460: What to Look for in a Manager

Chris DeferioPodcast

People don’t leave jobs, they leave managers. This is an old but still true saying that, for me, underscores the importance of selecting the right person to take on a management role in the cafe. A bad manager makes the work miserable, and a good…

SHIFT BREAK : 2 Tips for Bar Design

Chris DeferioPodcast

There is nothing as frustrating as working on and getting served from a busy bar that was not designed appropriately. From size, placement, equipment selection, and more, there are many areas to consider when designing a space that runs well….

SHIFT BREAK: No Cell Phones

Chris DeferioPodcast

It’s the age old question, “Should we be able to use our phones behind the bar?”. Simple right? Well, yes in some ways but the way we approach answering this question has downstream impact on the overall experience both our staff and guests have in…

SHIFT BREAK: Too Many Managers!

Chris DeferioPodcast

Can you have too much of a good thing? When it comes to managers and bosses in the coffee shop the answer is a resounding and exasperated YES! Why do we do needlessly multiply leaders in the shop like Oprah giving our free cars and as a result…

455 : Founder Friday! w/ Nick Kassouf of Tru Bru Organic Coffee

Chris DeferioPodcast

Caring for people and their experience, both as employees and as customers, is at the heart of a successful coffee shop. In order to consistently pursue that, an operator needs to have a strong grounding of personal values that directs their decisions and helps them weather the storms of entrepreneurship. Today we are talking with someone whose mission to facilitate …