art : Some of the worlds best latte masters weigh in! 333: Bridging the Professional and Home Barista Gap w/ Lance Hedrick of Onyx Coffee Lab RoR #5: Time and Color in Roasting w/ Morten Munchow of Coffee Mind" 339 : What Good Barista Training Produces 119 : Barista Training Masterclass w/ 2009 WBC Champion, Gwilym Davies Interested in leveling up your coffee shop? Click here to schedule a free consulting discovery call with KTTS Click here to book a formal one-on-one consulting call! Visit our amazing Sponsors! www.groundcontrol.coffee www.pacficfoodservice.com www.coffeefest.com

Oct 4, 2022 • 15min
How Should Managers be Appraising Staff?
I got a great question in from a listener. "How should managers be appraising staff?" I love it because it gets beyond the trope of the holy trinity of delegation (Schedule + Inventory/ordering + Shift coverage) and assumes correctly that a manager should be involved in the development of their team. So today on Shift Break we will be talking about the how of apprising staff as manager as well as the preparations necessary to be effective with your coaching, feedback, and reviews. Don't miss this one! Related Episodes: 243 : Encore Episode! "The Sleepwalking Barista (Owner)" The Difference of Deference to your Staff Visit these amazing sponsors! The best espresso machines in the world! www.lamarzoccousa.com Custom branded mobile apps for your shop! www.espressly.co

Oct 4, 2022 • 23min
371: Baristas, Don't be a Hero
We all are susceptible to the siren song of trying to fix a place or a person to our own detriment. In the moment it seems like the right move and there is a sense higher calling an nobility pushing us forward. The reality though is that for certain cafes and bosses, there is no reformation only resistance and a dedication to the ways that will eventually drive you into the ground. On today's episode we will be discussing why you should not try to be a hero at the expense of your own well being and what you can do to use this current circumstance you may find yourself in for your long term betterment instead of a desperate bid save a pace and sacrifice yourself in the process. Related episodes: 162 : Discussing "Baristastainability" w/ Jenna Gotthelf of Counter Culture Coffee 031 : Essential Advice for New Baristas : Tips to help you successfully navigate and thrive in your new coffee career 363 : Setting Boundaries in the Coffee Shop w/ Tom Henschel 181 : Organizational Self-Knowledge Shift Break: Creating a Feedback Culture Interested in leveling up your coffee shop? Click here to schedule a free consulting discovery call with KTTS Click here to book a formal one-on-one consulting call! Visit our amazing Sponsors! www.groundcontrol.coffee www.pacficfoodservice.com www.coffeefest.com

Oct 3, 2022 • 1h 8min
370: Founder Friday! w/ Tony Dreyfuss of Metropolis Coffee Company, Chicago, Illinois
I am excited to present to you another great interview with an inspirational founder! This time we get to hear the story of the founding an development of a business that has long been a pillar of specialty coffee in the U.S.. We are talking with Tony Dreyfuss, Co-Founder of the award winning Metropolis Coffee Company! Tony started Metropolis Coffee with his Father Jeff Dreyfuss in 2003 and they continue to own and run it to this day. In the span of 2 decades Metropolis has established itself as both an iconic specialty coffee roaster and shop, winning many awards for its coffee and overall business, but also as a pillar of the community it serves in Chicago. The values and passion for of diversity, quality, and locally rooted service are the foundations that make Metropolis as effective and successful as they are. Today we will be diving into the story of Metropolis as we talk with Tony about everything from his first exposure to coffee and getting hooked on the scene- to founding and growing Metropolis with all the high and low points along the way. We cover: Discovering coffee and becoming a coffee guy Experiences at Pete's and planning his own shop First steps into coffee as a career and then as an owner Working with family and building the brand Using experience + Learning new business lessons Coffee offerings then and now Inclusivity model and hiring nice people Cultural diversity and a people first approach Learning from mistakes and embracing authenticity Thoughts on the industry shift toward accessible offerings Most important issue in coffee right now Links: https://www.metropoliscoffee.com/ Metropolis Coffee Instagram @metropoliscoffeeco Related Episodes: 366: A Conversation w/ Chris Baca of Cat and Cloud Coffee 204 : Founder Friday w/ Jeff Taylor of PT's Coffee Roasting Co. & Bird Rock Coffee! 075 : Founder Friday w/Jill Killen of Cloud City Coffee, Seattle Washington 329 : How to Teach Company Values to Your Staff 282 : How to Listen to your Customers 367 : Designing Your Coffee Shop for Community w/ Dr. Lisa Waxman Your Peers are not your Customers Visit our amazing Sponsors! www.groundcontrol.coffee www.pacficfoodservice.com

Sep 29, 2022 • 10min
The Wrong Way to Improve Morale
One of the top questions I get asked is about how to improve employee morale. As someone who has conducted and sat through his fair share of meetings designed around this issue, I can tell you with a fair degree of certainty what does not work. On todays Shift Break we will be talking about the wrong way to improve employee morale as well as the right way to begin truly fixing the problem instead of throwing a lot of meetings and initiatives at it. Please listen to these recommended and related episodes: Fix the Small Stuff! : Management, Morale, Coffee Bar Culture The One-on-One : How one meeting can dramatically impact your coffee shop's culture and morale. Four Steps to Inspiring Your Staff Visit these amazing sponsors! The best espresso machines in the world! www.lamarzoccousa.com Custom branded mobile apps for your shop! www.espressly.co

Sep 26, 2022 • 34min
369: Encore Episode! How to be a Cash Register Hero
It goes without saying, but I will say it anyway - first impressions matter a lot! When a customer enters your business the person that sets the tone for them is usually the barista working the cash register. With this fact in mind you'd think most bars would then invest heavily in training and equipping their staff to work this station with the same or even greater finesse than a barista. But you'd be wrong. Mostly we tend to under equip and push to the side this area and it shows. On today's episode we will be revisiting an old episode that deals directly with this topic and will give you 6 skills that are needed to do a wonderful job at the cash register. Please also listen to the recommended episodes below to dive deeper into the subject and let it motivate you to take action on improving the experience your staff and customers have at the POS. Recommended episodes: Up-selling and Hospitality: Helping Customers Make Good Decisions 271 : Why the Cash Register Controls Everything 085 : How we Ruin the Specialty Experience 045 : Simple, Powerful Hospitality w/ Philip Turner Empowering Staff to make the right Call Interested in leveling up your coffee shop? Click here to schedule a free consulting discovery call with KTTS Click here to book a formal one-on-one consulting call! Visit our amazing Sponsors! www.groundcontrol.coffee www.pacficfoodservice.com www.coffeefest.com

Sep 22, 2022 • 8min
Make Your Problems More Specific
There is always a general sense of anxiety present when it comes to running a coffeehouse. Part of the reason for that is that problems are always popping up and we need to then deal with them. The other reason for why this anxiety seems perpetual has to do with the fact that for most operators, problems are not specific enough to do anything about. On today's Shift break we will be exploring how digging into the problems you experience and making them more specific, will give you a far great chance of finding peace of mind and solutions amidst the challenges of running a cafe. Related episodes: Slowing down your Response Time The Miracle of the Mundane: How curiosity helps our sustainability 125 : Confidence in Conflict w/ Kwame Christian : A framework for Compassionate Curiosity 052 : Solving Coworker Conflict w/ Tom Henschel 165 : The Art of Deep Listening w/ Oscar Trimboli Visit these amazing sponsors! The best espresso machines in the world! www.lamarzoccousa.com Custom branded mobile apps for your shop! www.espressly.co

Sep 20, 2022 • 29min
368 : Walking the Line Between Leadership and Friendship
We have a problem. There are plenty of people in leadership positions but many of them are afraid to step into their role and opt instead to try to avoid the difficulty by being friends with everyone. I'll bet you know a manager or owner like this and I'll also bet it was not necessarily an endearing quality. In an environment where community, teamwork, and close quarters are constants, it is natural to feel the tension between leadership and friendship. Today we are going to be hashing out why this tension exists, how it has led to some bad situations, and what to do to make sure you are and trusted, respected AND effective leader in the coffee shop. We cover: Why we try to run form authority Futility of friendship alchemy Bias and toxicity Avoidant behavior and Self awareness Embracing your role and authority for good Using the difference Keeping your distance while connecting Related episodes I think you will enjoy: 074 : The Life Changing Power of Good Authority w/ Jonathan Raymond 067 : 6 Truths About Power : The Responsible Approach to Power Dynamics in the Cafe Interested in leveling up your coffee shop? Click here to schedule a free consulting discovery call with KTTS Click here to book a formal one-on-one consulting call! Visit our amazing Sponsors! www.groundcontrol.coffee www.pacficfoodservice.com www.coffeefest.com

Sep 16, 2022 • 9min
Your Bathroom Stinks
When we promise our customers a specialty experience in our shops they would logically assume that promise of quality might extend to the bathroom. Alas, it is not so. Not at least for many shops. On today's Shift Break we are going to be talking about how the way you care for you cafe bathroom is a direct reflection of how you care for you guests and why we need to hold ourselves to a higher standard. Related episodes: 307 : 10 Simple ways to Level Up your Coffee Shop Spiders and Customer Service 175 : How to Keep your Cool : A Fridge, Cooler, and Ice Machine Masterclass w/ Luke Peterson of The Maintenance Department! 367 : Designing Your Coffee Shop for Community w/ Dr. Lisa Waxman Visit these amazing sponsors! The best espresso machines in the world! www.lamarzoccousa.com Custom branded mobile apps for your shop! www.espressly.co

Sep 13, 2022 • 1h 9min
367 : Designing Your Coffee Shop for Community w/ Dr. Lisa Waxman
It goes without saying that most of us want our shops to be a place that attracts and fosters community. The question though is how exactly to we intentionally build our spaces to accomplish that. If we are honest, probably not as much thought or effort get put into setting up a space to purposely create community as is necessary. Well you are in luck! Today we are talking with returning guest and expert on interior design and how to create community conducive spaces, Dr. Lisa Waxman! Dr. Waxman, Ph.D. is a professor and chair of the Interior Architecture + Design department at Florida State University. Her research includes topics related to the design of spaces that foster community, sustainable design, and design for special populations. She is an NCIDQ certificate holder, a LEED-AP and a licensed interior designer in Florida. Dr. Waxman has served in many capacities on the board of the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC), including president-elect, president and past-president from 2010 until 2013. She was honored as a Fellow of IDEC in 2008. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). Her teaching expertise includes environment and behavior, design issues, sustainability and studio. Dr. Waxman has authored an incredible number of scholarly works and has won many awards for her work. In our interview today we will be discussing her new book "Designing Coffee Shops and Cafes for Community" and diving into the practical ways we can build great 3rd places for our communities. We cover: Perspective of community and the 3rd place Biological roots of out need for connection Balance of community success and commercial success. Familiar stangers Key components of place attachment How are our cafes counteracting community Values, mission, and identity reflection Branding and un-branding Thinking about Lighting, texture, sound, and smell Working around space restraints Community with mobile operations? Welcoming and serving a variety of demographics Service is critical Links: BUY: Designing Cafes and Coffee Shops for Community Mentioned resource: Together Book Interested in leveling up your coffee shop? Click here to schedule a free consulting discovery call with KTTS Click here to book a formal one-on-one consulting call! Visit our amazing Sponsors! www.groundcontrol.coffee www.pacficfoodservice.com www.coffeefest.com


