Valor Coffee Podcast

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)

JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ ⁠https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep140

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

We’re back from Houston with hearts full, minds buzzing, and feet absolutely destroyed—but it was so worth it. In this special episode, we sat down live from the hotel room to debrief as a squad on our second-ever Specialty Coffee Expo experience. From serving at our Roaster’s Village booth to cupping incredible coffees, linking up with producers, and forming deeper bonds as a team, Expo 2025 was one for the books. We got to meet so many of YOU, which always blows our minds and warms our hearts. Whether you’ve never been to Expo and are curious what it’s all about, or you were there slinging shots too, this episode captures the vibe, the chaos, and the beauty of Expo in all its glory. Shoutout to everyone who stopped by, said hey, or inspired us in any way—y’all make this community what it is.

*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 - Start

00:40 - INTROOOOOOOOO

02:37 - Ethan

06:13 - Paul

09:59 - Lynden

13:42 - Savvy

16:48 - Sammy

24:46 - Luke

30:13 - Riley

JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ https://community.valor.coffee/landing-page?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep138

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

We just got back from one of the most impactful trips in the history of our company — a sourcing trip to Colombia that’s bound to shape our business for years to come. In this episode, we reflect on everything from getting searched by police on the streets of Jardín to the transformational conversations we had with coffee producers whose livelihoods depend on the volatile C-market.From walking through coffee farms in Andes to partnering with inspiring producers like Santiago Arango and Andres Cardona, this episode gives a behind-the-scenes look at what it really means to build a sourcing model based on relationships rather than just flavor scores and price points.We also dig into the nuances of green sourcing, the importance of understanding your true cost (on both the roasting and farming sides), and why the future of specialty coffee depends on young, innovative farmers like the ones we met. A must-listen for anyone in the coffee world, or anyone interested in how meaningful relationships can fuel better business.

*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

00:00:00 Start00:00:33 INTROOOOOOOOO 00:03:33 Progrum START 00:06:18 Ross, Let's begin the Recap 00:16:23 Day II 00:19:50 Marker 5 00:27:45 Vocab check 00:33:51 Busted 00:38:20 Fermentation Bootcamp 00:43:55 The coolest part of the trip, maybe ever... 00:55:28 Ethically Sourced Coffee

JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ https://community.valor.coffee/landing-page?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep138

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

We had the pleasure of sitting down again with our buddy Kent from LocalEyes, our go-to SEO expert and a wizard behind the curtain when it comes to how coffee companies can actually win on Google. Whether you’re running a cart, a café, or selling beans online, this episode is for you. We define key SEO terms (H1s, meta descriptions, and more), walk through real listener-submitted websites, and share instant improvements that can help your pages rank better today. Kent also gives us a sneak peek into the brand new SEO course he filmed for our Valor Coffee Community. It’s packed with insight, as we roast some websites (gently) and break down exactly what coffee companies are doing right and wrong. Whether you’re DIY-ing your Squarespace site or working with an agency, this is one you don’t want to miss.

Kent's Socials: https://taplink.cc/kent.fyi

*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

00:00:00 Start00:00:33 Intro 00:06:30 What is SEO? 00:10:10 H1? 00:14:19 UI/UX? 00:17:13 3 Things that make your website rank higher 00:27:07 How much is SEO Set It and Forget It? 00:29:08 Local vs E-Comerce SEO 00:31:21 Toxic Back-links?!?!?!?!?!?!? 00:32:43 Website SHRED (buckle up) 00:40:00 Social Proof 00:45:23 Google Busniess Profile 00:46:22 The PERFECT Google Review 00:48:16 Website #2 00:59:54 Website 3 (the reckoning)

JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ https://community.valor.coffee/landing-page?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep137

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

We’re diving deep into the world of seasonal coffee cocktails—how to make them, why they work, and how to actually execute them in a busy café setting. We get into the creative process behind building a solid seasonal menu, from drawing inspiration from craft cocktails to balancing drink archetypes that hit everything from matcha to mocktails. If you’re running a coffee shop and want to up your signature beverage game, or if you’re just a fan of cool coffee drinks (ever heard of a Valade?), this one’s packed with useful insight and behind-the-scenes context. Plus, Ross introduces a new basketball challenge—things get competitive. Let’s chop it up!

*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

00:00:00 - Start00:00:14 - Intro00:04:07 - Sports00:04:45 - DOn't call it a call out00:10:07 - The TOPIC at hand00:13:34 - Sig Bev Qaulifiers00:20:42 - How to start a seasonal menu00:37:49 - Drink #100:46:14 - Drink #200:48:46 - Drink #300:50:47 - Drink #400:56:41 - Drink #501:01:29 - Drink #601:08:05 - Execution hacks01:14:18 - Ratio of For Here v.s. To Go on Seasonal Drinks01:15:47 - Pricing01:17:02 - Hot take?

JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ https://community.valor.coffee/invitation?code=E3A29B⁠

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

Should you buy a turnkey café? What’s the best way to schedule multiple cafés in one app? We’re tackling your coffee business questions today on the Valor Coffee podcast! We dive into the realities of taking over an existing café, what scheduling software actually works (spoiler: it’s not all good), and our biggest regrets when launching new locations. Plus, we break down our recent road trip to visit wholesale partners in Texas and Oklahoma, talk about the power of SEO, and debate who’s the best driver on the Valor team. This one’s packed—hope y’all enjoy!

*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

JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee/invitation?code=E3A29B

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

How much do coffee shop owners actually work? If you’re thinking about opening a cafe, you might be wondering: Is this a part-time gig? A 9-to-5? Or a full-on, life-consuming endeavor? In this episode, we break down what it really looks like to run a coffee shop, drawing from our own experience of starting and operating two cafes. We cover the different approaches people take—whether you’re behind the bar every day or trying to build a more passive operation—and the challenges that come with each model. Plus, we share strategies to avoid burnout, delegate effectively, and ultimately create a sustainable work-life balance. Hope this one helps!

*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]
Want to revolutionize your catering business with a single hub for logistics, invoicing, estimates, and more? Flashquotes is changing the way Valor and other catering companies do business, leading to more bookings and better events. Check out https://flashquotes.com/valor to learn more!
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/invitation?code=E3A29B

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

How much do coffee shop owners actually work? If you’re thinking about opening a cafe, you might be wondering: Is this a part-time gig? A 9-to-5? Or a full-on, life-consuming endeavor? In this episode, we break down what it really looks like to run a coffee shop, drawing from our own experience of starting and operating two cafes. We cover the different approaches people take—whether you’re behind the bar every day or trying to build a more passive operation—and the challenges that come with each model. Plus, we share strategies to avoid burnout, delegate effectively, and ultimately create a sustainable work-life balance. Hope this one helps!

*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]

Want to revolutionize your catering business with a single hub for logistics, invoicing, estimates, and more? Flashquotes is changing the way Valor and other catering companies do business, leading to more bookings and better events. Check out https://flashquotes.com/valor to learn more!

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