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 …

Icing on the Cake: Competitions vs. the Shop

Chris DeferioPodcast

Competitions are great for their ability to energize, challenge, and foster growth in baristas. The question is, are we doing the same for our staff? We chat about this important issue today’s edition of Shift Break!