Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders

Chris Deferio
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Oct 3, 2022 • 1h 8min

370: Founder Friday! w/ Tony Dreyfuss of Metropolis Coffee Company, Chicago, Illinois

I am excited to present to you another great interview with an inspirational founder! This time we get to hear the story of the founding an development of a business that has long been a pillar of specialty coffee in the U.S.. We are talking with Tony Dreyfuss, Co-Founder of the award winning Metropolis Coffee Company! Tony started Metropolis Coffee with his Father Jeff Dreyfuss in 2003 and they continue to own and run it to this day. In the span of 2 decades Metropolis has established itself as both an iconic specialty coffee roaster and shop, winning many awards for its coffee and overall business, but also as a pillar of the community it serves in Chicago. The values and passion for of diversity, quality, and locally rooted service are the foundations that make Metropolis as effective and successful as they are. Today we will be diving into the story of Metropolis as we talk with Tony about everything from his first exposure to coffee and getting hooked on the scene- to founding and growing Metropolis with all the high and low points along the way. We cover: Discovering coffee and becoming a coffee guy Experiences at Pete's and planning his own shop First steps into coffee as a career and then as an owner Working with family and building the brand Using experience + Learning new business lessons Coffee offerings then and now Inclusivity model and hiring nice people Cultural diversity and a people first approach Learning from mistakes and embracing authenticity Thoughts on the industry shift toward accessible offerings Most important issue in coffee right now Links: https://www.metropoliscoffee.com/ Metropolis Coffee Instagram @metropoliscoffeeco Related Episodes: 366: A Conversation w/ Chris Baca of Cat and Cloud Coffee 204 : Founder Friday w/ Jeff Taylor of PT's Coffee Roasting Co. & Bird Rock Coffee! 075 : Founder Friday w/Jill Killen of Cloud City Coffee, Seattle Washington 329 : How to Teach Company Values to Your Staff 282 : How to Listen to your Customers 367 : Designing Your Coffee Shop for Community w/ Dr. Lisa Waxman Your Peers are not your Customers Visit our amazing Sponsors! www.groundcontrol.coffee www.pacficfoodservice.com
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Sep 29, 2022 • 10min

The Wrong Way to Improve Morale

One of the top questions I get asked is about how to improve employee morale. As someone who has conducted and sat through his fair share of meetings designed around this issue, I can tell you with a fair degree of certainty what does not work. On todays Shift Break we will be talking about the wrong way to improve employee morale as well as the right way to begin truly fixing the problem instead of throwing a lot of meetings and initiatives at it. Please listen to these recommended and related episodes: Fix the Small Stuff! : Management, Morale, Coffee Bar Culture The One-on-One : How one meeting can dramatically impact your coffee shop's culture and morale. Four Steps to Inspiring Your Staff Visit these amazing sponsors! The best espresso machines in the world! www.lamarzoccousa.com Custom branded mobile apps for your shop! www.espressly.co
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Sep 26, 2022 • 34min

369: Encore Episode! How to be a Cash Register Hero

It goes without saying, but I will say it anyway - first impressions matter a lot! When a customer enters your business the person that sets the tone for them is usually the barista working the cash register. With this fact in mind you'd think most bars would then invest heavily in training and equipping their staff to work this station with the same or even greater finesse than a barista. But you'd be wrong. Mostly we tend to under equip and push to the side this area and it shows. On today's episode we will be revisiting an old episode that deals directly with this topic and will give you 6 skills that are needed to do a wonderful job at the cash register. Please also listen to the recommended episodes below to dive deeper into the subject and let it motivate you to take action on improving the experience your staff and customers have at the POS. Recommended episodes: Up-selling and Hospitality: Helping Customers Make Good Decisions 271 : Why the Cash Register Controls Everything 085 : How we Ruin the Specialty Experience 045 : Simple, Powerful Hospitality w/ Philip Turner Empowering Staff to make the right Call Interested in leveling up your coffee shop? Click here to schedule a free consulting discovery call with KTTS Click here to book a formal one-on-one consulting call! Visit our amazing Sponsors! www.groundcontrol.coffee www.pacficfoodservice.com www.coffeefest.com
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Sep 22, 2022 • 8min

Make Your Problems More Specific

There is always a general sense of anxiety present when it comes to running a coffeehouse. Part of the reason for that is that problems are always popping up and we need to then deal with them. The other reason for why this anxiety seems perpetual has to do with the fact that for most operators, problems are not specific enough to do anything about. On today's Shift break we will be exploring how digging into the problems you experience and making them more specific, will give you a far great chance of finding peace of mind and solutions amidst the challenges of running a cafe. Related episodes: Slowing down your Response Time The Miracle of the Mundane: How curiosity helps our sustainability 125 : Confidence in Conflict w/ Kwame Christian : A framework for Compassionate Curiosity 052 : Solving Coworker Conflict w/ Tom Henschel 165 : The Art of Deep Listening w/ Oscar Trimboli Visit these amazing sponsors! The best espresso machines in the world! www.lamarzoccousa.com Custom branded mobile apps for your shop! www.espressly.co
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Sep 20, 2022 • 29min

368 : Walking the Line Between Leadership and Friendship

We have a problem. There are plenty of people in leadership positions but many of them are afraid to step into their role and opt instead to try to avoid the difficulty by being friends with everyone. I'll bet you know a manager or owner like this and I'll also bet it was not necessarily an endearing quality. In an environment where community, teamwork, and close quarters are constants, it is natural to feel the tension between leadership and friendship. Today we are going to be hashing out why this tension exists, how it has led to some bad situations, and what to do to make sure you are and trusted, respected AND effective leader in the coffee shop. We cover: Why we try to run form authority Futility of friendship alchemy Bias and toxicity Avoidant behavior and Self awareness Embracing your role and authority for good Using the difference Keeping your distance while connecting Related episodes I think you will enjoy: 074 : The Life Changing Power of Good Authority w/ Jonathan Raymond 067 : 6 Truths About Power : The Responsible Approach to Power Dynamics in the Cafe Interested in leveling up your coffee shop? Click here to schedule a free consulting discovery call with KTTS Click here to book a formal one-on-one consulting call! Visit our amazing Sponsors! www.groundcontrol.coffee www.pacficfoodservice.com www.coffeefest.com
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Sep 16, 2022 • 9min

Your Bathroom Stinks

When we promise our customers a specialty experience in our shops they would logically assume that promise of quality might extend to the bathroom. Alas, it is not so. Not at least for many shops. On today's Shift Break we are going to be talking about how the way you care for you cafe bathroom is a direct reflection of how you care for you guests and why we need to hold ourselves to a higher standard. Related episodes: 307 : 10 Simple ways to Level Up your Coffee Shop Spiders and Customer Service 175 : How to Keep your Cool : A Fridge, Cooler, and Ice Machine Masterclass w/ Luke Peterson of The Maintenance Department! 367 : Designing Your Coffee Shop for Community w/ Dr. Lisa Waxman Visit these amazing sponsors! The best espresso machines in the world! www.lamarzoccousa.com Custom branded mobile apps for your shop! www.espressly.co
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Sep 13, 2022 • 1h 9min

367 : Designing Your Coffee Shop for Community w/ Dr. Lisa Waxman

It goes without saying that most of us want our shops to be a place that attracts and fosters community. The question though is how exactly to we intentionally build our spaces to accomplish that. If we are honest, probably not as much thought or effort get put into setting up a space to purposely create community as is necessary. Well you are in luck! Today we are talking with returning guest and expert on interior design and how to create community conducive spaces, Dr. Lisa Waxman! Dr. Waxman, Ph.D. is a professor and chair of the Interior Architecture + Design department at Florida State University. Her research includes topics related to the design of spaces that foster community, sustainable design, and design for special populations. She is an NCIDQ certificate holder, a LEED-AP and a licensed interior designer in Florida. Dr. Waxman has served in many capacities on the board of the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC), including president-elect, president and past-president from 2010 until 2013. She was honored as a Fellow of IDEC in 2008. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). Her teaching expertise includes environment and behavior, design issues, sustainability and studio. Dr. Waxman has authored an incredible number of scholarly works and has won many awards for her work. In our interview today we will be discussing her new book "Designing Coffee Shops and Cafes for Community" and diving into the practical ways we can build great 3rd places for our communities. We cover: Perspective of community and the 3rd place Biological roots of out need for connection Balance of community success and commercial success. Familiar stangers Key components of place attachment How are our cafes counteracting community Values, mission, and identity reflection Branding and un-branding Thinking about Lighting, texture, sound, and smell Working around space restraints Community with mobile operations? Welcoming and serving a variety of demographics Service is critical Links: BUY: Designing Cafes and Coffee Shops for Community Mentioned resource: Together Book Interested in leveling up your coffee shop? Click here to schedule a free consulting discovery call with KTTS Click here to book a formal one-on-one consulting call! Visit our amazing Sponsors! www.groundcontrol.coffee www.pacficfoodservice.com www.coffeefest.com
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Sep 8, 2022 • 13min

Investing in Financial Education

It is critical to pay baristas and staff from a place of generosity. We like to say "Pay what you can, not what you can get away with". In many cases though there is a lack of knowledge of how to manage income once it is paid. If we want to pay our staff a living wage then I believe we should also help provide some help on how to manage it. On today's shift break we will be talking about the issue of financial mismanagement of wages and how operators can equip their staff have a healthy view of and handle on their income leading to a better quality of life. Related episodes: 160 : The Smart Way to Approach Money w/ Jill Schlesinger 223 : Building a Financially Resilient Business w/ Andrew Carroll Reach out for one-on-one consulting and coaching! Book a 90 minute consulting Call now! Interested in consulting? Click here to schedule a free consulting discovery call with KTTS Visit these amazing sponsors! The best espresso machines in the world! www.lamarzoccousa.com Custom branded mobile apps for your shop! www.espressly.co
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Sep 5, 2022 • 1h 24min

366 : A Conversation w/ Chris Baca of Cat and Cloud Coffee

We all want leadership and cafe culture that inspires. Through personal and professional development we can learn how to create an environments where our values and core beliefs are lived out in real time. In spite of the inevitable challenges, set backs, and failures that come with entrepreneurship and leadership, when we bring our true selves to work in good faith with others, magic happens. This is what today's guest, Chris Baca has accomplished at the globally celebrated shop and roastery, Cat and Cloud Coffee. Chris Baca is the co-owner of Cat and Cloud and inspires thousands around the world through his YouTube channel and writing at www.chrisbaca.com where he focuses on finding joy in your work and putting ideas into action. Over two decades he has carved out a consistent people and hospitality focused career where ever he was working. Through the founding and growth of Cat and Cloud he has learned an incredible amount about himself, the nature of cafe leadership, and how to cultivate a culture that truly leaves every person they it touches in a better place. He believes we all have gifts to share, and that the world would be better off if we are brave enough to share those gifts. In our conversation today we dive deep into development, leadership, overcoming challenges, and creating a dynamic culture of clarity and mutuality in the cafe We cover: Developing skills and his career The fear and challenge of leading the first groups of staff The gravity of leadership and urgency about the right thing The reason for starting cat and cloud Empathy and self compassion Living by Values and core beliefs. Communicating clearly Enrollment vs enforcement Finding magic in the mundane Challenging yourself Boss and staff Striving to understand each other Next steps to building a culture of care Links: www.chrisbaca.com www.catandcloud.com Chris on Instagram @realchrisbaca Related episodes: 055 : Personal Growth & Development w/ Jared Truby, Cat & Cloud Coffee 341: How to Think About Success 018: Hiring, Culture, and the Future of your Shop 194 : Encore Episode! Leadership in the Cafe: 10 Steps to being a People First Leader | Aired January 17 2017 303 : Create Authentic Partnerships w/ Marc Gessler of Cat & Cloud Coffee Interested in consulting? Click here to schedule a free consulting discovery call with KTTS Click here to book a formal one-on-one consulting call! Visit our amazing Sponsors! www.groundcontrol.coffee www.pacficfoodservice.com www.coffeefest.com
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Sep 1, 2022 • 13min

On "Quiet Quitting"

There has been a lot of publicity around the phrase "Quiet Quitting" in the last few weeks. In short this is explained as employees doing bare minimum and as giving up on their jobs without explicitly quitting. It would be easy to chalk this up to some generational quirk or attribute of the modern age but what is really happening may be deeper. Today on Shift Break we will discuss quiet quitting, what is behind it, and how to move forward together in a way that will reengage both employees and leaders in the coffee shop. Related Episodes: When Going Above and Beyond Goes to Far Specific Expectations and Due Dates Being the Point of Clarity Helping Managers Avoid Burnout Please Clarify: Making sure you and your boss are on the same page Reach out for one-on-one consulting and coaching! Book a 90 minute consulting Call now! Interested in consulting? Click here to schedule a free consulting discovery call with KTTS Visit these amazing sponsors! The best espresso machines in the world! www.lamarzoccousa.com Custom branded mobile apps for your shop! www.espressly.co

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