Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders

Chris Deferio
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Oct 28, 2021 • 9min

Exclusivity is a Bad Strategy

"We are the only coffee shop in our town that serves this!" I will bet that you have thought or said this, or some version of this phrase, yourself as you have planned or run your business. Being the only one to have something is exhilarating at first, but then it tends to fade as the thing we thought would be our defining differentiator, becomes more available and common. Today on Shift Break we will be talking about why exclusivity is a bad strategy and what we need to spend our energy on instead if we want to build a lasting and truly unique business. Related Episodes: The Power of "No" Differentiation Takes Time! Digital Hospitality 215 : Communication and Marketing Master Class w/ Spencer M. Ross, PH.D. Interested in consulting or coaching? Reach out! chris@keystotheshop.com Visit our awesome Sponsors! Elevated batch brew and so much more! Ground Control Cyclops Brewer The best espresso machines in the world! www.lamarzoccousa.com
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Oct 24, 2021 • 56min

311 : Why Your Coffee Shop Needs Open Book Management w/ Larry Chase

Have you ever wondered how you can get your staff energized and highly invested in the success of your business? This is one of the struggles that a lot of coffee shop owners have. Turns out the best solution for this challenge is to give your staff a real stake in the outcomes of the business and trust them like partners. Today we will be exploring Open Book Management and The Great Game operating system with Great Game coach and trainer, Larry Chase! Since 1997 Larry Chase has been a craft brewer leading teams at some of the nations best breweries. All along the way he has studied finance eventually becoming a long time board member of the Brewers Association as the Treasurer and Finance Chair. His career has taught him how to break down complex topics into simple terms to train bring understanding to staff. He is now taking his decades of experience in both finance and leadership and helping businesses achieve success through Open Book Management as a Great Game of Business coach. On today's show we will be talking with Larry about this operating system and it power to involve, activate, and engage staff in impacting the core financial levers of your business. I find this way of management very promising for coffee shops and Larry does a masterful job of walking us through the what, why, and how of Larry teaches, supports and coaches businesses wanting to build a lasting healthy culture and empower employees to make positive financial impacts on the business. We Cover: Open book reporting vs Open Book Management Creating great work cultures What makes up OBM? Tapping into peoples desire to learn Financial literacy Unlocking employee innovation Line of sight to impact the business The importance of reward Servant leadership How to take the first steps The learning curve of implementation Involving others Links: www.greatgame.com Larry Chase email: lrjchase@gmail.com Related Episodes: 302 : Data's Roll in the Success of your Shop w/ Mark Calhoun and Jim Strarcev of Perfect Cube 009 : How to Approach Data and Metrics w/ Simon Ouderkirk : Simon shows us how we should be thinking of numbers and their relation to our shops, baristas, and businesses 304 : Inside the Coffee Data Trends Breakout Report w/ Katie Von Der Lieth of the SCA Visit our amazing Sponsors! www.prima-coffee.com/keys www.pacficfoodservice.com www.coffeefest.com
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Oct 21, 2021 • 1h 15min

310 : Founder Friday w/ Jelynn Malone and Beverly Magtanong of Mostra Coffee

This Founder Friday is such unique success story! What started as a dream between two best friends (one an actor, the other a classical opera singer) has now been a 7 year coffee journey that is easily the most important and rewarding performance of their lives. From a humble garage to now an award winning roastery with 4 cafes and countless culinary collaborations, we will be diving into the story of Mostra Coffee with co-founders Jelynn Malone and Beverly Magtanong. Jelynn Sophia Malone is a Filipino-American entrepreneur, businesswoman, philanthropist, actress, TV host, producer, wife, and mother of 2 beautiful daughters. She is a co-founder, owner, and acting Chief Marketing Officer for Mostra Coffee, With over 15 years of marketing experience in Hollywood, Jelynn has been instrumental to the growth and international success of Mostra Coffee. She is dedicated to creating positive change that uplifts entire local and global communities. Beverly Magtanong is a Filipino-Canadian-American entreprenuer, businesswoman, philanthropist, wife and mother of 5 children. She is a founder and co-owner of Mostra Coffee, As a classically trained opera singer with no prior business or coffee experience, Beverly is inspired to empower others to find their true, authentic selves, and make intuitive and empathic entrepreneurship the norm. Mostra Coffee is a specialty coffee roaster located in San Diego, CA and the recipient of the international and coveted 2020 Micro-Roaster of the Year award by Roast Magazine. They have been featured on Forbes, Us Weekly, Buzzfeed, Gear Patrol, Huffington Post, Conde Nast's Bon Appétit, as well as ABC, NBC, FOX, KTLA, ABS-CBN, TFC, Alaska Airlines and Google Talks at Google HQ. Mosta is focused on providing an excellent experience for their customers through the tireless pursuit of perfecting their craft and being the beauty in humanity. I hope you enjoy and are inspired by the Mosta Coffee story! We cover: From entertainment to coffee Philippines and the Mission of Mostra First steps t launch Mostra in a garage Genesis of their first retail space Dialing in their quality through feedback Cold brew, beer pioneers Creating the first brick and mortar retail experience R & D and utilizing early versions Interview and hiring process Being and spreading goodness through authenticity Navigating growth and planning the future Perspective and the magic needed to say no Harmonious partnerships Links: www.mostacoffee.com Mostra Coffee on Instagram Mostaland 7th year Celebration Related Episodes: 284 : Founder Friday! w. Jackie Nguyen of Cafe Cà Phê | Kansas City, MO Special! "Thinking Differently" Series | Filipino Coffee w/ Ron Dizon of Teofilo Coffee! 256 : Founder Friday w/ Varat Vichit-Vadakan of Roots Coffee Roaster in Bangkok, Thailand Visit our amazing Sponsors! www.prima-coffee.com/keys www.pacficfoodservice.com
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Oct 21, 2021 • 9min

Passive-Aggressive Management

Confrontation and difficult conversations are things we tend to avoid. One of the outcomes of this is an increasingly passive-aggressive style of management that seeks to take care of the issue without having to face it. Today on Shift Break we will be talking about this common issue in coffee shops and how we can reframe confrontation and do away with passive aggressive management for good. Related episodes: 125 : Confidence in Conflict w/ Kwame Christian : A framework for Compassionate Curiosity 165 : The Art of Deep Listening w/ Oscar Trimboli 067: 6 Truths about Power 221 : Building your People Program w/ HR Consultant Dana Goodwin Visit our sponsors! Interested in consulting or coaching? Reach out! chris@keystotheshop.com Visit our awesome Sponsors! Elevated batch brew and so much more! Ground Control Cyclops Brewer The best espresso machines in the world! www.lamarzoccousa.com
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Oct 19, 2021 • 1h 3min

309 : A Conversation w/ Sarah Allen and Ken Olson of Barista Magazine

Few things are as essential to the global barista community as Barista Magazine. For 16 years they have been "Serving people Serving Coffee" and advancing the knowledge, craft, and profession of the barista with every issue. Barista Magazine gives a platform and voice to the vibrant and amazing people who make amazing coffee and today we get to talk with the founders, Sarah Allen and Kenneth Olsen, All about how it started, grew, and their perspectives on the growth of the industry they have been faithfully reflecting all these years. Sarah Allen, the editor-in-chief and co-founder of Barista Magazine, has been a driving force in the international barista movement from its outset, writing thoughtfully and compellingly about the barista craft, as well as contributing numerous stories on the subculture of baristas to multiple magazines and newspapers. Sarah has worked in a variety of editorial positions in her 20 years of professional publishing experience, as a staff writer for The Oakland Tribune in the San Francisco Bay Area; as a staff writer for The Oregonian newspaper in Portland, Ore.; as a freelance writer for such publications as WebMD, The Los Angeles Times Magazine, and The Hollywood Reporter; and as the Editor of Fresh Cup Magazine. She holds a Master's degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon in Eugene, Ore., and a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of California in Davis, California. Publisher Kenneth R. Olson has more than two decades of experience working as a writer and editor for both mainstream and specialty coffee publications. Kenneth's work has appeared in a number of publications, including academic journals, Oregon Humanities, and The New York Times. Kenneth holds a Master's degree in Communications from the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, and a Bachelor's degree in History and Communications from the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. I am old enough to remember when Barista magazine first came out only 6 years into my own career in coffee and what an impact it made. I have known Sarah and Ken for a good portion of that time and so getting to interview them here on this show feels truly magical. I hope you enjoy this conversation! We cover: Beginning at the perfect time Creating and curating the first issue Highlighting baristas and connecting the community Listening as essential to serving well Providing tools, education and lifting up the barista Accessibility of information Global spread of barista culture Rise of barista in producing countries Providing clear learning pathways Why there is no "right" answer How owners can meet barista's needs right now Links: www.baristamagazine.com Instagram @baristamagazine Related Episodes: 306 : A Conversation w/ 2004 U.S. Barista Champion, Bronwen Serna! 305 : Founder Friday! w/ Andrew Sinclair of MadLab Coffee, Los Angeles, CA 294 : At Origin Roasting Revolution w/ Luis Fernando, founder of Amor Perfecto! 252 : Founder Friday w/ Klaus Thompson of the Coffee Collective, Denmark Visit our amazing Sponsors! www.prima-coffee.com/keys www.pacficfoodservice.com www.coffeefest.com
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Oct 14, 2021 • 13min

Do You Need Experience to Open a Coffee shop?

This question gets brought up often when people are discussing their plans to open a coffee shop. The answer, as you might expect, is not as easy as saying yes or no. Ultimately we need to explore what is behind the question. Why is it being asked and how can you answer it for yourself. Today on Shift break I will be giving you my perspective on this question in hopes that it encourages you to pursue the best paths of preparation for the coffee journey ahead. Related episodes: 283 : 5 Bad Reasons to Open a Coffee Shop 269 : What to Focus on after you Launch 258 : Prioritizing your Mental Health in the New Year w/ Dr. Lara Pence 253 : Mindsets that Sabotage Success Interested in consulting or coaching? Reach out! chris@keystotheshop.com Visit our awesome Sponsors! Elevated batch brew and so much more! Ground Control Cyclops Brewer The best espresso machines in the world! www.lamarzoccousa.com
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Oct 12, 2021 • 40min

308 : A Conversation w/ Italian Brewers Cup Champion, Alessandro Galtieri

Italian coffee has shaped how the world understands coffee and cafe culture. These days there is a movement to take the traditional Italian way of of getting a coffee and elevate the quality and the experience making it a truly specialty coffee experience. At the heart of that movement is Aroma Caffe todays guest, Alessandro Galtieri. Alessandro has owned and operated Aroma Caffe since 1994 and has been a coffee professional since 1991. As he ran the cafe he began to shift it into a beacon of progressive specialty coffee amidst the traditional coffee culture landscape of his city of Bologna, Italy. Alessandro is the 2018 and 2019 Italian Brews Cup Champion and 3rd place finisher in the 2019 World Brewers Cup. He has published several books/ manuals on professional barista work and training, is a certified SCA trainer, and is tirelessly working to serve his customers the best quality and to make them happy through coffee. In today's conversation we will be covering his beginnings in coffee, becoming an owner, the challenge of shifting to specialty, and his vision for the future of Italian coffee culture. We cover: Learning under older traditional Italian baristas The road to owning his own bar Changing the business model to specialty coffee Training and educating both baristas and customers Experiencing resistance to new ways from traditionalists What makes Italian coffee culture? What is the future of Italian coffee culture The most important behaviors of a barista How loving our coffee helps its sustainability Constance and temperance Links: Aroma Caffe on Instagram @aromacoffeelove Website: https://www.ilpiaceredelcaffe.it Alessandro's Brewers Cup Routine Related episodes: 198 : The Evolution of the Coffee Shop w/ Prof. Jonathan Morris 205 : Inside Caffe Florian, the World's Oldest Coffee Shop ! | Venice, Italy 019 : 10 Reasons to Love the Customer w/ Chris Deferio 299 : 5 Rules for a Successful Coffee shop Blog: The Customer of Tomorrow Visit our amazing Sponsors! www.prima-coffee.com/keys www.pacficfoodservice.com www.coffeefest.com
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Oct 8, 2021 • 1h 13min

ROR #8 How Post-Harvest Processing Impacts Flavor w/ Siva Subramanian and Byron Holcomb of Olam Food Ingredients

Siva Subramanian and Byron Holcomb from Olam Food Ingredients dive into how post-harvest processing radically affects coffee flavor. Siva, with a rich background in food innovation, discusses scientific advancements enhancing aroma and taste. Byron, a former barista and coffee buyer, highlights the significance of processing methods on flavors, revealing the crucial role of microorganisms. The conversation covers the evolution of techniques, the differences between washed and natural coffees, and the innovative honey processing methods that balance quality and economics.
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Oct 7, 2021 • 10min

You Can't Automate Quality

It seems like we as an industry want two conflicting things. On the one hand we want baristas to create excellent drinks and to come to work with the mentality that they will not just be on autopilot and phone it in. On the other hand, we have a tendency to believe that the right configuration of recipes and equipment will solve the problem. Today on Shift Break we will be discussing why machines and recipes cannot replace people in providing the kind of quality we seek, and how, ultimately, we need to take ownership over creating the environments where quality can achieved. Related episodes: 298 : A Trophy, or Atrophy? 296: Holistic Barista Training w/ David Castillo of Go Get Em Tiger , Los Angeles 025 : Mastering the Art of Training w/ Dave Stachowiak : Coaching, Leadership, education , and how to communicate your coffee and barista knowledge so it sticks 248 : The 5 Elements of Resourcing your Team Interested in Consulting? Reach out! Chris@keystotheshop.com Visit our awesome Sponsors! Elevated batch brew and so much more! Ground Control Cyclops Brewer The best espresso machines in the world! www.lamarzoccousa.com
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Oct 4, 2021 • 39min

307 : 10 Simple ways to Level Up your Coffee Shop

Our coffee shops are the sum total of many different small and large things. When business gets going it can be easy for some of the simpler and more nuanced elements of running a coffee bar to fall by the wayside. The impact these have over time can be and is felt by both your staff and your customers. Today you and I will be covering ten ways you can upgrade how your employees and patrons experience your cafe. These will be practical/physical changes as well as mindset shifts. As you listen, I would challenge you to select one or two of these and really create an initiative to implement them in your shop long term. As you go through the whole list I believe you (and everyone else)will see some remarkable changes. We cover: Bathrooms Bar cleaning Condiments Seating area Aromas in the shop Service standards Prioritizing feedback Upgrading and maintaining Focusing on your work Related Episodes: 057 : SOP's FTW! Success through Standard Operating Procedures Spiders 299 : 5 Rules for a Successful Coffee shop 128 : Terry's Top 10 w/ Terry Ziniewicz : Best practices for how not to kill your espresso machine 253 : Mindsets that Sabotage Success Fix the Small Stuff! : Management, Morale, Coffee Bar Culture Visit our amazing Sponsors! www.prima-coffee.com/keys www.pacficfoodservice.com www.coffeefest.com

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