Info

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 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.
RSS Feed Subscribe in Apple Podcasts
Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
2024
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2023
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2022
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2021
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2020
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2019
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


All Episodes
Archives
Now displaying: July, 2024
Jul 31, 2024

It is assumed that we should constantly be growing our businesses and looking to expand, scale, and add-to what we have now. Trouble is that, in today's abundantly resourced and optimized environment, we may actually be able to do so at rates that out pace our ability to become the kind of people we need to be to properly handle that growth.

On today's Shift Break we will be talking about why your own development as a person is key to successful growth as a business and why hardship and constraints are often not just signs of a problem, but rather an opportunity to shape you and prepare you for success. 

Recommended episodes:


If you are a cafe owner and want to work one on one with me to bring your shop to its next level and help bring you joy and freedom in the process then email chris@keystothshop.com of book a free call now: 

https://calendly.com/chrisdeferio/30min


Listen to related episodes: 

Emotions, Self-Sabotage, and Telling Ourselves the Truth

Thank you to out sponsors!

Everything you need for back of the house operations https://rattleware.qualitybystainless.com/

 

The best and most revered espresso machines on the planet: www.lamarzoccousa.com

 

 

 

Jul 29, 2024

Every day in the cafe we are called on to communicate "in the moment". Whether we are baristas, trainers, managers, or owners ; how effective we are in those moments determines the culture and effectiveness of our business. Wouldn't it be great if there were tools and methods formed specifically to help you not freak out under the pressure of impromptu speaking but to be clear and confident instead?

Well you're in luck because today we get to talk with the author of the book Think Faster, Talk Smarter, Matt Abrahams! 

Matt Abrahams is a passionate, collaborative and innovative educator, author, podcast host, and coach. He is the Larsen Lam Family Lecturer in Organizational Behavior at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business where he teaches two very popular classes in Strategic Communication and Effective Virtual Presenting. He received Stanford GSB’s Alumni Teaching Award in recognition of his valued service to teaching Stanford Alumni around the world.

In addition to his teaching, Matt is much sought-after keynote speaker and communication consultant for Fortune 100 companies. His online talks garner millions of views and he hosts the popular, award winning GSB podcast called Think Fast Talk Smart.

Matt is also the author of the book that is the subject of today's conversation, "Think Faster, Talk Smarter" which equips the reader with tools and strategies to be confident, articulate, and effective when called upon to speak "in the moment"

We cover

  • The Importance of Impromptu Communication
  • Reducing the Pressure of Spontaneous Communication
  • The Role of Listening in Effective Communication
  • Crafting Clear and Concise Messages
  • The Role of Values and Reputation in Communication
  • Improving Communication Skills through Reflection, Repetition, and Feedback

LINKS:

https://mattabrahams.com/
 

Related Episodes:

Get the best brewer and tool for batch espresso, iced lattes, and 8 minute cold brew! www.groundcontrol.coffee

 

The world loves plant based beverages and baristas love the Barista Series! www.pacificfoodservice.com

 

Jul 24, 2024

Seeing results form your efforts is what motivates most all of us. In the coffee shop you are engaged with a dynamic intersesion of moving and living communities that take your efforts and reward you with sometimes obvious and sometimes not-so-obvious feedback. It's when we don't see the results happening the way we imagined that we can be tempted to simply abandon the effort and sometimes the business altogether. 

On today's Shift Break we will be talking about why you should not give up and how to be patient in the process of pursuing worthy goals in the face of frustrating but perhaps emerging results. 

Recommended episodes:


If you are a cafe owner and want to work one on one with me to bring your shop to its next level and help bring you joy and freedom in the process then email chris@keystothshop.com of book a free call now: 

https://calendly.com/chrisdeferio/30min


Listen to related episodes: 

Emotions, Self-Sabotage, and Telling Ourselves the Truth

Thank you to out sponsors!

Everything you need for back of the house operations https://rattleware.qualitybystainless.com/

 

The best and most revered espresso machines on the planet: www.lamarzoccousa.com

 

 

 

Jul 22, 2024

One of the most heartbreaking things I see is when an established cafe is forced to upend everything due to changes to the cost or use of a space that they do not own. All the dreams, emotions, investment in the space itself, and developing a customer bases habits around that location are all up in the air. While renting may always be a great first step for most owners with limited resource, it may also not be the wisest long term play as you grow. If you are looking for an alternative to that volatility, you may want to consider ownership

Joining me to unpack this topic is Paul Neal. 

Paul Neal is the owner of Vantage Point Commercial Capital and a trailblazer in empowering business owners to create wealth, autonomy, and control by owning their commercial space. His new book, "Un-Lease Your Business: Unlock Wealth, Autonomy and Control By Buying Your Building and Firing Your Landlord," delves into this transformative approach to commercial property ownership. 

 Today on the podcast we are going to talk all about why you should consider owning your own space vs renting and what ownership can do for your businesses security, profitability and more!

We cover

  • The Availability and Challenges of Commercial Real Estate Ownership
  • Financial Factors and Timing for Purchasing a Building
  • Managing Risk and Building Confidence in Ownership
  • The Benefits of Owning the Building
  • Creating a Unique Culture and Attracting Customers
  • Building Equity and Generating Income
  • The Process of Owning a Building

LINKS:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-neal-tea/

https://vpc.capital/about-us/

https://www.amazon.com/Lease-Your-Business-Autonomy-Building/dp/1955242747

 

Related Episodes:

 

Get the best brewer and tool for batch espresso, iced lattes, and 8 minute cold brew! www.groundcontrol.coffee

 

The world loves plant based beverages and baristas love the Barista Series! www.pacificfoodservice.com

 

Jul 17, 2024

Managing in a cafe is one of the ultimate forms of leadership. Part of leading as a manager is planning for, responding to, or avoiding altogether, problems with people, operations, and quality. But instead of spending our best energies in prevention of problems, we tend to manage reactively when problems turn into a crisis. It's a vicious cycle. 

On today's Shift Break we will be talking about why we need to flip our focus and pull ourselves away from the dependency the business has on us being crisis managers, and instead become people whose best energies are spent in preemptive leadership and at the very least in creating solutions to issues when they happen to prevent them from repeating.

Recommended episodes:

Stop Glorifying Chaos

When Small Problems Grow Up


If you are a cafe owner and want to work one on one with me to bring your shop to its next level and help bring you joy and freedom in the process then email chris@keystothshop.com of book a free call now: 

https://calendly.com/chrisdeferio/30min


Listen to related episodes: 

Emotions, Self-Sabotage, and Telling Ourselves the Truth

Thank you to out sponsors!

Everything you need for back of the house operations https://rattleware.qualitybystainless.com/

 

The best and most revered espresso machines on the planet: www.lamarzoccousa.com

 

 

 

Jul 15, 2024

The Industry. What does that even mean? Owners and professionals use this term as though it has specific power to give clarity or meaning to the work they do, when in fact it is merely the most readily observable manifestation of millions of individual decisions across the supply chain, all made worse when based on a fixation on that reflection. 

For many operators there is an assumption that their cafe and the decisions they make need to be compared against the wider industry to find validation and success. Today we will be talking about how this dependency is a mistake and why freeing yourself and your business from this collective narcissism is critical to sustaining your business, doing more good, and serving your community. 

We cover

  • Why the Industry is You
  • Questioning Industry Trends
  • Separating Ethic from Business
  • Understanding Customer Habits
  • Rootedness and Prioritizing Your Shop
  • Success Beyond Industry Validation

Related Episodes: 

Peers

 

Thank you to our amazing sponsors!

Get the best brewer and tool for batch espresso, iced lattes, and 8 minute cold brew! www.groundcontrol.coffee

 

The world loves plant based beverages and baristas love the Barista Series! www.pacificfoodservice.com

 

Jul 11, 2024

Hiring is probably the most important decision you make in your coffee shop. As important as it is to choose the right people, we often are at the mercy of bad habits or are missing key practices we need to make that decisions and end up making too many mistakes that drain you, the business, and the your team of energy. 

On today's Shift Break we will be discussing three BIG hiring mistakes that I see countless cafes making and how you can take steps to avoid them. 

This is not just about the well being of your team and business, but also the ones you hire who were not a good fit. When you hire them, it cuts off other possibilities for them in places where they might have been more suited and that can really mess up their career. 

So when you listen, hear this as an episode intended to care for ALL the people involved. 


If you are a cafe owner and want to work one on one with me to bring your shop to its next level and help bring you joy and freedom in the process then email chris@keystothshop.com of book a free call now: 

https://calendly.com/chrisdeferio/30min


Listen to related episodes: 

Emotions, Self-Sabotage, and Telling Ourselves the Truth

Thank you to out sponsors!

Everything you need for back of the house operations https://rattleware.qualitybystainless.com/

 

The best and most revered espresso machines on the planet: www.lamarzoccousa.com

 

 

 

Jul 8, 2024

In the the coffee industry, we all need help and we can all give help. In order to truly advance our own careers and those of others we want find success we need plan for and practice mentorship. The trouble is that the need we have for help also creates a lot of insecurities and the idea of mentorship can sound rather unapproachable or inaccessible. The good news is that it does not have to be this away and our guest today will help us demystify mentorship and approach it in a fresh and accessible way. 

Dr. Ruth Gotian is Chief Learning Officer and Associate Professor of Education in Anesthesiology and former Assistant Dean for Mentoring at Weill Cornell Medicine. She is a globally recognized expert in mentorship and leadership development.

Hailed by Nature, Wall Street Journal, and Columbia University as an expert in mentorship and leadership development, she was named a top 20 mentor worldwide. Thinkers50 ranked her as the #1 emerging management thinker in the world in 2021, and LinkedIn recognized her as a top voice in mentoring in 2023.

A semi-finalist for Forbes 50 Over 50, Dr. Gotian is a prolific contributor toHarvardBusiness Review, Forbes, andPsychology Today, where she shares insights on optimizing success with a focus on the mindset and skill set of peak performers, including Nobel Prize winners, astronauts, Olympic and NBA champions, she's also an award-winning author of The Success Factor and The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring.

Today we are going to dive deep into what mentorship is, why it is critical for advancing both individuals and industries as well as how to pursue mentorship for yourself and how to be a mentor ot others. 

We cover:

  • Continuous Learning and Surrounding Yourself with Mentors
  • The Strength of Vulnerability in Success
  • Finding and Building Relationships with Mentors
  • Defining a Mentor and Their Role
  • The Difference Between Mentoring and Coaching
  • Preparing for Mentoring: Recognizing What You Need
  • The Value of Formal Mentoring Programs
  • The Importance of Effective Matching
  • Building a Community of Practice
  • Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Judging Success

Links:

https://ruthgotian.com

https://mentoring-guide.com/

 

Related Episodes: 

 

Thank you to our amazing sponsors!

Get the best brewer and tool for batch espresso, iced lattes, and 8 minute cold brew! www.groundcontrol.coffee

 

The world loves plant based beverages and baristas love the Barista Series! www.pacificfoodservice.com

 

Jul 4, 2024

Making decisions about who to hire or even who might need to be let go are some of the hardest but most important decisions to make in a coffee shop. So hard in fact that we can often fall into avoiding the decision by deferring to our existing staff for their opinion on who is or is not a good fit. While involving key staff in these decisions is generally good, putting too much emphasis or all the weight on them can end up in wrong choices for hiring or needlessly extending a staff member's employment solely based on the fact that people like them. 

On today's Shift Break we will be discussing why we need to making these types of decisions based not so much on the expressed preferences of the current staff (or your own bias for that matter!) but on values alignment and professionally established standards for the business and that role.


If you are a cafe owner and want to work one on one with me to bring your shop to its next level and help bring you joy and freedom in the process then email chris@keystothshop.com of book a free call now: 

https://calendly.com/chrisdeferio/30min


Listen to related episodes: 

Emotions, Self-Sabotage, and Telling Ourselves the Truth

Thank you to out sponsors!

Everything you need for back of the house operations https://rattleware.qualitybystainless.com/

 

The best and most revered espresso machines on the planet: www.lamarzoccousa.com

 

 

 

Jul 2, 2024

Leadership in the coffee shop can either be the glue that holds it together and nurtures its growth, or it is the force that tears it apart and depletes it of vitality.

In order to make sure it is the former we need to make certain that we, and those placed in leadership possess key traits and qualities that create a people-first culture. 

Today we are re-airing a vitally important episode highlighting character traits and qualities every cafe leader needs to possess and practice. In order to be a successful shop you need to have a people first disposition. This episode is 

We cover:

  • The Importance of Mindfulness in Leadership
  • Practicing Empathy in Leadership
  • Consistency: Building Trust and Clarity
  • Cultivating Confidence in Coffee Shop Leadership
  • The Power of Curiosity in Leading a Coffee Shop

Related Episodes: 

Thank you to our amazing sponsors!

Get the best brewer and tool for batch espresso, iced lattes, and 8 minute cold brew! www.groundcontrol.coffee

 

The world loves plant based beverages and baristas love the Barista Series! www.pacificfoodservice.com

 

1