In this Episode I talk about the importance of treating customers like patrons first, and friends second. Just because they’ve been coming to your shop for years, it doesn’t mean you can take liberties with them as you would with old friends. Joking, or providing subpar service can backfire, and you can lose an old, loyal customer in a heartbeat. Listen and let me know what you think. Podcast by Gjergj Dollani http://www.ristrettotime.com

In this episode I talk about the 3 attributes that make for an outstanding barista. At Cafe Chocolat, I only spent about 5 min interviewing each candidate. I didn’t need more time, because I was not interested in playing scenario games or learning more than was necessary for me to understand if I had a great barista in front of me. Trust me, exquisite latte art is not on my list of attributes. Listen, subscribe, share and let me know your thoughts. http://www.ristrettotime.com

In this episode I talk about how to hire the right employees. What to be aware of. I share the hiring process we had at Cafe Chocolat. Also, things you can do to develop your staff. http://www.ristrettotime.com

In this episode Alex and I talk about how he started his coffee roastery in his home 10 years ago, and how he grew it to distribute in the entire east coast. We talk about trends in the coffee business, product development, partnerships between roasters and retailers and branding in the coffee business. http://www.ristrettotime.com

In this episode, I dissect a call I had recently with someone passionate about starting their own little shop. They were very excited about it, and asked me the right questions, but those were questions they should have attempted to answer themselves first, before getting as far as they had. Let me know your thoughts at dollani-at-gmail-com

In this episode, I decided to answer some of the questions I have started to get via email. Some of the questions are about the type of espresso machine, space renting, number of employees you need, etc. http://www.ristrettotime.com

Here it is! The most important episode I’ve ever recorded (and probably will ever record). I’m giving out the formula to success or failure, and even highlighting what the best solution is. ...you’re welcome! http://www.ristrettoshots.com

In this episode, I talk about the things that need to be considered when choosing a location for your coffee shop. It is not an exhausting list, but it is a few of the most important details. The last 2 minutes also I think are important to note down. http//www.ristrettotime.com

My guest, Granit Doshlaku is an expert in Search Engine Optimization. He is a featured speaker in TEDx and various international Search conferences. Granit and I talk about ways coffee shops and small business can capitalize from Google and various platforms to drive business. http://www.ristrettotime.com

In this episode I talk about how to get earned media (being talked about in the news), leveraging Twitter and Instagram go get the word out. Cafe Chocolat made the news as far as Indonesian TV, and your shop can too. I’ll show you how I did it.