146 : How to Host a Throwdown w/ Justin Shepherd of Spencers Coffee, Bowling Green, KY

Chris DeferioBarista Craft, Podcast

Want to know what goes into hosting a killer throwdown that energizes your baristas and brings the community together? Well your in luck because today we are talking with the creator of one of the nation’s biggest and most successful throwdowns, Justin Shepherd! Justin owns Spencers Coffee in Bowling Green, KY and has been hosting the “My Old Kentucky Throwdown …

145: Founder Friday w/ Red Rooster Coffee Roasters co-founder, Haden Polseno-Hensley

Chris DeferioFounder Friday, Leadership, Podcast

Today on Founder Friday we get to hear from Haden Polseno-Hensley, Co-Founder of one of my favorite coffee companies, Red Rooster Coffee Roasters in Floyd, Virginia! The values that drive the company, the quality of the people, the way they invest in their community and staff, and the quality of their coffee… all reasons why I admire Red Rooster and …

144 : A Conversation with 2019 U.S. Barista Champion, Sam Spillman!

Chris DeferioBarista Craft, Career, Podcast, Training

The Champ is in the house! 2019 U.S. Barista Champion, Sam Spillman of Dillanos Coffee Roasters joins me for this very special episode. In our conversation we discuss the evolution of her coffee career, her love for the community, what drives her as a professional, competition, challenges she has faced developing as a competitor, her first origin trip, balance in …

142 : Entrepreneur Interviews from Coffee Fest NYC!

Chris DeferioPodcast, Uncategorized

I am so excited to share these interviews from the show floor at Coffee Fest NYC! I had the chance to interview the amazing British Coleman & Shabria Quinn Robinson who are in the very early planning stages of their business, “Pour Coffeehouse and Lounge” in Saginaw, MI. Then I got to interview Owner Peter Moses who is right in …

141 : The 27 Challenges Managers Face w/ Bruce Tulgan

Chris DeferioPodcast, Uncategorized

If you are in management you know that it is not each day can bring a new set of challenges. It just so happens that there are 27 particular challenges that are common to almost all managers and we are going to explore a few of these in todays episode with returning guest, Bruce Tulgan. Bruce is the founder of …

140 : A conversation w/ Erika Vonie, Director of Coffee at Trade Coffee

Chris DeferioBarista Craft, Career, Leadership, Podcast, Supply Chain

I am so excited to welcome Erika Vonie to the show! Erika is the Director of Coffee for Trade Coffee and she is the professionals professional. Her long and accomplished career in coffee has been comprised of great success in retail, management, green buying, quality control, customer relations, event  management, competition, and much more. Erika’s energy and drive to learn, …