188 : Founder Friday w/ Jon Allen of Onyx Coffee Lab

Chris DeferioFounder Friday, Podcast

  In just 7 years, Onyx Coffee Lab has become one of the industry’s most recognizable, respected, and progressive coffee companies. Whether you know them from their championship performances on the barista, brewers, or roasting competition stage – their multiple Good Food Awards and Golden Bean coffees – or their effort in transparency and exquisite retail shops, Onyx Coffee Lab …

187 : A Conversation with Nikki Outlaw of Anecho Coffee

Chris DeferioBusiness, Podcast

Opening a pop-shop is one of a number of great ways to get started in specialty coffee retail. It is a lower start up cost, you get to test the concept, and you get to know your community (and they, you) in the process. Today’s guest, Nikki Outlaw, has just wrapped up her first year running her pop-up coffee shop, …

186 : Interviews from Coffee Fest PNW, Tacoma, WA

Chris DeferioBusiness, Podcast

  Growing and learning from the experiences of others is what this show is all about. A lot of growth and learning happened this past weekend in Tacoma during the Coffee FestPNW trade show where I was able to record three interviews with people I met during my seminars. In order of appearance we will be hearing from: Scott Palmer …

185 : Exploring the La Marzocco Cafe w/ Amy Hattemer and Carolyn Reddy

Chris DeferioManagement, Podcast, Uncategorized

  One of the world’s most compelling cafes is also run by one of the world most iconic and trusted espresso machine companies. Located in the lobby of KEXP, the La Marzocco Cafein Seattle, WA has been operating for almost 4 years. Every 4-6 weeks the cafe is taken over by different world-renowned roasting companies who design a full experience that …

184 : Making Great Business Decisions w/ Dave Stachowiak

Chris DeferioBusiness, Leadership, Podcast

Running a successful business is all about the quality of your decisions. Whether large or small, each one plays a part in shaping the company and either strengthening or compromising it. To help give us a frame-work and foundation for making quality decisions we welcome back to the show, Dave Stachowiak. Dave is the host and founder of Coaching for Leaders, …

183 : Exploring Diversity w/ Phyllis Johnson

Chris DeferioHospitality, Leadership, Podcast

Creating a coffee bar and working in retail all boils down to practicing hospitality. We want to practice this on behalf of our guests and our staff but without taking a critical look at how and who we welcome in, we are not really showing hospitality. We need to look at our thoughts, behaviors, and actions critically in order to …

182 : Founder Friday w/ Alec Tod of Indie Coffee Roasters

Chris DeferioFounder Friday, Podcast

Today we are talking about scaling and transitions with the founder of Indie Coffee Roasters, Alec Tod! Founded in 2013 with a home roaster on his back patio, the business has undergone several stages of change and growth over the years to get them to where they are today in their new retail / roasting facility serving the people of …

181 : Organizational Self-Knowledge

Chris DeferioBusiness, Leadership, Podcast, Uncategorized

How well do you know your business? I’m not talking about the numbers and the stuff that is accessible through the POS or spreadsheets. I am talking about the life of the business and the people and cultures that make it up. The incredible number of intangibles that create the life of an organization. A lot of us assume we …

180 : A Conversation with Rugid Grind Founders, Brian Washington and Averett Barksdale

Chris DeferioBusiness, Podcast

  Coffee is more than just a drink. It can also be a vehicle for change. Ending teen homelessness through coffee is the vision of today’s guests, Brian Washington and Averett Barksdale. Established in 2019, Rugid Grind is a for-profit coffee provider that, as of now, acts as the sole supporter and funder of The Oneighty Project, a nonprofit dedicated …