Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders – Details, episodes & analysis

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Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders

Chris Deferio

Arts

Business

Frequency: 1 episode/3d. Total Eps: 1150

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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https://calendly.com/chrisdeferio/30min
659 shares
https://rattleware.qualitybystainless.com/
207 shares
http://www.prima-coffee.com/keys
142 shares

https://www.instagram.com/artobrick
98 shares
https://www.instagram.com/keystotheshop
18 shares
https://www.instagram.com/mcolonnadashwood
5 shares

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Score global : 42%

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SHIFT BREAK! How Does Your Staff Know They Are Doing a Good Job?

Thursday, November 6, 2025 • Duration 11:31

In our world of coffee shops we feel if we can get through the day without too many disasters or fires that we are doing well. The people we put into various roles adopt a similar mindset of avoidance of bad is equal to accomplishing good. but when you reflect back on your day and even career, when you have this mindset you are left with a bag full of air. No substance to show you did a good job because none of us were identifying and work toward specifics, we were working to avoid problems and accept vague generalities.

Today on shift break we will be talking about how to set up yourself, and everyone else for success by defining the work and what a good job looks like so we can have sustainable work that fills us with the evidence of a good job, not just a bad job avoided.

Related Episodes:

CONSULTING + 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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570: Myths Baristas Believe Part 1

Tuesday, November 4, 2025 • Duration 52:19

At this show we believe that the onus for setting people up for success and being the chief servant of those above them is squarely on the leader or owner of the cafe. they have more power, say, and responsibility. With that said we must not pretend that they are the only ones who have power, authority, influence or responsibility. Baristas also have these things and how well they do in their career or how good they feel about the work they do is in no small part based on stewarding the things they have taken on when choosing to represent the coffee, the company, and the well being of their co-workers and guest. How well a barista does here can determine what future leadership in cafes looks like. But there are some beliefs we need to address.

Today on the show we venture into the world of myths that baristas believe and breakdown the nuances surrounding many assumptions that take root that are not always so helpful in producing the kind of positive change we want to see advanced in coffee.

We cover:

The owner is probably exploiting you
The cafe is where I get to express myself
I don't owe anyone my emotional labor
Customers are the worst
educating myself in coffee and
success in competitors means I am a good barista
This is my bar

Related episodes:

SHIFT BREAK! Don't Overwhelm Your Managers

Wednesday, October 8, 2025 • Duration 09:42

Sharing is caring!...but when you overshare with your managers it can easily be the opposite. You have a lot on your mind and often not a lot of people to share it with. The closest person is most often the manager or GM and they "get" to hear all about your plans, hopes, crazy ideas etc. Feels good for you, but for them it can be a huge burden that distracts them from their main work.

Today on Shift Break we will be talking about why oversharing is a trap that should be avoided and what your discourse and relationship to your management team should look like to avoid burnout, overwhelm, distraction, and confusion.

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:

521: Founder Friday! w/ Bow Smith of Rowan Coffee, Asheville, NC

Thursday, January 30, 2025 • Duration 48:45

Coffee shops are created through intention and reflect the values and often the personality of first the ones who begin them, and then those who work in them and the community that makes it their regular destination. There is a mix of service and transaction, with various layers of relationship built on trust.

Today on Founder Friday we explore the story of one coffee shop and roastery that does a great job embodying these elements to serve both the locals and tourists with warmth and provide a sustainable and fulfilling vocation for their staff.

Thrilled to welcome to the show, Bow Smith of Rowan Coffee!

Bow Smith is a coffee professional in Asheville, NC with nearly a decade of experience of barista work, roasting, and cafe management. Smith founded Rowan Coffee in 2020 with the goal of building a cafe and roastery grounded in integrity, hospitality, and creativity, while fostering fulfilling and lasting coffee careers.

In this conversation we talk about:

Bow's Experience as a Coffee Pro and Teaching Coffee
The Ephemeral Nature of Coffee
The Collaborative Efforts in Establishing Rowan
Trust Is Crucial and Leadership in Coffee Shops
Why Empathy in hiring is crucial for enhancing customer experiences
Why Consistency in product is important, but experience is equally vital.
Creating a Unique Cafe Experience
Resilience in Community After Helene
Building Culture in Business

Links:

www.rowancoffee.com

Instagram: @rowancoffee

Related and recommended episodes:

420: Design Meaningful Roles in the Cafe

055 : Jared Truby of Cat & Cloud Coffee / Keys to Personal Growth & Development : Talking about personal development, learning from outside resources, vulnerability, striving for greatness, in barista and coffee work

Tuesday, October 31, 2017 • Duration 57:59

Pursuing personal growth and development is one of the cornerstones of success and fulfillment in work and in life. Often we can get into such a rhythm of the day-to-day at work that we forget that there is a whole world of resources at our finger tips. Jared Truby of Cat and Cloud Coffee talks with us today about how seeking personal development with tenacity and purpose has helped shape his life and gives key tips and insights on how we can more effectively pursue personal development through studying outside resources and maximizing our present opportunities.

Who we are in the future depends on the decisions and we make everyday. It is my hope the this episode will help motivate you to take the reigns of your career and bring you closer to your goals.

Enjoy!

Links:

www.catandcloudcoffee.com

Instagram

Books Recommended:

"Getting Naked" by Patrick Lincionni

"Legacy" James Kerr

"Be our Guest" Disney

Setting the Table by Danny Meyer

054 : Founder Friday! w/ Nathan Quillo / Quills Coffee

Friday, October 27, 2017 • Duration 01:16:45

Welcome to another Founder Friday! We are talking with Nathan Quillo, Founder of Quills Coffee. You will get to learn about the methods, values, and vision that makes Quills Coffee tick / The importance of buy-in and communication / What are some of the keys to their success / and the three things Nathan think every owner should do. This was a fun talk and Nathan offers up some really great tools and perspective that I think you will be greatly helped by.

ATTENTION!!! Please Consider donating to The Memorial Fund for Quills Barista Francis Feeney: Link: Gofundme

Links:

Quills Coffee

The E Myth Revisited

www.keystotheshop.com

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053 : Reggie Elliott : Training, Trust & Community : Trainer and industry leader, Reggie Elliott talk about his work in building community and how he builds trust as a barista trainer

Tuesday, October 24, 2017 • Duration 01:06:15

As we build our careers we take on more responsibility and authority. Building trust and helping build the community around you is a critical part of your success and how that plays out in your cafe will determine how it plays out in the industry. As a long time trainer and industry leader, Reggie Elliott has embodied these values. We get to talk about his career, how he helped build the coffee community wherever he was, how he trains baristas, and his advice for trainers, leaders, and whoever else has position of influence. Reggie is someone you should listen to.

Enjoy!

LINKS:

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052 : Solving Coworker Conflict w/ Tom Henschel : We explore tools for successful communication in the midst of conflict and difficult conversations. Expert guidelines and advice to help baristas and managers alike solve co-worker conflict

Tuesday, October 17, 2017 • Duration 01:12:29

Conflict at work is inevitable but it does not have to take a negative turn. Hard conversations and confrontations handled well can actually enhance your relationships, the team in the cafe, and benefit our industry as a whole. This week it is an absolute privilege that we get to learn from world renowned executive coach and communications expert, Tom Henschel.

In this episode Tom give us the tools and shows us how to use them to help work through both our inner and outer conflicts. I really hope you give this a couple listens and get the notes as well. Just like the conversations discussed here, skillfully handling conflict is crucial to our success.

-Chris

LINKS:

www.essentialcomm.com

Tom's Linkedin Page

Recommended Book: Crucial Conversations

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051: The Power of Design in Coffee w/ Liz Chai : Exploring the why and how of great design in your coffee business. The look and feel of your cafe/brand can be just as important as the coffee you serve and the barista serving it.

Tuesday, October 10, 2017 • Duration 01:12:01

When people experience our coffee they are left with an impression that is largely made up of what they saw. What kind of impact does design have a customer's experience of your business? What are the keys to good design? What are the first steps you need to take to assess the state of design in your business? This week we are joined by the amazing designer Liz Chai. Liz works 100% in the specialty coffee industry and shares with us what she has learned about effective design for coffee. You're going to want to listen up!

Enjoy!

Links:

www.chai.coffee

twitter: @chaiamericano

Instagram: @chaiamericano

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050 : Baristas Speak Vol. 2 : Interviews about the barista craft recorded live at the Kentuckian Coffee Camps Pre-lims in Louisville, KY.

Tuesday, October 3, 2017 • Duration 01:08:13

It's the 50th Episode of Keys to the Shop and I had the opportunity to interview 5 people live at the Kentuckiana Coffee Champs Pre-lims this past weekend. In this 2nd edition of Baristas Speak Nathan Quillo, Sam Miers, Cimara Dunn, Matt Park, and Rita Kaminsky join me to give their thoughts on the role of the barista, lessons they have learned, and advice to current and future baristas all of which you will definitely want to hear.

Let me just say...Thank you for listening to Keys to the Shop! 50 episodes later and there is still so much to talk about. It's been great to grow and learn along with you and I'm looking forward to what the next 50 holds!

Links:

- Nathan Quillo / Quills Coffee

- Sam Miers / Kaldi's Coffee

- Cimara Dunn / Quills Coffee

- Matt Park / Plus Coffee

- Rita Kaminsky / Snowdrift Coffee & Workspace

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Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

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Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other99+

Instagram99+

Amazon71

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other99+

Instagram99+

Amazon71