059 : Founder Friday w/ Joshua Boyt, Metronome Coffee

Chris DeferioCareer, Founder Friday, Leadership, Podcast, Uncategorized

Joshua brings really amazing passion, energy, and insights as we talk about his beginnings in coffee, founding his cafe and consulting business, running a great business, hiring well, and finding your true purpose.   About Joshua Boyt The specialty coffee industry has been captivating Joshua since 2001. Growing up in a small town at the base of Mt. Rainier in …

058 : Holiday Hospitality

Chris DeferioBarista Craft, Podcast, Training

Holiday season in the cafe is predictably busy, intense, and stressful. Not just for us but also for the customers! Today we explore 5 things to do to take the stress out of the holiday season in the shop and to create an welcoming and warm environment amidst the frantic pace all around us. With some forethought, planning, and a …

056 : The Sleepwalking Barista

Chris DeferioBarista Craft, Career, Podcast, Training, Uncategorized

Sleepwalking happens to us all at different points in our careers and for a variety of reasons. Though the reasons may vary the results are the same. Missed opportunity, lack of fulfillment, disillusionment, growth stagnates, we may even wonder why we are doing this in the first place! Today we will explore 7 of the main causes for why we …

052 : Solving Coworker Conflict w/ Tom Henschel

Chris DeferioCareer, Leadership, Management, Podcast, Training, Uncategorized

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. …

051 : The Power of Design in Coffee w/ Liz Chai

Chris DeferioBarista Craft, Career, Podcast, Uncategorized

Elizabeth Chai built her Graphic Design career as a coffeeshop dweller and coffee consumer. After a Design Director stint with Octane Coffee, her passion for advancing the industry convinced her to focus her design, branding, illustration, and photography skills exclusively within Specialty Coffee. Her love of “coffee+design” has resulted in extensive travel to see as many cafés around the world …

050 : Baristas Speak Vol. 2 : Five Interviews from the Kentukiana Coffee Champs pre-lims 2018

Chris DeferioBarista Craft, Career, Podcast, Training, Uncategorized

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 on the  to give their thoughts on the role of the barista, …