520: Tips For Great Workflow and Bar Presence

Chris DeferioPodcast

Workflow and bar presence are the necessary foundation on which coffee shines. Lately I have been doing a lot of cafe design and training work. One of the central themes of training and design is that both the space and the people using it are…

SHIFT BREAK! Cortado Confusion

Chris DeferioPodcast

As most of you know, Starbucks has once again coopted a traditional drink and introduced it to their menu as a part of their “Back to Starbucks” campaign. The cortado, a 4 oz espresso and milk drink originating in Spain, has been a staple menu item in…

SHIFT BREAK: Don’t Rely on Brand Identity

Chris DeferioPodcast

Does this sound familiar? “You should shop here because we are local! …or we support this cause! …or we have this association!”? While our identity and associations in the community are beautiful and add depth to what customers might love about…

518: How to Run a Coffee Shop w/ Meaningful Hospitality

Chris DeferioPodcast

Even with all the conversations and tools available to us around the subject of hospitality, it is easy to engage in the pursuit of it in a way that ends up not resonating and lacks meaning. We can go through the motions, inspired as we are by the…

SHIFT BREAK: Back to the Basics

Chris DeferioPodcast

The value proposition of a coffee shop is not a complicated one. Kind service and hospitality in a clean and well organized space serving consistently great coffee. Boooring! At least that what it seems like we must be thinking. Why else would we be…