What is Professionalism? Some thoughts for the future of service

Chris DeferioPodcast

Professionalism is a loaded word that has been discussed a lot lately. It is a trait many of us want to be perceived as having but are sent mixed signals from bosses or judges as to what is, or is not, professional. Today we chat about professionalism…

Winning and Losing : Thoughts on pursuits and their wake

Chris DeferioPodcast

It is easy to get caught up in the pursuit of the top position in any endeavor and base our value on the results. How we approach our goals will determine what we get out of it. Today we chat about winning, losing, and perspectives to help us stay…

142 : Entrepreneur Interviews from Coffee Fest NYC!

Chris DeferioPodcast, Uncategorized

I am so excited to share these interviews from the show floor at Coffee Fest NYC! I had the chance to interview the amazing British Coleman & Shabria Quinn Robinson who are in the very early planning stages of their business, “Pour Coffeehouse and Lounge” in Saginaw, MI. Then I got to interview Owner Peter Moses who is right in …

141 : The 27 Challenges Managers Face w/ Bruce Tulgan

Chris DeferioPodcast, Uncategorized

If you are in management you know that it is not each day can bring a new set of challenges. It just so happens that there are 27 particular challenges that are common to almost all managers and we are going to explore a few of these in todays episode with returning guest, Bruce Tulgan. Bruce is the founder of …

140 : A conversation w/ Erika Vonie, Director of Coffee at Trade Coffee

Chris DeferioBarista Craft, Career, Leadership, Podcast, Supply Chain

I am so excited to welcome Erika Vonie to the show! Erika is the Director of Coffee for Trade Coffee and she is the professionals professional. Her long and accomplished career in coffee has been comprised of great success in retail, management, green buying, quality control, customer relations, event  management, competition, and much more. Erika’s energy and drive to learn, …

139 : Founder Friday w/ Kusanya Cafe co-founder, Phil Sipka

Chris DeferioBusiness, Career, Founder Friday, Leadership, Podcast

It’s Founder Friday! Today we talk with the Co-Founder of Kusanya Cafe located in Englewood, Chicago, USA, Phil Sipka. Kusanya Cafe is an all resident owned and run non-profit coffee shop that has been providing an amazing gathering spot and 3rd place for the Englewood neighborhood for the past 5 years. It is truly a great example of what can …

138 : Joseph A. Rivera on Organic Acids and the Importance of Coffee Science

Chris DeferioBarista Craft, Coffee Tech, Podcast, Supply Chain

There is a whole world of chemical components that make up your cup of coffee. Knowing more about that world will help us become better operators and better professionals as it will enable us to increase the quality and consistency of what we serve. Today we get to learn a bit about organic acids and the importance of coffee science …

137 : Essential Books for your Professional Development vol.2 : Five books to help you grow

Chris DeferioBarista Craft, Career, Leadership, Management, Podcast

Nothing helps you grow like great books! In this Vol.2 of Essential Books we talk about 5 books that will have a huge impact on your career and business. They cover everything from team building, problem solving for managers, and managing up the chain of authority -to entrepreneurship and an in-depth look at the role the coffee shop plays in …

136 : Nourishing the Barista’s Soul: A conversation w/ Deb Kaminski of Pacific Natural Foods

Chris DeferioCareer, Leadership, Management, Podcast

Today is a special day because we get to chat with Deb Kaminsky, the Director of Food Service Marketing for Pacific Natural Foods. When you see the Pacific Barista Series, it’s success in the market, and the incredible support Pacific gives baristas, that’s Deb. Throughout her career her heart has been to nourish people and in this interview we get …