Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders

When it comes to our training and resourcing of staff we often have a desire for people to "get it" and to be detail oriented, but fail to give them much to "get" or to orient them to the details. This results in inconsistency and frustration in both customers and staff as baristas fill in the blanks that management should have all ready filled in. This is where a good guide comes in.  Today we wi...

I am so excited to present this Founder Friday with two people who are doing amazing things in coffee! I met them in the first year of their business in 2018 as clients and they have done a great job of growing their business with excellence and care. Today we get to talk with Danny and Michelle Quiroz of Reserva Coffee Roasters in McAllen, TX!   Danny Quiroz is also Managing Partner at Reserva Co...

Everyday we make decisions about both small and large things in the coffee shop. Often those decisions are made in a reactive way that is more born from a sense of urgency and FOMO than intentionality and right fit.   Today on Shift Break we will talk about 3 questions to ask when you are faced with any decision and how the habit of asking and answering them will transform your business.  Related...

Roasting for espresso is a tricky business. Not only are there multiple variables that inherently complicate the extraction process but there is also a wide variety of opinion is and preferences for what the final flavor experience should be like. On this Rate of Rise episode we will be talking about how one world renowned roastery roasts for espresso and how their technique and approach has evolv...

One of the best options for getting started in coffee without as much risk is a coffee truck. Especially emphasized post-pandemic, mobile concepts like coffee trucks have grow exponentially and with it the need for reliable information on how to become successful in that context. Today we will be talking with one the go-to coffee truck authorities, Vincent LaVolpa of green Joe Coffee School!  Vinc...

While we always want to assume our staff are aspiring for the highest standards, we know that they (just like us) need help. In the course of the day there are many opportunities to speak into the lives of your baristas as a coach and guide. Be this as it may, some of us avoid correcting staff and in so doing we create tension and an environment  Today on Shift Break we will talk about the often f...

One of the most important aspects of our business is how we welcome people into our space. Early on in the KTTS podcast I sat down with someone who I still consider to be one of the best examples of showing genuine hospitality in a way that is simple yet powerful.  Today I am re-sharing with you all this interview with Phillip Paul Turner who at the time was a manager for Sunergos Coffee's 5th St....

Serving our customers well means being able to give them our best. This can only be done if we are constantly seeking to improve what we do. But not at the expense of who we are doing it for. Today on Shift Break we will be chatting about who it is we are really trying to impress and serve. Who we have in mind as our primary audience will be what guides our decisions, successes, and, in many cases...

You see it all the time, a barista is promoted to a role such as trainer, manager, cafe lead etc, but they quickly find that there is very little preparation that has gone into this role. They are either simply not doing much, but now they have a title, or they are doing far too much in an effort to make up for the bosses lack of planning the role prior to promotion. In both cases there is burn ou...

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 a...

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 th...

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.  Establishe...

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 o...

For a long time the coffee you could get at home was limited in quality because the average home user, while able to purchase gear and coffee, was not able to match the commercial water quality of their favorite cafe. All that changed when ThIrd Wave Water democratized ideal water for coffee and helped unlock the potential for innumerable coffee lovers world wide.  Taylor Minor is Co-Founder of Th...

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 bee...

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 broadwa...

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 Rela...

As an industry, our flavor preferences turn into what we market, which turn communicates a message about quality and what people should care about when it comes to "the best" coffees. Too often we are content to let the our message be incredibly narrow regarding flavors and preferences. Without context this leaves a lot of great coffee that may be more enjoyable for the consumer, at a disadvantage...

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...

All of us have had the conflicted emotions of having baristas that are simply amazing but then also knowing that those baristas will eventually leave the coffee shop. Try as we may, most staff will not be long term and this can either cause you to feel defeated, or you can embrace it and the opportunity these exemplary employees bring.  Today on Shift break we will be talking about how we can lean...

Learning how to listen is the cornerstone of effective and transformative communication. In the hustle and fast paced daily activities of the coffee shop, it is easy to forget about listening and truly understanding what is being said beyond the words we hear. Add to this that emotions are often high, listening deeply and well can seem daunting. Thankfully we have a guest on the show today who is...

Especially important for the younger generation is access to the wisdom and experience of those who have gone before. Older coffee professionals can also benefit from the drive and perspectives of the younger. Problem is that we tend to only converse with and stick to your own age group and the benefit of cross generational communication is lost.  On today's Shift Break we will be talking about me...

The barrier of entry for getting a coffee shop open is lower than ever. Many have the idea that if they can get the shop open, then they have succeeded. But the test is not only about whether you can open a shop, or even if you can keep it open, but how do you make something that is truly great and successful?  On today's episode we will be talking about a few ingredients that must be present in t...

I mean, I like variety as much as the next person, but overly complex menus are overwhelming and create confusion for customers who rely on us to curate our offerings that meets their needs in a way that delivers quality over quantity.  On today's Shift Break we will be talking about how the pursuit of a simplified menu can be a powerful tool for hospitality and, in the end, creates a more memorab...

In order to train people in coffee and barista skills you have to not only be a student of your subject, but also a student of your students and their unique context. In recent years we have seen an incredible explosion of coffee eduction in producing countries where the landscape of learning is among the most unique given their deep relationship with coffee. Today we will be talking with an educa...