Shows
Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders555: 3 Ways to be Better Cafe ManagerBecoming a great manager is as much for other people's benefit as it is for your own. In order to do this you have to see it as a practice that incorporates certain mindsets and habits that contribute to developing you into the kind of person who can guide and develop others Today on the show we will talking about three very important areas that managers should be focused on incorporating and improving as they work throughout the week. My advice...practice these things intentionally and work at recalling your day and your week every we...
2025-08-1128 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop LeadersSHIFT BREAK! Explaining the Manager's Landscape | A Framework For Leading Staff Being a manager in a coffee shop is not just about extra administrative tasks, its about leading and guiding people well through the work of the cafe. Many managers in bars around the world are kept buried in tasks and don't have a clear view of the landscape in front of them. This leads to avoiding essential conversations and a lack of growth in both the manager and the staff. Today on Shift Break we will be talking about a great tool developed by Bruce Tulgan in his book "It's OK to be the Boss" called "The...
2025-05-0710 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders497: Caught in the Middle: Answering Questions from Frustrated ManagementThe first place you're going to see burn out in the coffee bar is in the position of management. These lucky people are not only given the task to lead the team and serve them with their role, but they are also accountable to their bosses, creating a feeling of being caught between two different groups that they have to please in their work. Almost without fail I am asked by managers over email or at conferences some version of the same question related to being frustrated at the lack of action from their boss, or that...
2024-09-1647 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders460: What to Look for in a ManagerPeople don't leave jobs, they leave managers. This is an old but still true saying that, for me, underscores the importance of selecting the right person to take on a management role in the cafe. A bad manager makes the work miserable, and a good manager makes the work rewarding and just like a conductor, orchestrates the talents of the players into a harmonious experience. But how do you find this person and what should you be looking for when it is time to put an manager in place? This week we are going to discus several...
2024-02-1930 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop LeadersSHIFT BREAK : It's OK to Have Reasonable TolerancesThe pursuit of excellence drives us to create very stringent standards for our coffee, service, and businesses. There is nothing wrong with this, except for when it becomes so narrow that it chokes out the life of the café, pushes people away and ends up, creating the opposite result then we intended. On today's shift break we are going to talk about why it's OK to have reasonable tolerances in the café and how having them is actually necessary to achieve excellence in all areas overtime Related episodes: 436: STOP BURN OUT! AND MAKE WO...
2023-12-1412 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop LeadersSHIFT BREAK: Your Manager Has No Time To Manage!High expectations are fine as long as they are coupled with the resources and tools to actually achieve them. No position in the cafe gets the short end of the stick of resourcing than the cafe manager. As baristas watch their manager lose their mind, they in turn pass on the opportunity. Come be a manager where there is more stress, more work, less time to do it, and more expectation. No thanks. Today on Shift Break we will be discussing how you can set up your manager with the structure and time they need to thrive i...
2023-11-1011 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders435 : Encore! It's OK to be the Boss, w/ Bruce TulganFully stepping into your authority is an act of service. Your position as a leader is meant to serve those you lead. But if you do not think it is ok to be the boss, you will simply be a bad an ineffective boss vs one that takes a strong, caring, and clear approach to the position. One of my favorite authors on management is Bruce Tulgan who wrote the book "It's OK to be the Boss. We had him on the show back on episode 28 in 2017 and I believe his work and message is an absolute m...
2023-10-0455 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders414: Secret Ingredients for a Successful Coffee ShopThe barrier of entry for getting a coffee shop open is lower than ever. Many have the idea that if they can get the shop open, then they have succeeded. But the test is not only about whether you can open a shop, or even if you can keep it open, but how do you make something that is truly great and successful? On today's episode we will be talking about a few ingredients that must be present in the mix of a coffee shop from the beginning in order for all the components we assemble in t...
2023-06-0633 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop LeadersThe Myth of Hands Off / Automated LeadershipThere is a shortcut for everything these days. Automation, templates, and other tools would give you the impression that you can automate of be hands off with your leadership and that your aim is to continually seek more ways to remove yourself. On today's Shift Break we will be talking about how this idea, while appropriate in some aspects of the business, is a recipe for disaster in others. Listen to these related episodes next: 028 : Why it’s Ok to be the Boss w/ Bruce Tulgan Baristas Are Not Magic Motivating Staff Through Culture You C...
2023-05-2509 min
Freedom Nation PodcastFueled by Coffee with Chris DeferioIn today’s episode, Jeff interviews Chris Deferio of the Keys to the Shop Podcast. Twenty three years ago Chris was in ministry school and turned to coffee to help fuel his studies. Over time Chris discovered that he could taste the different origin of the coffee. Chris really liked the coffee bar experience and decided to go into coffee as a career and the rest is history!
Chris and Jeff discuss:
Chris started over two decades ago using coffee to help him fuel his studies in ministry school.
Fueled with caffeine, Chris discovered he could ta...
2023-02-1528 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop LeadersMaking Yourself More ValuableProfessional development and opportunities for betterment and advancing are areas that operators must bake in to the business as much as possible. If you are a barista, manager, trainer etc and you want to take advantage of those things, create opportunities, or simply take charge of your own development for a better future then you must focus on adding value. Today on Shift Break we will be discussing how to make yourself more valuable as an employee both in the job you have now and in preparation for the opportunities you have yet to encounter. Related e...
2023-01-1208 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders378: 5 Areas to Develop in ManagersIt is easy to assume that a managers main role is only to take on basic administrative tasks. At least this is the way I would argue most shop treat the role of manager. It is too often a "set and forget" scenario that inevitably leads to managers being in the dark, ill equipped, and frustrated. Ultimately this is all due to a lack of development and a failure of ownership to play an active role in it. On todays episode we will be talking about five key areas that need to be developed in managers consistently as...
2022-11-1436 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders374: Opening a Coffee Shop: Fantasy vs Reality (w/ bonus commentary)Should you open a coffee shop? How hard could it be anyway? Thousands of people around the globe have a dream to open a cafe. Once open however that dream can quickly become a nightmare. I am thrilled to have been able to collaborate with fellow podcasters over at the Adventures in Coffee podcast to put together an episode that deals with this subject head on. In this episode you will hear from several aspiring, and experienced entrepreneurs as James harper, Scott Bentley, and myself take you through the 3 major areas of inspiration and focus cafe owners n...
2022-10-2442 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders354 : Management Master Class w/ Ryan Fisher of Erewhon Market, L.A.Operations management is a distinct from cafe management. At a certain point in your coffee business’ growth it become necessary to have someone whose job it is to manage managers and oversee the operations of the retail shops. This is a critical role that is as much about leadership as it is about decisiveness and and systems. Today we will be learning all about what goes into being a successful operations manager with Ryan Fisher of Erewhon Market, L.A. Long-time coffee professional with experience and knowledge throughout the entire coffee supply chain. Creative and passionate with an...
2022-06-281h 08Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop LeadersDoing What You Want -vs- Doing What is NeededManagement absolutely means you have the opportunity to affect change in the coffee shop. It also mean you have a responsibility to make sure the current operation is running smoothly and that the basics are taken care of. Often we favor the change over the stewardship and that is where we can get in trouble. Today on shift break we are going to be chasing about the difference between what you want, what is needed, and how doing things in the proper order can and often does allow for both. Related episodes: ...
2022-05-2710 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop LeadersThe Importance of DebriefingAfter a rush, an event, or any situation where there is tension and the need to perform well as a team (pretty much any time) there are always a lot of thoughts and emotions that people have. Unfortunately we tend to simply carry on as though it never happened and thus lose out on a lot of positive growth and development that can result from debriefing. On today's Shift Break we will be talking about the importance of debriefing as a team and how it creates better performance, communication, culture, and consistency in the coffee shop. ...
2022-05-1213 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop LeadersProactivity in the Owner - Manager RelationshipWe often talk about charitable assumption and being proactive to address the needs of our guests. But how often are we considering the way we approach the relationship between owners and managers? There are a lot of expectations going both ways but not always a lot of understanding. Today on Shift Break we are going to talk about how if we can lean into communication and the spirit of mutuality then I am going to guess a lot of bad blood can be avoided. Related Episodes: 261 : The Basics of Managing Managers...
2022-02-1809 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop LeadersHard Work is HardAt work there is unnecessary difficulty and then there is just…necessary difficulty. The trouble is that sometimes we can blur the line between the two and generally will default the thinking all difficulty is to be avoided or is a sign of something wrong with the system, ourselves, or the people we lead. On this Shift Break I channel my inner old man (kinda) as we will be discussing the necessary difficulty of work and how to avoid blaming others, and why embracing hard work as a blessing and not a curse can change you and yo...
2021-08-2513 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders292 : How to Take Charge and Drive Your Career w/ Ed EvartsWho is driving our career? Most of the time we attribute our careers current state to outside forces or fate. Rarely will we consider that we ourselves are the primary driver of our success. The good news is that there are lot's of things that we can both do to take control and start really steering thing in the direction we want to go. Lucky for us today's special guest has written a couple books on this subject, one of which we will be discussing in depth. I am very pleased to welcome to the show, Ed Evarts, Author...
2021-07-1358 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop LeadersThe Myth of the All-Star TeamHiring a great team is the aim of every cafe. Often when we look for the right person we end up looking for the perfect individual vs the perfect fit for the team and culture of our shop. We want an all-star team but what we get can often just be a big collection of egos that don't work well together. Today we will be talking about the myth of the all star team and how we can approach hiring in a way that creates harmony in the work. Related Episodes: 121 : Working from Yo...
2021-03-1008 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders261 : The Basics of Managing ManagersWhen we set up a manager in the cafe we are not just delegating authority and freeing up some of our time, we are setting up the business for failure or success. All of it boils down to how we manage and lead them in their responsibilities and roles. Today we are going to explore the basics of managing your managers and cover many aspects that get over looked. As I have said plenty of times in on this show, managers are one of the most important, if not THE most important role in the cafe. We n...
2021-01-1826 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop LeadersNot just "One of the Gang"It is very easy for us to slip into a place where we start to seek approval from employees through trying to just be "one of the gang". Put another way, we want to be likes and as a result we become ineffectual bosses creating relational messes in the cafe. In today's episode we will talk about how you are NOT just one of the gang, why that is a good thing, and how to pull yourself out of that state if you have already gone down that path. Related Episodes: 141 : Th...
2020-11-2507 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders244 : Top 10 Ways to Lose EmployeesNow ore than ever coffee shops should be building stable and resilient teams to give them the best chance at success in an unstable market. Unfortunately there are many needless problems and practices that plague cafes and are catalysts for unnecessary turnover. Today we are going to cover what I believe are the top 10 reasons why we lose employees and what we should be doing to fix these problems. If we address these 10 things well then we will be on our way to creating an environment where staff never want to leave. Li...
2020-10-1338 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop LeadersYour Employee Handbook is WorthlessWe have developed a mentality that if we can just get the right manual, the best onboarding, the most effective hiring process then all will be well and staff will magically fall in line and our shops will run smoothly. The truth? It's not that easy, no matter how hard you work on those things. Today we will be discussing this propensity, why it is dangerous, and how the real work begins and ends with hands-on leadership. Recommended episodes: 123 : The 10 Essentials of a Barista Manual 028 : Why it’s Ok to be the Boss w...
2020-08-2008 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop LeadersRebuilding your Staff with Excellence w/ Dave StachowiakAs we seek to rebuild our staff in the midst of the pandemic, many different questions come up about re-hiring, deciding who not to bring back, how to decide who to promote, and generally how do we do this in a way that is good for everyone involved. It is not enamors easy task but today we are going to gain a lot of clarity about these topics and more as we talk with the always insightful, Dave Stachowiak. Dave founded Coaching for Leaders in 2011. Since them the podcast has been downloaded 12 million times and is consistently...
2020-08-0253 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders229 : 7 Tips for New ManagersEntering into a new role, or even just taking over a new cafe or team, is a daunting challenge. Many burn out and the experience leaves a bitter taste in their mouth and a lot of destruction in their wake. In the midst of the reshuffling during COVID there are a lot of opportunities to establish a new way of approaching management in the shop and in this episode I am going to be giving what I think may be some the most important practices to put in place to thrive as a new manager or to make your...
2020-07-2135 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop LeadersLong-game ManagementNobody likes to feel bad. In fact in management we are somewhat obsessed with avoiding negative emotions, confrontation, and challenging our staff out of a sense of self preservation or keeping the peace. We believe that if things feel good in the short term then things will go well long term. That is not necessarily the case. Today we are going to be discussing the approach of long-game management and why utilizing this way of leading will create long term stability, mutual respect, and ultimately a resilient coffee shop. Related episodes: 125 : Confidence in C...
2020-07-0213 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop LeadersThe Art of being Indispensable at Work w/ Bruce TulganAre you a "go-to" person? How do you show up at work in a way that gains trust and makes you an essential and indispensable member of the team? These are important questions to answer right now as many teams are being re-built and companies need to rely on their staff to come through more than ever. Today we welcome back to the show, regular guest and one of my favorite authors on leadership, career, and management, Bruce Tulgan! Bruce is the founder of Rainmaker Thinking and the author of more than 20 books including the best selling "...
2020-06-2958 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders212 : Refining your Leadership and Systems in a CrisisThe time to lean into optimizing your operations and how you show up as a leader is now. As we get used to the "new normal" everyday, we need to take time to look at some critical elements of the work we do in the middle of the crisis and how it what we can do to create excellence in the face of uncertainty, and inspiration in a time of fear. Today you and I will go over 6 areas I believe need to be focused on and refined in order to thrive right now and to create a...
2020-04-1428 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop LeadersFear and TrustOur default in management can often be to live in the extremes. Either we are suspecting everyone and everything as a potential problem or we are way too trusting and offer no structure in order to avoid conflict. Both scare away your staff and make your shop a pretty miserable place to work. Today we talk about why we need to live in balance with realism and trust in order to create a thriving coffee shop and happy staff. Related Episodes: Fear or Inspiration 104 : How to Deliver Difficult Feedback w...
2020-03-0511 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders194 : Encore Episode! Leadership in the Cafe: 10 Steps to being a People First Leader | Aired January 17 2017That's it! The year is done and to help us ring in the New Year I am re-airing a classic from way back in the day. January 17 2017 is when "Leadership in the Cafe : 10 Steps to being a People First Leader" first aired. Now, three years and 274 episodes later, the message rings just as true and is just as relevant as ever before. If there is anything you need to do to secure a great year for yourself, your staff, and your business it is focusing on how we show up as leaders in the specialty coffee retail...
2019-12-2953 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop LeadersBeing the Point of ClarityManagers are looked to all day long as agents of clarity. Questions are a constant and this aspect of management is core to being able to drive results in creating a great culture and a successful bar. That said, it can be frustrating since you don't always have the answers and the steady drip of questions and need for clarifying information can wear you down. Today we are going to chat about the importance of being the point of clarity and the issue around it. Related episodes: Communicate, Duplicate, Repeat Creating a Feedback Culture Why it's O...
2019-11-1410 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop LeadersThe Broken ChairCaring for staff is one of the main functions of leadership. Unfortunately, the reality experienced by baristas the world over is that of a dysfunctional, ambivalent, sometimes toxic, or even abusive culture that disregards the welfare and voice of the employee and safe guards the disfunction of the system and the people who run it. Today we chat about how to approach this problem in a proactive way and the mindsets that will put you on the right path for properly care for the people who care for the shop. Links: For more info and s...
2019-07-0413 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders141 : The 27 Challenges Managers Face w/ Bruce Tulgan : Solving the most common challenges with intuitive and straightforward solutions, coffee shop management, leadership, foundational principlesIf you are in management you know that it is not each day can bring a new set of challenges. It just so happens that there are 27 particular challenges that are common to almost all managers and we are going to explore a few of these in todays episode with returning guest, Bruce Tulgan. Bruce is the founder of Rain Maker Thinking and the author of 20 books including the book "The 27 Challenges Managers Face" and "It's OK to be the Boss". Bruce was on the show back in May of 2017 and now he is back to help u...
2019-03-051h 00Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop LeadersTips for Conducting Great Staff MeetingsSHIFT BREAK #31 Regular staff meetings are one of the most important tools for energizing, equipping, informing, and affirming. In order to get the most out of these meetings we will be covering several tips that I have seen work wonders in conducting these gathers. With refinement and consistency the end result will be a more cohesive and well functioning cafe and an increase in staff morale. Links to related episodes: Episode 28: Why it's Ok to be the Boss w/ Bruce Tulgan The One on One
2018-12-1313 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders100!!! : Why YOU are the Key : Community, being a resource, conspiring to each others success, trusting in you experience, providing insight, inspiration, and tools.Wooo Hooo! It's the 100th episode of Keys to the Shop!!! Thank you so much for listening to and supporting this show! I can think of no better way to use this time than to highlight what a critical role you all play in the industry. Today I want to talk to you about why you are the the key. You can provide others with insights, inspiration, and tools that will have a positive impact on your circle of influence no matter what you do in the industry or how long you've been doing it. I hope that after...
2018-07-1727 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders064 : A Look Back at the Lessons of 2017 : 10 things we learned this year that helped shape our careers and grow us as baristas, managers, trainers, and leaders in coffeeWell 2017 is pretty much in the bag and it has been a year filled with great guests, great topics, insights, information, inspiration, and tools to help us grow. In this episode we go over some of the best lessons learned this year. It is all arranged according to the arc of a coffee career. Starting with lessons for beginning baristas, getting promoted, moving on, being a great boss, serving your people and the customer well, training, and our impact on the coffee farm. It has been fantastic to see what a wide range of subjects we've been a...
2017-12-2646 minKeys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders031 : Essential Advice for New Baristas : Tips to help you successfully navigate and thrive in your new coffee careerBeing a new barista can be both very exciting and VERY stressful. There is an almost never ending list of policies, recipes, practices, and rules that make up this new work of cafe service you are now immersed in. On today's show you and I talk about some essential tips that will help you not only navigate you first few weeks on the bar but advice that will help guide you throughout your entire career. If you are a manager this episode is great to share with your new staff and even some of your veteran employees.
2017-06-2044 min
Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop LeadersWhy it's OK to be the Boss w/ Bruce TulganToday we are talking with noted author, speaker, and researcher, Bruce Tulgan about his powerful book, "It's Ok to be the Boss". We talk about the myths that managers believe that lead to what Bruce calls "The Under-Management Epidemic" and the very practical and simple solutions we can employ to become a great boss, truly empower our people, gain clarity, and create a great work culture at your coffee bar. This book has had a huge impact on me and I know you will also be impacted and pushed toward being a great boss. I hope this in...
2017-05-3051 min
Coaching for LeadersHow to Lead Part-Time Staff, with Chris DeferioChris Deferio: Keys to the Shop
Chris Deferio is the host of Keys to the Shop, a podcast that helps coffee service professionals to advance their careers by discovering more about barista work, management, leadership, and the operational knowledge to run a coffee shop.
Chris has decades of experience managing teams of part-time staff in a high turnover industry. In this episode, he shares the most practical tips his team has discovered for helping leaders be most effective with part-time employees.
Key Points
You can only go so far with positive feedback, you should also seek feedback on how you...
2017-03-2043 min