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This week we dove in on how we would build out a home brew setup, with three tiers of budget – $500, $2,000, and UNLIMITED. Equipment included manual pour over methods, espresso, drip, grinders, accessories, and more! Thanks for listening :)

*If you purchase something through one of our links, we may be entitled to a share of the sale*

OUR FAVORITE COFFEE GEAR:

Origami Dripper: https://valor.coffee/shop/origami-small-dripper?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep150

Aeropress: https://valor.coffee/shop/aeropress-w-tote?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep150

Fellow Opus Conical Burr Grinder: https://valor.coffee/shop/fellow-opus?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep150

WDT Tool: https://amzn.to/46pNnau

Spray Bottles: https://amzn.to/4o4k2IV

Timemore scale: https://amzn.to/4f0Io26

Barista Hustle Tamper: https://amzn.to/3H05gSL

Fellow Aiden: https://valor.coffee/shop/fellow-aiden?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep150

Gaggia Classic Pro: https://amzn.to/4lCcDPm

Turin DF64: https://amzn.to/3H2O13b

Acaia Pearl: https://valor.coffee/shop/acaia-pearl?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep150

Next Level Pulsar brewer: https://valor.coffee/shop/next-level-pulsar-brewer?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep150

Bonavita kettle: https://amzn.to/4lKluPa

Carafe - https://amzn.to/4lB0oTc

Acaia Pearl S: https://valor.coffee/shop/acaia-pearl-s?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep150

Fellow Stagg X/XF: https://valor.coffee/shop/fellow-stagg-brewer?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep150

Fellow Stagg EKG Pro kettle: https://valor.coffee/shop/fellow-stagg-ekg-pro?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep150

___

Buy Valor Coffee: ⁠⁠https://valor.coffee/shop?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep150

Watch on Youtube: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16⁠⁠

Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at [email protected] to set up an account!

Want to send us coffee? Have a question you want to answer on the show? Send us an email to [email protected]

Want to get your business in front of more people? We partnered with Local Eyes Growth to grow our business through SEO and the results have been incredible. Local Eyes is offering a FREE backlink ($300 value) to Valor Coffee Podcast listeners who partner through our exclusive link.

Visit ⁠⁠https://localeyesgrowth.com/valor⁠⁠ to get the ball rolling!

Follow the Valor Coffee Podcast on Instagram: ⁠⁠http://instagram.com/valorcoffeepod⁠⁠

Follow Valor on Instagram: ⁠⁠http://instagram.com/valor.coffee⁠⁠

Subscribe to Riley's YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@rileywestbrook⁠⁠

Follow Riley:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rileywestbrook⁠⁠

Follow Ross: ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rosswalters⁠⁠

Follow Ethan's Parody Account:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/ethanrivers777

00:00:00 - INTROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

00:00:40 - Guys, this only happens once a quarter!

00:02:18 - Home Setups? Budget? Baller? Brad Pitt?

00:03:06 - $500

00:20:59 - $2,000

00:40:24 - Baller Mode ENGAGE

00:43:47 - W.W.B.P.D. (What Would Brad Pitt Do?)

JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ ⁠https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep149

Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way!

Our two cafes made a million bucks cumulatively from January to June — but where did it all go? In this episode, we pull back the curtain and share our real numbers from the first half of 2025 across both of our cafes. We break down how much we earned, how much went to cost of goods sold (COGS), what our labor percentages are, and why it feels like there’s never quite as much left over as you’d think. Whether you’re an aspiring cafe owner or a seasoned vet trying to better understand your margins, this episode is all about transparency and growth. We even get into how our inventory systems evolved, our goals for tracking waste, and the tradeoffs of running a coffee business where profit margins are razor-thin. Oh yeah, and we talk about half birthdays and David Archuleta.

*If you purchase something through one of our links, we may be entitled to a share of the sale*

Buy Valor Coffee: ⁠⁠https://valor.coffee/shop?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep149

Watch on Youtube: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16⁠⁠

Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at [email protected] to set up an account!

Want to send us coffee? Have a question you want to answer on the show? Send us an email to [email protected]

Want to get your business in front of more people? We partnered with Local Eyes Growth to grow our business through SEO and the results have been incredible. Local Eyes is offering a FREE backlink ($300 value) to Valor Coffee Podcast listeners who partner through our exclusive link.

Visit ⁠⁠https://localeyesgrowth.com/valor⁠⁠ to get the ball rolling!

Follow the Valor Coffee Podcast on Instagram: ⁠⁠http://instagram.com/valorcoffeepod⁠⁠

Follow Valor on Instagram: ⁠⁠http://instagram.com/valor.coffee⁠⁠

Subscribe to Riley's YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@rileywestbrook⁠⁠

Follow Riley:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rileywestbrook⁠⁠

Follow Ross: ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rosswalters⁠⁠

Follow Ethan's Parody Account:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/ethanrivers777

JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ ⁠https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep148

Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way!

Brandon Sardi built Poorboy Coffee from a $500 pop-up into a brand with 63,000+ Instagram followers in roughly 12 months—while single-handedly running operations, developing his roasting program, launching online sales, and building his entire brand foundation in San Francisco.In this episode, Brandon breaks down his scrappy approach to growth through authentic storytelling, consistent content, and genuine community building. Instead of polished marketing, he documented his real journey with simple setups, sharing wins and struggles transparently. We dive into his bootstrap mentality (including some creative city regulation workarounds), his systematic content creation process, and how he turned followers into revenue through sponsorships and brand collaborations. If you want practical insights on content strategy that actually converts followers into customers, this episode delivers concrete tactics for building a brand from scratch through social media hustle and authentic connection.

*If you purchase something through one of our links, we may be entitled to a share of the sale*

Buy Valor Coffee: ⁠⁠https://valor.coffee/shop?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep14⁠8

Watch on Youtube: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16⁠⁠

Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at [email protected] to set up an account!

Want to send us coffee? Have a question you want to answer on the show? Send us an email to [email protected]

Want to get your business in front of more people? We partnered with Local Eyes Growth to grow our business through SEO and the results have been incredible. Local Eyes is offering a FREE backlink ($300 value) to Valor Coffee Podcast listeners who partner through our exclusive link.

Visit ⁠⁠https://localeyesgrowth.com/valor⁠⁠ to get the ball rolling!

Follow the Valor Coffee Podcast on Instagram: ⁠⁠http://instagram.com/valorcoffeepod⁠⁠

Follow Valor on Instagram: ⁠⁠http://instagram.com/valor.coffee⁠⁠

Subscribe to Riley's YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@rileywestbrook⁠⁠

Follow Riley:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rileywestbrook⁠⁠

Follow Ross: ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rosswalters⁠⁠

Follow Ethan's Parody Account:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/ethanrivers777

JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ ⁠https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep147

Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way!

We’ve worked in coffee shops, started a coffee cart, and now run multiple cafes, a roasting operation, and a growing wholesale and catering program. Along the way, we’ve learned a huge lesson: burnout often doesn’t come from working too much—it comes from being disorganized. In this episode, we break down the systems we use to manage our time, execute on ideas, and help our team avoid stress and inefficiency. We talk about how transitioning from barista to owner or operator brings new challenges and how tools like Notion, task prioritization, and long-term thinking can make all the difference.

*If you purchase something through one of our links, we may be entitled to a share of the sale*

Buy Valor Coffee: ⁠⁠https://valor.coffee/shop?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep14⁠7

Watch on Youtube: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16⁠⁠

Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at [email protected] to set up an account!

Want to send us coffee? Have a question you want to answer on the show? Send us an email to [email protected]

Want to get your business in front of more people? We partnered with Local Eyes Growth to grow our business through SEO and the results have been incredible. Local Eyes is offering a FREE backlink ($300 value) to Valor Coffee Podcast listeners who partner through our exclusive link.

Visit ⁠⁠https://localeyesgrowth.com/valor⁠⁠ to get the ball rolling!

Follow the Valor Coffee Podcast on Instagram: ⁠⁠http://instagram.com/valorcoffeepod⁠⁠

Follow Valor on Instagram: ⁠⁠http://instagram.com/valor.coffee⁠⁠

Subscribe to Riley's YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@rileywestbrook⁠⁠

Follow Riley:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rileywestbrook⁠⁠

Follow Ross: ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rosswalters⁠⁠

Follow Ethan's Parody Account:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/ethanrivers777

00:00:00 - Intrrrrrrooooooooooooo

00:02:17 - Another Week Down the (Good?) Drain

00:03:48 - Let's Talk Money Honey

00:09:03 - Point 1: Purple Cow

00:18:47 - Point 2: Systems

00:35:06 - Point 3: Evoked Set of Customers

00:52:09 - Breakdown of the numbers

JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ ⁠https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep146

Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way!

Both of our cafes are on pace to hit $1 million in revenue this year, and we believe we could do it again, from scratch, in just 18 months. How? In this episode, we break down the lessons, systems, and strategies we’ve learned from building two busy coffee shops. We talk Purple Cow experiences, the impact of killer systems, and the absolute necessity of being in your customer’s evoked set. Whether you’re opening your first cafe or scaling your second, this episode is full of actionable steps to build a seven-figure shop.

*If you purchase something through one of our links, we may be entitled to a share of the sale*

Buy Valor Coffee: ⁠⁠https://valor.coffee/shop?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep14⁠6

Watch on Youtube: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16⁠⁠

Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at [email protected] to set up an account!

Want to send us coffee? Have a question you want to answer on the show? Send us an email to [email protected]

We're partnered with Clive to bring you sweet deal at a discounted rate! Use Discount Code VALOR5 at checkout for 5% off Mahlkonig, Anfim and Eureka products!

Shop Clive products here: ⁠⁠https://clivecoffee.com?sca_ref=5315485.6axWuRlcEr⁠⁠

Want to get your business in front of more people? We partnered with Local Eyes Growth to grow our business through SEO and the results have been incredible. Local Eyes is offering a FREE backlink ($300 value) to Valor Coffee Podcast listeners who partner through our exclusive link.

Visit ⁠⁠https://localeyesgrowth.com/valor⁠⁠ to get the ball rolling!

Follow the Valor Coffee Podcast on Instagram: ⁠⁠http://instagram.com/valorcoffeepod⁠⁠

Follow Valor on Instagram: ⁠⁠http://instagram.com/valor.coffee⁠⁠

Subscribe to Riley's YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@rileywestbrook⁠⁠

Follow Riley:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rileywestbrook⁠⁠

Follow Ross: ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rosswalters⁠⁠

Follow Ethan's Parody Account:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/ethanrivers777

00:00:00 - Intrrrrrrooooooooooooo

00:02:17 - Another Week Down the (Good?) Drain

00:03:48 - Let's Talk Money Honey

00:09:03 - Point 1: Purple Cow

00:18:47 - Point 2: Systems

00:35:06 - Point 3: Evoked Set of Customers

00:52:09 - Breakdown of the numbers

JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ ⁠https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep145

Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way!

Jacob Honescko of Filtered Coffee in McKinney, TX joined us to talk through what it’s like to take over a second wave cafe and transition it into a third wave shop. Jacob is a seriously thoughtful operator who honored the previous owner, his team, and his guests while leading major upgrades – from the equipment and menu to hospitality and culture. We chat about how he balanced change and stability, built trust with the team he inherited, created buy-in for third wave coffee with long-time guests, and what he’s learned along the way. Whether you’re dreaming of transforming your cafe or just want to hear a great story of humble leadership, this one is for you.

*If you purchase something through one of our links, we may be entitled to a share of the sale*

Buy Valor Coffee: ⁠⁠https://valor.coffee/shop?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep14⁠5

Watch on Youtube: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16⁠⁠

Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at [email protected] to set up an account!

Want to send us coffee? Have a question you want to answer on the show? Send us an email to [email protected]

We're partnered with Clive to bring you sweet deal at a discounted rate! Use Discount Code VALOR5 at checkout for 5% off Mahlkonig, Anfim and Eureka products!

Shop Clive products here: ⁠⁠https://clivecoffee.com?sca_ref=5315485.6axWuRlcEr⁠⁠

Want to get your business in front of more people? We partnered with Local Eyes Growth to grow our business through SEO and the results have been incredible. Local Eyes is offering a FREE backlink ($300 value) to Valor Coffee Podcast listeners who partner through our exclusive link.

Visit ⁠⁠https://localeyesgrowth.com/valor⁠⁠ to get the ball rolling!

Follow the Valor Coffee Podcast on Instagram: ⁠⁠http://instagram.com/valorcoffeepod⁠⁠

Follow Valor on Instagram: ⁠⁠http://instagram.com/valor.coffee⁠⁠

Subscribe to Riley's YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@rileywestbrook⁠⁠

Follow Riley:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rileywestbrook⁠⁠

Follow Ross: ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rosswalters⁠⁠

Follow Ethan's Parody Account:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/ethanrivers777

JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ ⁠https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep144

Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way!

We took on a spicy one this week — the complicated (and sometimes strained) relationship between cafe owners and baristas. Why do some owners feel frustrated with their staff? Is Gen Z to blame… or is it all the owner’s fault? (Spoiler: it’s probably the latter.) In this episode, we get real about things like excessive time off, lack of ownership, complaining without solutions, and passion mismatches — but all with one goal in mind: how to build a healthier, more empathetic, and high-functioning cafe team. Whether you’re a barista or an owner, there’s a ton to take away here.

*If you purchase something through one of our links, we may be entitled to a share of the sale*

Buy Valor Coffee: ⁠⁠https://valor.coffee/shop?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep144⁠⁠

Watch on Youtube: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16⁠⁠

Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at [email protected] to set up an account!

Want to send us coffee? Have a question you want to answer on the show? Send us an email to [email protected]

We're partnered with Clive to bring you sweet deal at a discounted rate! Use Discount Code VALOR5 at checkout for 5% off Mahlkonig, Anfim and Eureka products!

Shop Clive products here: ⁠⁠https://clivecoffee.com?sca_ref=5315485.6axWuRlcEr⁠⁠

Want to get your business in front of more people? We partnered with Local Eyes Growth to grow our business through SEO and the results have been incredible. Local Eyes is offering a FREE backlink ($300 value) to Valor Coffee Podcast listeners who partner through our exclusive link.

Visit ⁠⁠https://localeyesgrowth.com/valor⁠⁠ to get the ball rolling!

Follow the Valor Coffee Podcast on Instagram: ⁠⁠http://instagram.com/valorcoffeepod⁠⁠

Follow Valor on Instagram: ⁠⁠http://instagram.com/valor.coffee⁠⁠

Subscribe to Riley's YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@rileywestbrook⁠⁠

Follow Riley:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rileywestbrook⁠⁠

Follow Ross: ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rosswalters⁠⁠

Follow Ethan's Parody Account:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/ethanrivers777

00:00:00 START

00:00:13 Intro (Kent go Easy on Riley)

00:02:32 Ladies and Gentleman, Start Your Engines

00:04:48 The Topic

00:08:40 Personal Mismanagement (Schedule)

00:19:12 How to Set your baristas up for success

00:22:34 Complaigning Without A Solution

00:29:59 Entitlement

00:33:43 Passion for The Craft v.s. "It's just my job"

00:40:04 How Do You Fill the Gap?

JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ ⁠https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep143

Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way!

We’ve heard it all—baristas don’t trust their owners, owners feel misunderstood, and coffee shop culture feels broken. In this episode, we unpack the real reasons why baristas and owners feel disconnected and how to build bridges instead of barriers. We reflect on our own missteps, share stories from cafes across the country, and offer actionable insights into cultivating trust, leadership, and clarity. We also sip on a delicious cup from Cathedral Coffee and chat about expanding our HQ and dialing in better coffee brewing processes. If you’re a cafe owner or barista looking to strengthen your culture, this one’s for you.

*If you purchase something through one of our links, we may be entitled to a share of the sale*

Buy Valor Coffee: ⁠⁠https://valor.coffee/shop?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep143⁠⁠

Watch on Youtube: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16⁠⁠

Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at [email protected] to set up an account!

Want to send us coffee? Have a question you want to answer on the show? Send us an email to [email protected]

We're partnered with Clive to bring you sweet deal at a discounted rate! Use Discount Code VALOR5 at checkout for 5% off Mahlkonig, Anfim and Eureka products!

Shop Clive products here: ⁠⁠https://clivecoffee.com?sca_ref=5315485.6axWuRlcEr⁠⁠

Want to get your business in front of more people? We partnered with Local Eyes Growth to grow our business through SEO and the results have been incredible. Local Eyes is offering a FREE backlink ($300 value) to Valor Coffee Podcast listeners who partner through our exclusive link.

Visit ⁠⁠https://localeyesgrowth.com/valor⁠⁠ to get the ball rolling!

Follow the Valor Coffee Podcast on Instagram: ⁠⁠http://instagram.com/valorcoffeepod⁠⁠

Follow Valor on Instagram: ⁠⁠http://instagram.com/valor.coffee⁠⁠

Subscribe to Riley's YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@rileywestbrook⁠⁠

Follow Riley:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rileywestbrook⁠⁠

Follow Ross: ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rosswalters⁠⁠

Follow Ethan's Parody Account:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/ethanrivers777

00:00:00 We back

00:02:12 That was my cold open

00:02:41 Intro II (kinda mid IMO)

00:05:59 Coffee of the day

00:10:59 Hot Topic

00:13:52 For Owners

00:25:43 Hypocrisy

00:29:22 Under Promise - Over Deliver

00:32:06 Let's get PRACTICAL

00:36:03 Owner Absence v.s. Owner Availability

00:37:02 Lack of Clarity In the Job Description

00:45:15 Tolerating Toxicity

00:50:24 The Pay Gap (DUH DUH DUH)

JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ ⁠https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep142

Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way!

We get it — you’re running your coffee shop, wearing every hat in the place, and wondering if the next step is hiring a manager to save you from burnout. But what if that’s not the move? In this episode, we break down why simply promoting your most tenured team member might be doing more harm than good — for your business and for them. We talk about what it actually looks like to lead your cafe sustainably, how to empower your team without creating bloated roles, and why clear systems (and clear pay structures) beat vague “manager” titles every time. Plus, we chat about our Weber EG-1, a wild coffee from Mundos, and the art of not turning your business into a financial black hole. If you’re in the thick of cafe ownership, this one’s for you.

*If you purchase something through one of our links, we may be entitled to a share of the sale*

Buy Valor Coffee: ⁠⁠https://valor.coffee/shop?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep142⁠⁠

Watch on Youtube: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16⁠⁠

Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at [email protected] to set up an account!

Want to send us coffee? Have a question you want to answer on the show? Send us an email to [email protected]

We're partnered with Clive to bring you sweet deal at a discounted rate! Use Discount Code VALOR5 at checkout for 5% off Mahlkonig, Anfim and Eureka products!

Shop Clive products here: ⁠⁠https://clivecoffee.com?sca_ref=5315485.6axWuRlcEr⁠⁠

Want to get your business in front of more people? We partnered with Local Eyes Growth to grow our business through SEO and the results have been incredible. Local Eyes is offering a FREE backlink ($300 value) to Valor Coffee Podcast listeners who partner through our exclusive link.

Visit ⁠⁠https://localeyesgrowth.com/valor⁠⁠ to get the ball rolling!

Follow the Valor Coffee Podcast on Instagram: ⁠⁠http://instagram.com/valorcoffeepod⁠⁠

Follow Valor on Instagram: ⁠⁠http://instagram.com/valor.coffee⁠⁠

Subscribe to Riley's YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@rileywestbrook⁠⁠

Follow Riley:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rileywestbrook⁠⁠

Follow Ross: ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rosswalters⁠⁠

Follow Ethan's Parody Account:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/ethanrivers777

00:00:00 - Start

00:00:22 - INTROOOOOOOOOOO

00:01:48 - Weber EG-1 (Uh-oh alert)

00:03:30 - Today's Coffees

00:10:56 - Today's Topic

00:18:34 - Do you need to hire a manager?

00:29:23 - High Level Overview From Valor's perspective

00:42:18 - Nitty Gritty - Pay Structure & Tipping

00:50:35 - Clarity With The Leadership in Your Cafe

00:54:27 - Couple Challenges

JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ ⁠https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep141

Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way!

Opening a cafe soon? The first few days can make or break your first year in business. In this episode, we unpack the power of the soft launch: what it is, how to do it right, and why it can save your shop from early bad reviews and operational chaos. We walk through how we launched both of our cafes, how many people to hire, why Google reviews are critical, and how to prep your team for day one. We also dive into real marketing strategies (including influencer nights and newsletter tactics), how to leverage soft launches to stress test systems, and the little things that help turn new guests into regulars. Whether you’re weeks away from opening or just dreaming up your space, this one’s packed with actionable gems.

*If you purchase something through one of our links, we may be entitled to a share of the sale*

Buy Valor Coffee: ⁠⁠https://valor.coffee/shop⁠⁠

Watch on Youtube: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16⁠⁠

Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at [email protected] to set up an account!

Want to send us coffee? Have a question you want to answer on the show? Send us an email to [email protected]

We're partnered with Clive to bring you sweet deal at a discounted rate! Use Discount Code VALOR5 at checkout for 5% off Mahlkonig, Anfim and Eureka products!

Shop Clive products here: ⁠⁠https://clivecoffee.com?sca_ref=5315485.6axWuRlcEr⁠⁠

Want to get your business in front of more people? We partnered with Local Eyes Growth to grow our business through SEO and the results have been incredible. Local Eyes is offering a FREE backlink ($300 value) to Valor Coffee Podcast listeners who partner through our exclusive link.

Visit ⁠⁠https://localeyesgrowth.com/valor⁠⁠ to get the ball rolling!

Follow the Valor Coffee Podcast on Instagram: ⁠⁠http://instagram.com/valorcoffeepod⁠⁠

Follow Valor on Instagram: ⁠⁠http://instagram.com/valor.coffee⁠⁠

Subscribe to Riley's YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@rileywestbrook⁠⁠

Follow Riley:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rileywestbrook⁠⁠

Follow Ross: ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rosswalters⁠⁠

Follow Ethan's Parody Account:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/ethanrivers777

00:00 - INTROOOOOOOOO

02:16 - Start

03:56 - Today We Have A Topic

08:45 - Soft Launching Our Cafes

13:47 - Big tip #1

17:26 - Big Tip #2

20:09 - Big Tip #3

21:05 - Big Tip #4

22:33 - Big Tip #5

25:32 - A question AND a HOT take

27:46 - A note about marketing/ads

31:24 - Bonus Tip! (this one's free)