Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders

By: Chris Deferio
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  • Summary

  • 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.
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Episodes
  • 537: Success as a Coffee Tech : Training and Relationships w/ Brady Butler W/ Trail Braze Coffee Academy

    537: Success as a Coffee Tech : Training and Relationships w/ Brady Butler W/ Trail Braze Coffee Academy
    Apr 25 2025
    Maintaining the functionality of your equipment is one of the main tasks involved in running a shop. You yourself may wan to be trained in machine tech, you may want to hire a teach or tech company to service your cafe's equipment, or you might want to raise up an internal technician. Today on the show we are goping to talk about training technicians and how to coffee techs and owners alike should approach the relationship that helps keeping things working the way they should. To do this I am talking with one of the best educators in the world of coffee technician training, Brady Butler of Trail Blaze Coffee Academy! Brady Butler is an Authorized SCA Trainer who has been leading barista, brewing, and coffee technician training classes since 2009. Over his coffee career, Brady has also worked as a barista, a coffee equipment technician, and in wholesale customer support. He was co-lead for the SCA's Brewing Content Creator Group, a Lead Author for the Coffee Technicians Program, and a member of the Service Layer Education Committee. He currently owns Trail Blaze Coffee Academy, an independent training company based in Charlotte, NC. We learn about: Brady Butler has a background in engineering and coffee tech.Why understanding the function of coffee equipment is crucial for technicians.Training should focus on understanding systems rather than memorizing components.Building relationships with technicians is essential for cafe success.How you should see mistakes in training environments as opportunities for learning.Explaining his role in the Coffee Technicians Program and its aim to provide a global standard for technician training. Preventive maintenance Understanding water treatment is essential for coffee quality.Why Brady thinks techs should have foundational barista training.How techs can help stabilize the churn in the coffee industry.Techs as trainers themselves: Why simplifying complex topics for clients is important.Advice for in-house techs: in-house tech services require careful planning and resources.Contextualizing recommendations based on coffee types is vital.Why an eyes wide open approach is necessary for tech decisions. Links: VISIT THE TRAIL BLAZE WEBSITE! https://trailblazecoffee.com/courses/ Related Episodes: 446: Building a People-First Coffee Tech Culture w/ Jason “Double J” Johnson, Black Rabbit Service Co. 445: Evolution of the Machine-Barista Relationship w/ Ryan Willbur of Synesso Coffee Systems 312 : How to Choose the Right Machine for Your Shop w/ Chad little of La Marzocco238 : Leading, Hiring, and working with your Coffee Tech w/ Hylan Joseph INTERESTED IN 1:1 CONSULTING AND COACHING? 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 Want a beautiful coffee shop? All your hard surface, stone, Tile and brick needs! www.arto.com Visit @artobrick The world loves plant based beverages and baristas love the Barista Series! www.pacificfoodservice.com
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    49 mins
  • RoR #34: The Core 7 Practices Disciplines for a Successful Roastery w/ Luke Waite | Pomelo Coffee Consulting

    RoR #34: The Core 7 Practices Disciplines for a Successful Roastery w/ Luke Waite | Pomelo Coffee Consulting
    Apr 24 2025

    There are an incredible number of tasks associated with running a coffee roastery. The busy work of keeping things going often gets in the way of working on the main areas that will actually move the needle and build a successful operation.

    Today's guest comes to us with a lot of experience working in roasteries and consulting operators in the areas that he has identified as "The Core 7" essential areas of roastery operations. I fact, he has written a whol book about it!

    Today on this 34th episode of Rate of Rise, brought to you by our friends at Mill City Roasters, we are talking with Luke Waite of Pomelo Coffee Consulting!

    Luke Waite is the founder and principal consultant of Pomelo Coffee Consulting and the creator of the Core 7, a framework designed to help coffee roasters achieve lasting success. His background includes transforming struggling cafés, cold brew companies, and coffee roasters into efficient, profitable, and sustainable businesses. In 2024, he launched Junto, a peer-driven coaching group for roastery owners that fosters growth through camaraderie, feedback, and accountability.

    Luke is a seasoned public speaker, regularly presenting at the Specialty Coffee Expo, regional coffee festivals, and to groups of international coffee professionals. He also serves on the management committee for the Coffee Writers Guild, advocating for writers' ethics and journalistic integrity in coffee writing.

    His book on the Core 7, offers a practical guide to help roastery owners effectively manage their businesses. Endorsed by industry veterans, the book is set for a summer 2025 release and is available for pre-order!

    Links:

    https://www.pomelocoffeeconsulting.com/

    Related episodes:

    • 416 : People-First Principles for Growing Your Shop w/ Mike McFall of Biggby Coffee
    • 361: Managing Roastery Relationships and Logistics w/ Corey Turner of Andytown Coffee Roasters
    • 328 : Relationships and Resiliency w/ Xavier Alexander of Metric Coffee

    Our Sponsor for Rate of Rise!

    www.millcityroasters.com
    Show more Show less
    46 mins
  • SHIFT BREAK! Two Types of Continued Education for Baristas

    SHIFT BREAK! Two Types of Continued Education for Baristas
    Apr 24 2025

    When you onboard baristas, the work is just beginning. Part of the privilege of leadership is to provide ongoing coaching and training to all staff. This creates the kind of quality and excellence we want customers to experience and the kind of ongoing education you give to staff will determine if they are well equipped to serve.

    Today on Shift Break we will be talking about the two kinds of ongoing training and education and why having the proper order and emphasis on each is critical.

    Related episodes:

    536: What It Means to Set Up Staff For Success

    SHIFT BREAK! The Necessary Death of the Superstar Barista

    SHIFT BREAK! How Not To Be a Jerk When Training Baristas

    HIRE KTTS CONSULTING AND COACHING!

    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

    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
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    11 mins
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