Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders

We all are susceptible to the siren song of trying to fix a place or a person to our own detriment. In the moment it seems like the right move and there is a sense higher calling an nobility pushing us forward. The reality though is that for certain cafes and bosses, there is no reformation only resistance and a dedication to the ways that will eventually drive you into the ground.

On today's episode we will be discussing why you should not try to be a hero at the expense of your own well being and what you can do to use this current circumstance you may find yourself in for your long term betterment instead of a desperate bid save a pace and sacrifice yourself in the process.

Related episodes:

162 : Discussing "Baristastainability" w/ Jenna Gotthelf of Counter Culture Coffee

031 : Essential Advice for New Baristas : Tips to help you successfully navigate and thrive in your new coffee career

363 : Setting Boundaries in the Coffee Shop w/ Tom Henschel

181 : Organizational Self-Knowledge

Shift Break: Creating a Feedback Culture

Interested in leveling up your coffee shop?

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Click here to book a formal one-on-one consulting call!

Visit our amazing Sponsors!

www.groundcontrol.coffee

www.pacficfoodservice.com

www.coffeefest.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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