Exceptions to the Rule : Toxic Traditions

Chris DeferioPodcast

Huge problems come up for staff and customers when we are not on top of the may unique situations that spring up on the bar. In spite of trying to be preemptive and plan for all possible scenarios you will have baristas who make drinks differently,…

The Broken Chair

Chris DeferioPodcast

Caring for staff is one of the main functions of leadership. Unfortunately, the reality experienced by baristas the world over is that of a dysfunctional, ambivalent, sometimes toxic, or even abusive culture that disregards the welfare and voice of…

161 : Founder Friday Drive-Thru Edition w/ Jasmine Diedrich Wilson of Diedrich Espresso

Chris DeferioBusiness, Founder Friday, Leadership, Podcast

Drive-Thru coffee stands play a huge part in spreading the good word of specialty coffee. The convenience they offer makes both consuming coffee and getting into the business of coffee more accessible. Today on Founder Friday we are talking with a real drive-thru success story,  Jasmine Diedrich Wilson, Owner of the Diedrich Espresso! Jasmine started the company at 19 years …

Differentiation Takes Time!

Chris DeferioPodcast

As your competition increases, standing out becomes more of a struggle. We chase ways to be unique and often we grab hold of trends, products, and concepts that end up looking more like desperation than authentic expressions of your business and…

160 : The Smart Way to Approach Money w/ Jill Schlesinger

Chris DeferioBusiness, Leadership, Podcast

  Managing money can be super stressful. This is especially true when you own and operate a coffee shop, the margins are thin, and there seems to be more going out than coming in. To help us work through our approach to our money we are talking with the Emmy Award nominated and Gracie Award winning financial analyst for CBS …

Customer Experience – vs – Coffee Quality

Chris DeferioPodcast

Coffee is too cheap, and we all want customers to pay more for specialty coffee. How can we more effectively shift customers over to paying more, is it through higher quality or better experiences? Today we chat about why elevation of the customer…

159 : Addressing Unconscious Bias w/ Lauren Lathrop of Mill City Roasters

Chris DeferioCareer, Hospitality, Leadership, Podcast

What we think and how we act are inextricably linked. In the world of hospitality how our views and assumption about others influences everything form how we serve customers -to who we promote to leadership positions in the cafe. A large part of what contributes to our behavior is actually under the radar and as such goes unaddressed. Today we …

Self-Betrayal and the Art of Action

Chris DeferioPodcast

Everyday we have the opportunity to act on thoughts we have that would benefit others and never follow through. There is a whole world of encouragement lying dormant inside each of us that could greatly contribute to harmony within the bar and ease…