408: Coffee Tools, Music, and Serving the Community w/ Anita Tam of Slow Pour Supply Co.

Chris DeferioBusiness, Leadership, Podcast

The world of coffee is saturated with suppliers of tools and equipment. Most are seeking the transaction and chasing the opportunity the current market has afforded them. Precious few  suppliers are truly passionate about their customers in a meaningful way that results in the love and respect of the barista community. Slow Pour Supply is one such company, because Anita …

RoR # 21 : Data, Community, and the Art of Roasting w/ U.S. Roasters Champion Andrew Coe of Elevator Coffee

Chris DeferioPodcast, Roasting

On this Rate of Rise episode I am thrilled to get to have a conversation with the new U.S. roasting Champion, Andrew Coe of Elevator Coffee in Portland, OR Andrew Coe is the owner and roaster at Elevator Coffee in Portland, OR, founded in 2016. Andrew launched his professional roasting career by winning the first Cascadia Cup roasting competition at Buckman Coffee …

Coffee, Integrity, and A.I.

Chris DeferioPodcast

Today we have an incredible number of options to increase efficiency and outsource everything we do, including the things that people would normally assume come from you as a creator. This presents a problem that I believe is based either upholding or…

406 : Five Ways to Immediately Improve Your Coffee Quality

Chris DeferioBarista Craft, Podcast

Out of all the reasons that may be contributing to customers either loving or avoiding your shop, the quality of your drink beverages actually ranks pretty high. The trouble is, we all tend to assume that we have pretty much achieved a level of quality that “should” be sufficient to attract and keep customers and in that assumption we are …

Things the Owner Can’t do for You

Chris DeferioPodcast

When it comes to leadership, the power and authority that is inherent in the position creates a need for higher degrees of responsibility to facilitate and support those being led. Be that as it may, for those who are being led, this is not a reason…

405: Beyond the Schedule w/ Wil Brawley of Schedulefly

Chris DeferioPodcast

Technology and tools are meant to serve people, not the other way around. As we multiply apps, software, snd services in the name of optimization and ease, it can become harder to truly connect as we begin relying on these innovations to replace the very relationships that will sustain our coffee shops. The tech for making the schedule in your …

Pitching your Ideas to Your Boss

Chris DeferioPodcast

“If only the boss would listen to my ideas this coffee shop would be so much better!” We all have ideas for how to improve different aspects of the cafe. Many times I have been frustrated when my really great ideas were not met with the same…

404 : Education, Home Brewing, and Launching a Roastery w/ Kyle Rowsell, September Coffee

Chris DeferioBarista Craft, Podcast, Training

Creating in depth, engaging, and ultimately helpful educational content is no easy task. Today the number of options we have for gear, techniques, and the coffee itself are daunting to say the least. It is this vast field of options that energizes the home enthusiast to passionately pursue coffee and for some they get into it so much, they turn …

Baristas Are Not Magic

Chris DeferioPodcast

There are no shortcuts to creating something meaningful, dynamic, and sustainable. But that does not stop us from thinking that that there are! Whether you are leaning on the idea that you just need the perfect or award winning barista and then you…