089 : La Marzocco USA General Manager, Andrew Daday : Leadership, Innovation, service, heritage

Chris DeferioCoffee Tech, Leadership, Podcast, Supply Chain

Today we have the immense honor of talking with Andrew Daday, General Manager of La Marzocco USA! We dive into his leadership,  values, and goals as he heads up one of the worlds most iconic and respected equipment manufacturing companies. Also in this conversation we discuss the importance of La Marzocco’s relationship with the coffee shop, their vision for sustainability, …

088 : 2018 U.S. Barista Champion, Cole McBride

Chris DeferioBarista Craft, Career, Podcast, Training

Today we talk with the new U.S. Barista Champion, Cole McBride! Cole has always given 110% effort to improving both his own craft and being an advocate for specialty coffee and those around him. In his 15 years of professional coffee work he has gleaned an impressive amount of wisdom, skill, and perspective that is clearly on display both on …

087 : Coffee Masters Champion, Agneiszka Rojewska

Chris DeferioBarista Craft, Career, Podcast, Training

Today we talk with Coffee Masters Champion, Agnieszka Rojewska! She is the multi-time Polish Barista champion, Latte Art champion, and now Coffee Masters champion, a trainer, consultant, and all around inspiration! In this conversation we chat about her packed completion schedule, pushing yourself outside your comfort zone, her experience as a cafe owner and manager folding in lessons from competition …

086 : Founder Friday w/ JoEllen Depakakibo / Pinhole Coffee

Chris DeferioFounder Friday, Leadership, Podcast

086: Founder Friday! w/ JoEllen Depakakibo / Pinhole Coffee Warmth, hospitality, community, kid songs…this episode has it all! Today we get the chat with the founder of Pinhole Coffee, JoEllen Depakakibo! JoEllen’s shop, Pinhole Coffee, is an amazing little cafe nestled in the Bernal Heights neighborhood of San Fransisco. For four years now she has been living her dream of …

085 : How we Ruin the Specialty Experience

Chris DeferioBarista Craft, Career, Leadership, Podcast

It is often the little things that we allow or that escape our attention that will ruin the specialty experience for our customers in our shops. Today we discuss ways that we create unnecessary roadblocks to customers having a truly great experience in the cafe and what to do about it.  We give you a framework to use in rooting …

083: 6 Essential Books for your Professional Growth

Chris DeferioCareer, Leadership, Management, Podcast

I love recommending great books! In this episode we talk about 6 books that I think are critical to your professional development. They cover everything form hospitality, coffee knowledge, operations, management, personal growth, and vocational calling and should be a part of your library. I want to do more episodes like this so keep an eye and ear out for …

081 : Founder Friday w/ David Schomer of Espresso Vivace

Chris DeferioBarista Craft, Founder Friday, Podcast

It’s Founder Friday!!! I am honored to have David Schomer of Espresso Vivace join us on the show as his company celebrates it’s 30th year. Since it’s founding in 1988 Espresso Vivace has been home to David’s groundbreaking and paradigm shifting experiments with espresso coffee and drink presentation. His work has been foundational and formative in the lives of countless …