Today we talk with Coffee Masters Champion, Agnieszka Rojewska! She is the multi-time Polish Barista champion, Latte Art champion, and now Coffee Masters champion, a trainer, consultant, and all around inspiration!
In this conversation we chat about her packed completion schedule, pushing yourself outside your comfort zone, her experience as a cafe owner and manager folding in lessons from competition into day-to-day operations, the importance of the customer being our focus, and how we can create opportunity to advance our careers.
It was an honor to talk with Agnieszka and I know you will get something valuable from this conversation.
Links:
Interested in Keys to the Shop Consulting? Email: chris@keystotheshop.com or call at 502-715-1465
Warmth, hospitality, community, kid songs...this episode has it all! Today we get the chat with the founder of Pinhole Coffee, JoEllen Depakakibo! JoEllen's shop, Pinhole Coffee, is an amazing little cafe nestled in the Bernal Heights neighborhood of San Fransisco. For four years now she has been living her dream of owning a coffee shop that is also conduit and hub for art and community.
We talk about her coming up in coffee, how she decided to open her own place, the challenges of getting started, the values that drive her, how they show hospitality to each other and the customer, hiring, and her advice on how to create a solid community focused business.
Enjoy!
Links:
Architect : bcooperative.com
It is often the little things that we allow or that escape our attention that will ruin the specialty experience for our customers in our shops. Today we discuss ways that we create unnecessary roadblocks to customers having a truly great experience in the cafe and what to do about it. We give you a framework to use in rooting out issues and cover some of the main points that are likely hiding in plain sight. When we give these behaviors a pass or let these details slip over time, we end up holding our industry back from being truly effective at the store level in representing specialty coffee well.
Links:
"We got slammed!", "Today was intense!", "It was crazy!" ...If you have ever said this then today's episode is for you. In the cafe we all experience rushes differently based on how well prepared we are. A sudden pop of business or sustained time of having a line out the door can be either the time to shine or to shift into survival mode. A rush is one of the most critical times for your business to make a great and lasting impression. Today we will explore some helpful tips and best practices that will give you more of an opportunity to embrace those times with confidence and crush the rush!
Links:
Episode 2 "Mastering Your Workflow" w/ Ryan Soeder
Interested in training & Consultation? Contact me here:
Chris@keystotheshop.com / 502-715-1465
I love recommending great books! In this episode we talk about 6 books that I think are critical to your professional development. They cover everything form hospitality, coffee knowledge, operations, management, personal growth, and vocational calling and should be a part of your library. I want to do more episodes like this so keep an eye and ear out for tools focused episodes and a "Round 2 " of books for you to read.
It is my hope that at least one if not all these books have profound impact on your work and life. I know they have in mine.
Enjoy!
What role does delivery of flavor, knowledge, and consistency play in giving your company the depth and soul needed to truly execute on a high level of quality over the long haul? Is specialty coffee scaleable? How do we think and act in order for our businesses to succeed long term?
Great questions that we get answers to and more as we welcome Cosimo Libardo, Managing Director of Toby's Estate Coffee to the show!
Cosimo's role in the industry has been one of leading innovation both in the way we work with coffee and think about it. His expertise in the business of specialty really shines through as we discuss things that are crucial to not only our business success but the success of specialty as a concept in the global market.
Go to www.keystotheshop.com and enter your email for the show notes.
Also reach out to me with comments, questions etc. chris@keystotheshop.com
Links for this episode:
@tobysestatecoffee / Instagram
@tobysestateaustralia / Facebook
It's Founder Friday!!!
I am honored to have David Schomer of Espresso Vivace join us on the show as his company celebrates it's 30th year. Since it's founding in 1988 Espresso Vivace has been home to David's groundbreaking and paradigm shifting experiments with espresso coffee and drink presentation. His work has been foundational and formative in the lives of countless professionals around the world. In this interview I get to talk with David about the early years, his philosophy on service and what he wants customers to experience in his stores, why only 3 shops in 30 years, what makes a great espresso, hiring, the secret to longevity, how he has personally grown over these 3 decades of meticulous pursuit of his espresso ideal, and much more!
There is a lot to take away and be inspired by here. Enjoy!
Links:
Reach out to KTTS!
Changing things in the shop can either make things better or make things worse. Of course you need to have a good idea or solution, but, once you have that, it is all about HOW you go about implementing the change. Today I am presenting to you some guidelines, A workflow of sorts, that will help you make changes that stick and actually build rapport in the process.
We have all been a part of a shop where the leaders make changes in less than ideal ways and cause needed stress. We also have likely been the ones to rush a project or solution into existence and felt the blowback from the staff. My hope is that this episode will aid you in your ability to institute changes successfully.
Enjoy!
Questions? Comments? Want to explore working with KTTS Consulting? email me!
-or call-
502-715-1465
Related episodes:
EP 74: The Life Changing Power of Good Authority
Hey! Coffee Fest Baltimore 2018 was fantastic and I got to visit and chat with three fantastic people for this KTTS episode. What are people looking for at an event like this? What are the things you, as a coffee retailer should be pursuing and focusing on as you go out to acquire knowledge and build your business? How can you cultivate confidence and stay motivated even though you are brand new to the industry? What does a trade show like Coffee Fest hope to offer those who make the investment to attend? All these questions and more are answered in these interviews.
We get to hear about from Matt Milletto (Water Avenue Coffee & ABCS), Stephen Zimmerman (KTTS super fan and business owner at "The Coffee Enthusiast: A Brewing Company" aka:TCE) , and Coffee Fest Show Director, Erika Lowery.
I love doing interviews form events like this. Be it a throw down, conference, trade show, or live from a shop. The energy and passion is just so inspiring and I hope that you feel the same way listening to this episode.
Did you know Keys to the Shop now offers consultation and training for you and your cafe? It's true! If you want to find out how KTTS can help you unlock the potential of your career or cafe email me or call:
1-502-715-1465
LINKS:
Stephen Zimmerman: The Coffee Enthusiast: A Brewing Company
Matt Milletto: Water Avenue Coffee
Tasting coffee gives us a window into where the coffee came from and what it's potential can be. Those who work in green buying and sensory analysis are tasked with tasting the truth of a coffee and deciding how it will turn up on retail shelves the world over.
Today we are talking with 2014 U.S. Cup Tasters Champion, Amanda Juris to explore green buying, cupping, sensory analysis, and how our decisions on the cupping table and score sheet impact what the customer ultimately gets in the cafe.
You will leave this conversation with some tips on how to build a solid tasting protocol for your operation and a deeper understanding of what our perceptions and descriptions as professionals do to sway those of the consumer.
Enjoy!
Got questions? Feedback? Want to ask about training and consulting?
We all want to find the right job, right? For many of us though we end up having to settle on something that does not quite fit and end up feeling stuck. How can we take the first steps in the direction of a career that is perfect for us? What is involved in taking charge of and setting the direction for your career? Today to help us make the critical decisions that lead to happiness at work we are joined by the host of the "Happen to Your Career" podcast, Scott Anthony Barlow.
We discuss the framework he uses with his clients to help fit them into the right vocation, pitfalls that trip us up in our pursuit of meaning at work, what bosses and leaders can do to stop trapping people in ill fitted roles, and what we can expect as we set out on this journey.
I'm a BIG fan of Scott's work and I hope this conversation helps you happen to you career!
Links:
https://www.gallupstrengthscenter.com
KEYS TO THE SHOP NEWS!
Did you know KTTS is now offering consultation, coaching, and training for you and your shop?! Tis' true
If you are interested in finding out how KTTS can help unlock the potential of your cafe you can email: Chris@keystotheshop.com
Clean and well functioning equipment is definitely one of the keys to the shop! Problem is that we tend to lose those keys and end up with problems that could have been prevented with some basic attention to regular maintenance. To talk with us about best practices and key areas to invest time, attention, and resource into we have Tom Ritz, Owner of Workhorse Customs in Portland, OR.
Tom brings us a clear, simple, and wise perspective on how we can best take care of the workhorses in our cafe so they keep on working well for our cafe
*Bonus*
Sign up on the Keys to the Shop email list when prompted at www.keystotheshop.com and receive Tom's Step-by-Step instructions for changing your "Baskets, Gaskets, Screens , and Screws" and tips on changing your water filtration!
Helpful links:
It's Founder Friday! Today we get to chat with one of the key players in the Seattle coffee shop scene, Jill Killen.
For the past 16 year she has run coffee shops and has been dedicated to serving and investing into her staff and the community through them. We talk about her start in coffee, how she became the owner of three different shops, the passion and moxie that drove here (and still drives her), her philosophy on hospitality and hiring, how she maintains the accessibility of the cafes amid higher operating costs and much more. It was an interview packed with great tips for owners and inspiration for coffee pros everywhere.
Links:
IG:
Good authority changes lives and can change the world! It all starts with with how we show up for the people we lead and the way we facilitate both theirs and our growth in a people-first culture. In the current climate where being a boss or having authority is rightfully met with skepticism, having the road map and the tools to build a new way of being a leader is critical.
Today we talk with Jonathan Raymond, CEO of Refound, and author of the book, "Good Authority:How to Become the Leader Your team Is Waiting For"
In this episode you will learn what is behind dysfunctional or toxic examples of authority, the power of vulnerability to build trust, the kindness of feedback and managing expectation, why nobody cares if you're sorry, and why we need to have the audacity to think we all can change the world.
I don't say this lightly when I say this may be one of the most important episodes we've ever done on the show. I highly encourage you to settle in, open up, and get ready to learn how to practice Good Authority.
-Chris
Links:
Book:
Related Episodes:
Got questions, comments, or feedback?
Do you want to be awesome at your job? Of course! We all do. Today we will be discussing the foundational principles and focuses that will get you there and grow you even further if you're there already. I am thrilled to welcome to the show, the host of the Awesome at Your Job Podcast, Pete Mockaitis.
Pete is an incredibly talented career coach and his show has featured hundreds of professionals all weighing in on what it takes to thrive at work. The 6 areas we discuss today are the common link between all the experts Pete has encountered and learned over the years and, if applied, will truly make you awesome at your job or take you to the next level in your career.
Enjoy!
-Chris chris@keystotheshop.com
LINKS:
Books/ Authors Mentioned:
The Origin Trip. A pinnacle moment for any barista and a regular part of business for roasters and importers. As "The Origin Trip" has become a more fashionable, marketable, and regular occurrence in specialty coffee there are questions and tensions come up. What is the true value of an trip to origin? How does it benefit the farmer? Is it worth the expense involved? Are we really advancing coffee? How can we approach the trip and make it mutually beneficial?
To answer these questions and give us some solid insight on how to think about travel to origin we are joined by Kim-Elena Ionescu, Chief Sustainability Officer at the SCA (Specialty Coffee Association)
I hope this episode gives you a better understanding of our part to play in the producer/retailer relationship and that if you find yourself going to origin you would be better equipped to make all around rewarding one.
Enjoy!
Links for Kim-Elena Ionescu
VIDEOS:
- Farm Workers: Is Labor the Next Crisis for Coffee?
- Mo' Money, Mo' Quality, and other Myths About Microlots
- Working for Workers: Lessons of Labour Shortages
SCA Research Papers:
https://store.sca.coffee/collections/research
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https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MP5JRSH
Ya'll! We're going on a European coffee trip! Co-Founder of European Coffee Trip, Ales Pospisil joins us on the show today. We get to talk about traveling and exploring Europe's specialty coffee scene, what they look for in when visiting cafes, the most crucial elements of great shops, the current coffee trends across Europe, what role hospitality and story plays in the coffee bar, and tips for how to plan and execute your own coffee trip.
These guys are doing amazing work and have put in a ton of care, thought, and work into highlighting the best of specialty coffee in Europe. I highly recommend you get ready to be inspired!
LINKS:
Help make the show even better. Fill out this short survey!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MP5JRSH
It's Founder Friday! Today we are talking with Kristian Hedborg, the Founder of Alkemisten Kaffebar in Gothenburg, Sweden. In this interview we get to hear about how Kristian went from restaurant management school, to co-owning a cafe at 22, then founding his own cafe, Alkemisten, 3 years ago. We discuss his drive to follow his dreams, how he got his amazing staff, leadership lessons, the importance of a well planned business, and more.
Kristian is doing great things and I hope this interview inspires you in your career!
Links:
Take the Listener Feedback Survey! CLICK HERE
We all want to educate the consumer. Education has gotten a bad rap due to some of our awkward attempts to force information on people in less than ideal times and settings. Enter the consumer coffee class. In this episode we talk about why putting together a class for your customers is the perfect way to create a more informed consumer, a more loyal customer, and a more energized staff. All this while increasing cafe sales through more confident whole bean purchasing.
Also we will talk about 7 guidelines to focus on to make sure your classes are set up for success.
Enjoy!
Please take a moment and fill out this very brief 4 minute survey... KTTS needs your feedback to improve!
Links:
Episode 25 "Mastering the Art of Training w/ Dave Stachowiak"
Episode 68 "A Conversation w/ Rita Kaminsky & Ant Walach
Rita Kaminski and Ant Walach are the founders of Snowdrift Coffee and Workspace in Roscoe, IL. In this episode we talk all about their approach to training, philosophy on learning, advice they have for other trainers, why is necessary to make mistakes and how their collective 30 years of professional coffee experience has influence what they have created at Snowdrift.
Enjoy!
LINKS:
We all will be leaders in our careers. In the cafe there are positions that hold various levels of power and influence. We can either use this power for the good of those we lead or we can use it destructively. Too often we see the abuse of position in a shop and even more often we see a general apathy toward pursuing the proper use of power that gives rise to dysfunction and sets the ground work for flat out abuse.
In today's episode we look at 6 things that we need to meditate on continually as people with authority to be able to fight for and promote a healthy and vibrant culture in the shop through the responsible use of power.
Enjoy!
LINKS:
Article of Responsible Use of Power
www.Bossbarista.com / Instagram
KTTS: 10 Steps to Being a People First Leader
Leading and developing your staff depends on how well you understand what gives rise to their behavior in the cafe. Today we talk with Behavior Analyst, Beth Garrison and will discuss the basics of behavior analysis, the 5 behaviors of a healthy team, the role environment plays in encouraging or discouraging behavior, and more!
Links: