Shows / Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
A coffee podcast providing coffee shop owners and leaders, with insights, inspiration, and the tools you need to grow and advance your coffee business. 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
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
159 : Unconscious Bias w/ Lauren Lathrop of Mill City Roasters
What we think and how we act are inextricably linked. In the world of hospitality how our views and assumption about others influences everything form how we…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
Self-Betrayal and the Art of Action
Everyday we have the opportunity to act on thoughts we have that would benefit others and never follow through. There is a whole world of encouragement lying…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
158 : A Managment Masterclass w/ Jon Felix Lund, VP of Operations for Coava Coffee Roasters
Being a manager in coffee ain't easy. There is no end to the number of different issues vying for your attention on any given day and it can seem like you are…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
Would You Hire You?
Sometimes we can give ourselves a pass when it comes to being the type of professional that we want employees to be. Practicing self-awareness is tricky when…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
157 : Four from the Floor : Interviews from Coffee Fest Indianapolis
The beautiful thing about coffee is getting to explore the stories of all the wonderful individuals who make up the specialty community. Today we we do just…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
156 : Founder Friday w/ Lauren Crabbe of Andytown Coffee Roasters
"Like walking into your granny's kitchen." That's the goal Andytown Coffee Roasters founders Lauren Crabbe and Michael McCrory have for what people experience…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
Don't You Forget About Me
Tracking staff performance can be difficult when you are putting out fires and being pulled in a thousand different directions. Things fall through the cracks…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
155 : A Conversation w/ T. Ben Fischer of Glitter Cat Barista
Less Bitter, More Glitter. That is one of the mottos for Glitter Cat Barista, a new barista competition training program designed to give marginalized and…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
The Agreement
Communication is the cornerstone of a harmonious team. Problem is that we tend to see things that need correction and don't feel comfortable bringing them up…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
154 : Decoding Decaf w/ Mike Strumpf of Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffees
Decaf coffee has been much maligned over the years but it has been getting steadily better. What once was a joke amongst "serious" coffee nerds is now being…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
Before you Expand
Expanding to a second shop is exciting but it can complicate things when the move to grow is not based on a solid foundation. Today we are chatting about some…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
153 : Exploring the Peace Trade in the Congo w/ Mighty Peace Coffee
In a country torn by war one organization is literally sowing seeds of peace and hope through coffee. Mighty Peace Coffee is a next generation impact company…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
Endo / Exo Professional Development
We all feel awkward and impatient when we start in a new position. How we develop in these times will determine who and what we become later on. Today on shift…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
152 : Jen Apodaca : Essential Advice for Starting a Roastery
So you want to start a coffee roastery. Well there is a lot that goes into it and an overwhelming amount of information you can access to help you along the…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
I Don't Want to Talk to You
Sometimes hospitality opportunities are just inconvenient. Often times we straight-up struggle to do anything more than the basic requirements of our job let…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
151 : How to React and Respond to Negative Feedback
We don't like to hear negative feedback. We get defensive and immediately start looking for ways to dismiss it rather than digging in to see if there is value…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
150 : Founder Friday w/ Kyle Wells of Torpedo Coffee, Denver, CO : Before & After Episode
On this Founder Friday we are taking a look into the before and after of Torpedo Coffee in Denver, CO. I was able to interview Kyle Wells at the Coffee Fest…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
Stop Lying
It is something we all do in ways we don't really think of as damaging. Lying to ourselves and others comes in the form of often well-meaning affirmation but…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
149 : Celina Velez, Head Roaster at Merit Coffee
Celina is about to celebrate her 2 year anniversary of joining the specialty coffee community having started with no knowledge of coffee as a roasting…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
Unofficial Trainers & Fair Compensation
"Just show them the ropes" is a phrase we use when giving baristas the extra responsibility of helping bring up a new hire. This usually is done with little…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
148 : Exploring the Ground Control Brewer with Inventor Eli Salomon of Voga Coffee
We all want to extract the most out of our coffee. There are many methods and tools used to achieve maximum flavor but only a few machines offer innovation in…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
People...not Objects
It's easy to write off someone and treat them in a way that dehumanizes for the sake of convenience. We tend to make ourselves out to be better, and others…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
147 : U.S. Roasting Champion 2019, Shelby Williamson of Huckleberry Roasters, Denver, CO.
Roasting is a hard job that happens behind the scenes. Even the championship itself is somewhat isolated from view! That is why I am so excited to share this…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
Learning -vs- LEARNING
With an abundance of available resources we tend to horde knowledge and never truly apply it to our lives. Is our quest to learn getting in the way of our…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
146 : How to Host a Throwdown w/ Justin Shepherd of Spencer's Coffee in Bowling Green, KY
Want to know what goes into hosting a killer throwdown that energizes your baristas and brings the community together? Well your in luck because today we are…
Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders145 : Founder Friday with Red Rooster Coffee Roaster Co-Founder, Haden Polseno-Hensley
Today on Founder Friday we get to hear from Haden Polseno-Hensley, Co-Founder of one of my favorite coffee companies, Red Rooster Coffee Roasters in Floyd…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
The Miracle of the Mundane: How curiosity helps our sustainability
When we think of the work we do on a daily basis we are not typically prone to describing it as "fascinating". For many of us it is a mundanity that we want to…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
144 : A Conversation with 2019 U.S. Barista Champion, Sam Spillman!
The Champ is in the house! 2019 U.S. Barista Champion, Sam Spillman of Dillanos Coffee Roasters joins me for this very special episode. In our conversation we…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
What is Professionalism? Some thoughts for the future of service
Professionalism is a loaded word that has been discussed a lot lately. It is a trait many of us want to be perceived as having but are sent mixed signals from…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
143 : Behind the Scenes of the new "Baristas" Movie w/ Director, Rock Baijnauth
It's an honor to welcome to the show the director of the 2nd Barista movie "Baristas", Rock Baijnauth! The first movie "Barista" was a huge success and brought…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
Winning and Losing : Thoughts on pursuits and their wake
It is easy to get caught up in the pursuit of the top position in any endeavor and base our value on the results. How we approach our goals will determine what…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
142 : Entrepreneur Interviews from Coffee Fest NYC! : British Coleman & Shabria Quinn Robinson, Peter Moses, and Ryan Vaxmonsky share their passion knowledge, and inspire us all
I am so excited to share these interviews from the show floor at Coffee Fest NYC! I had the chance to interview the amazing British Coleman & Shabria Quinn…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
Empathetic Systems
It is often the case that we create systems in the cafe and then lose connection with the real impact those systems have in the lives of the staff and…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
141 : The 27 Challenges Managers Face w/ Bruce Tulgan : Solving the most common challenges with intuitive and straightforward solutions, coffee shop management, leadership, foundational principles
If you are in management you know that it is not each day can bring a new set of challenges. It just so happens that there are 27 particular challenges that…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
Please Clarify: Making sure you and your boss are on the same page
When you take on the role of manager you are hooked into a bunch of dynamic relationships not the least of which is between you and your boss. Unfortunately we…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
140 : A Conversation w/ Erika Vonie, Director of Coffee at Trade Coffee : Professional journey, challenges of retail, green buying, learning about coffee, finding the right fit, how to make a global impact, valuing yourself, competition highs and lows
I am so excited to welcome Erika Vonie to the show! Erika is the Director of Coffee for Trade Coffee and she is the professionals professional. Her long and…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
139 : Founder Friday w/ Kusanya Cafe Co-Founder, Phil Sipka! : Community organization, non-profit, resident run, serving the neighborhood, creating a 3rd place, empowering staff and community, renewal vs. gentrification
It's Founder Friday! Today we talk with the Co-Founder of Kusanya Cafe located in Englewood, Chicago, USA, Phil Sipka. Kusanya Cafe is an all resident owned…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
The Acceptance of Dysfunction
Dysfunction in the cafe's functionality is something we all deal with and have to manage. Not everything works according to plan or the way it is supposed to…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
138: Joseph A. Rivera on Organic Acids & the Importance of Coffee Science : We learn a bit about organic acids, caffeine, the importance of coffee science and quality
There is a whole world of chemical components that make up your cup of coffee. Knowing more about that world will help us become better operators and better…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
Feedback Culture : Making feedback a part of what you do not just something you sometimes do
Communication is a two-way street. The way we operate though makes it very difficult for communication to flow back up the chain of authority in the shop. This…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
137 : Essential Books for your Professional Development Vol. 2 : Five Books that will teach you team building, management, entrepreneurship, managing your manager, embracing your coffee shop as a community space
Nothing helps you grow like great books! In this Vol.2 of Essential Books we talk about 5 books that will have a huge impact on your career and business. They…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
Approving Delegated Work: The overlooked element that keeps the cafe up to standard
Coffee shop managers need to delegate and assign tasks to the team. This includes checklists, chore charts, and special projects. A critical part of effective…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
136 : Nourishing the Barista's Soul : A conversation with Deb Kaminski of Pacific Natural Foods : Supporting baristas, learning coffee, product development, feedback, excellence, knowing your worth in coffee
Today is a special day because we get to chat with Deb Kaminsky, the Director of Food Service Marketing for Pacific Natural Foods. When you see the Pacific…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
Your Bird Box : Tuning in to the under-appreciated expertise of the customer
In coffee shops it is so easy for us to be blind to anything outside the world that calling for our immediate attention. We relegate the customer's palate to a…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
135 : Staying Motivated in the Midst of Difficulty : Principles and perspectives on healthy growth, finding the right motivation, and being inspired where you are
Working in coffee can really wear on you. Often we find our motivation for the job is so low it is almost non-existent. It could be you are the only barista…
Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders134 : Founder Friday! w/ Jeremy Zhang | M2M Roasters & Uni Uni , Nanjing, China : 2x Chinese Barista Champion and coffee entrepreneur, specialty coffee in China, hiring and training, keeping standards, leading multiple cafes
It's Founder Friday and today we get to hear from the 2x Barista Champion of China and owner of M2M Roasters & Uni Uni Coffee , Jeremy Zhang. In this…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
Curbing their Enthusiasm : How we put a damper on the customer's experience and what to do instead
It is easy for us to become jaded and to pass on our cynicism to the customer. How can we come along side them and be their guide tot this new world of…
Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders133 : 5 Keys to Successful Wholesale w/ Sarah Richmond : How to set up an incredible wholesale program, servant leadership, mission driven values, integrity, team building, systems and operations, mindset and growth
Wholesale! It is a vital part of both your success as a roaster-retailer, and the success of specialty coffee globally. Setting up a program that is…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
Icing on the Cake: Competitions vs. the Shop
Competitions are great for their ability to energize, challenge, and foster growth in baristas. The question is, are we doing the same for our staff? We chat…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
132 : Baristas Speak! Vol. 3 : Conversations form Coffee Champs Nashville! w/ Adam JacksonBey, Kat Melheim, & Kristina Jackson : Barista career, leadership, industry impact, overcoming challenges
Baristas speak and we listen! Learning form others experiences and allowing the way we chart our course to be influenced by the best input from our peers is an…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
Communicate, Duplicate, Repeat : Key habits that make information stick
There is always room for more clarity in communication. This is especially true in the coffee shop where so much vital information can fall through the cracks…
Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders131 : The Strong Women of Coffee w/ Laura Gonzalez : Behind the project giving a voice to the amazing women that make up our industry , challenges women face in coffee, and some practices to adopt to help open up opportunities
Our industry is blessed to have so many wonderful women contributing their greatness and inspiring us all. Laura Gonzalez knows this to be true and founded the…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
The Conversational Reality of Your Business : Thought on how to approach creative projects in the new year
There is more to a business than just our vision and goals. When we create anything we are involved in a conversation. Today we chat about how to approach your…
Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders130 : Anne Nylander | Training Principles for Specialty Coffee Professionals : Breaking down Anne's new book that helps trainers and educators conduct effective sessions and grow as professionals
If we want healthy businesses that produce amazing coffee experiences then becoming better at training and teaching coffee needs to be a constant pursuit…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
129 : Founder Friday! : Casey & Jeremy Miller of The Mud House / St. Louis, MO
The Mud House stands as an amazing representation of where passion, genuine love of people, and a consistent pursuit of quality can take you. For 10 years now…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
Accurate Reflection : A very important end of year challenge and encouragement to the Keys to the Shop community
SHIFT BREAK #33 : As this year comes to an end and many of us are reflecting on 2018 and planning on what we want to pursue in 2019. As we think and put…
Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders128 : Terry's Top 10 w/ Terry Ziniewicz : How not to Kill you Espresso Machine : Best practices to give your machine a long life from a man with a life time of machine knowledge, preventative maintenance, scheduled maintenance, tools, tips, advice
Your espresso machine is probably the most expensive thing you have in the shop. It is also the heart of your cafe's operation. Taking care of it should not be…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
Drink Drills! : Guidelines for using this powerful training tool in the coffee shop to get baristas ready for anything
SHIFT BREAK #32 : I love drink drills! They are an essential tool in any training I do because they work VERY well for bringing a up baristas practical bar…
Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders127 : Passion and Curiosity: A Conversation w/ Major Cohen, Sr. Project Manager, Starbucks Global : Starbucks history, developing a career, working as a team, advocating for baristas, teaching coffee, future of baristas, customer experience, importance
No matter where we are in specialty coffee, we have all benefited in some way from the influence of Starbucks and their immense impact on the world stage…
- Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
Tips for Conducting Great Staff Meetings
SHIFT BREAK #31 Regular staff meetings are one of the most important tools for energizing, equipping, informing, and affirming. In order to get the most out of…