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Artwork for Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders

Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders

Chris Deferio
Customer Experience
Coffee Shop Management
Leadership
Coffee Industry
Hospitality
Coffee
Barista Training
Coffee Shops
Community Engagement
Coffee Culture
Customer Service
Entrepreneurship
Specialty Coffee
Coffee Shop Operations
Coffee Shop Culture
Training
Coffee Roasting
Quality Control
Management
Time Management

A coffee podcast providing coffee shop owners and leaders, with insights, inspiration, and the tools you need to grow and advance your coffee business or coffee career. We learn from experts both in and outside the coffee industry as they deliver specific, practical, and actionable advice about ownership, optimization, profitability, barista work, employee culture, management, scaling, leadership,... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes1162Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
FoodArtsBusinessEntrepreneurship

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders

Latest Episodes

We hear the advice from the popular author of "The E-Myth" saying that we should work ON our business, not IN it. While I understand and agree with the point being made to not get caught up in tasks perpetually that make you a bottle neck, I believe ... more

I hear the word "vibes" used as a stand in for a lot of different things. Most often it is used to describe a somewhat ambiguous sense of good feelings or peace of mind around a culture or a person. The idea is great, but the issue is that without ha... more

We all have ambitions and hopes for our career but time passes and we don't see any progress. It would be a mistake to chalk this up to fate instead of a lack of progress that comes from a lack of intentional actions as well as our underlying beliefs... more

All too often we are likely to stick with the comfortable and known dysfunction or the habitual neglect of important areas of our business, than to take the uncomfortable but needed step of fixing and bringing life into those areas. In fact, I believ... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Lindsay Wredge
CEO of 321 Coffee
321 Coffee
Episode: 624: Founder Friday! The Power of Inclusion w/ Lindsay Wrege of 321 Coffee in Raleigh, NC
Ben Carlson
CEO and chief culture creator of Long Miles Coffee
Long Miles Coffee
Episode: 622: Lifting Up Coffee Farmers w/ Ben Carlson of Long Miles Coffee!
Ewelina Kania
Head of Operations and Logistics with a background in Prufrock Coffee and Barista Hustle Tools
Natoora Copenhagen (Current) / prior roles at Prufrock Coffee and Barista Hustle Tools
Episode: 621: Managment, Supply Chain, and Building Great Teams w/ Ewelina Kania!
Mo Maravilla
Filipino entrepreneur, coffee roaster, educator, traveler, founder of Studio Tigre
Studio Tigre
Episode: 620: Creating Spaces For Joyful Hospitality w/ Mo Maravilla of Studio Tigre
Miranda Haney
Founder of Barista Friend, mobile training service
Barista Friend
Episode: Special! Interviews From Coffee Fest Chicago 2026! w/ Lan Ho (Fat Miilk), Miranda Haney (Barista Friend), Asia Vo (Loba Pastry and Coffee))
Asia Vo
Beverage Director at Loba Pastry and Coffee
Loba Pastry and Coffee
Episode: Special! Interviews From Coffee Fest Chicago 2026! w/ Lan Ho (Fat Miilk), Miranda Haney (Barista Friend), Asia Vo (Loba Pastry and Coffee))
Lan Ho
Founder & CEO of Fat Milk Coffee (Chicago)
Fat Milk Coffee
Episode: Special! Interviews From Coffee Fest Chicago 2026! w/ Lan Ho (Fat Miilk), Miranda Haney (Barista Friend), Asia Vo (Loba Pastry and Coffee))
Tim Wendelboe
Founder, Tim Wendelboe cafe and roastery in Oslo
Tim Wendelboe
Episode: 618: Founder Friday! w/ Tim Wendelboe | Oslo, Norway
Kwame Christian
Director of the American Negotiation Institute, author and speaker
American Negotiation Institute
Episode: 617: Kwame Christian On How To Take Big Swings in Your Career and Business

Host

Chris Deferio
Host of Keys To The Shop

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 554 ratings
  • Be a better human, better brew your coffee!

    Best and encouraging podcast when it comes to running a shop. This free resource is top notch!!! If we each make one little change we learn from this podcast in our shops… coffee experiences everywhere would be better! Please listen! Please learn! Please be better!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    siseys
    United States10 months ago
  • An Industry Leader

    This podcast is such a wonderful resource, it’s almost unbelievable that you can access this much information for free! I’ve also had the pleasure of speaking with Chris a couple of times and he is just as kind and as knowledgeable as you would expect him to be. Really cool that he’s providing such great info to our industry.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Michelle DW
    United States2 years ago
  • Valuable experience & guidance

    I’ve been in food service operations for 40 years and Chris’s podcast has be so helpful for my new venture in opening a coffee shop!

    Thanks & gratitude to Chris, and all his guests for so many answers to my questions!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dishboyroy
    United States3 years ago
  • Thank You!

    We are getting ready to open our dream and first coffee shop. Love the coffee content of course but also love the company culture content and business tips. @todandcoppercoffee appreciates you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WadeHugginsMusic
    United States4 years ago
  • My coffee industry university.

    I have been given an invaluable foundation to pursue my coffee service dreams with confidence. These episodes will continue to be a text book I refer back to for the tried-and-true principles that make for success in hospitality

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    damanesr
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the actionable, practical tips that turn into real shop improvements.
The host is described as knowledgeable and generous with expertise across cafe leadership.
Guests are consistently high-quality and provide valuable, field-tested insights.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#109
United States/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#159
Canada/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#184
United Kingdom/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#150
France/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#187
Australia/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#229
Germany/Arts/Food

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

622: Lifting Up Coffee Farmers w/ Ben Carlson of Long Miles Coffee!
Q: When did Long Miles officially become Long Miles, and what did you hope to build?
The organization formally solidified as Long Miles in the early years of development, shifting from a trading-focused approach to owning production and farm relationships that emphasized fairness, traceability, and community uplift across Burundi, Uganda, and Kenya.
618: Founder Friday! w/ Tim Wendelboe | Oslo, Norway
Q: What is the secret to sustaining long-term staff relationships in a fast-changing industry?
The key is treating people well, offering a workplace they enjoy, and investing in their growth. Clear standards, open feedback, and fair treatment across the workforce help retain staff and build a team that can perform under pressure.
618: Founder Friday! w/ Tim Wendelboe | Oslo, Norway
Q: How do you approach hiring and building a team that lasts?
Tim looks for humility and a strong work ethic over superstar personalities, with a structured multi-step interview process involving both a bar manager and him, plus substantial on-the-job training. The goal is a cohesive team where members understand and uphold standards.
618: Founder Friday! w/ Tim Wendelboe | Oslo, Norway
Q: What does it take to be a barista at Tim Wendelboe?
Tim emphasizes that training goes well beyond latte art and milk textures; it's about hospitality, understanding routines, and embodying the ethos of the company. New staff spend extensive time in training and evaluation, with six months typical to reach true autonomy, focusing on guest experience as much as on the coffee itself.
613: Challenges and Opportunities in Changing the Industry w/ Writer Sarah Charles of Underscore Communication
Q: What does she see as the biggest leverage points for improving the industry?
Her view centers on humility, knowledge sharing, empowering producers with information, and pursuing models that align profitability with public good, such as farmer-owned or cooperative approaches, while avoiding extraction through hollow marketing.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show targets coffee shop leaders and owners with practical, battle-tested guidance on running, growing, and improving profitability in a hands-on way. Episodes frequently cover leadership and management, staff development, onboarding, hospitality culture, and the operational backbone of a cafe (from scheduling and training to leveraging partnerships and equipment). Notable throughlines include a strong emphasis on servant leadership, repeatable systems, and intentional people-first practices, often paired with real-world sponsor context and actionable takeaways that listeners can apply in their own shops. A distinctive trait is the blend of founder-level experiences, coaching-style guidance, and insights drawn from related hospitality ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Cat & Cloud Podcast
2. Valor Coffee Podcast
3. Coffee Roaster Warm Up Sessions
4. The Coffee Show with Kirk Pearson
5. IT’S JUST COFFEE!

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 10 years ago and published 1162 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Lindsay Wredge
2. Ben Carlson
3. Ewelina Kania
4. Mo Maravilla
5. Miranda Haney
6. Asia Vo
7. Lan Ho
8. Tim Wendelboe

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