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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
Customer Service
Entrepreneurship
Coffee Culture
Coffee Shop Operations
Specialty Coffee
Coffee Quality
Management
Roasting
Coffee Shop Culture
Training
Quality Control

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes1149Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
FoodArtsBusinessEntrepreneurship

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Artwork for Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders

Latest Episodes

If we know anything it is that striking a balance in our communication is very difficult. It often feels like we are neglecting affirmation for fear of not addressing issues, or we neglect addressing issues and challenging our staff because we worry ... more

As we continue to see specialty coffee shops grow and expand into the furthest reaches of the globe, one thing remains an enduring value to customers. That feeling of belonging. A sense that the hospitality and the good will of those providing it are... more

Every Coffee Fest we sit down with presenters and speakers to talk about their field of expertise and learn from their experience in coffee.

This time we had a wonderful time talking with three professionals at Coffee Fest Chicago! We start with La... more

Leading and managing are only as effective as your knowledge and understanding of the who, what, and why of your cafe. Sadly many people with the title of manager or in positions of leadership are going day-to-day putting out fires, chasing down task... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

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
Kevin Kerkhoff
Founder/GM of Hitherto Coffee and Gaming Parlour in Greenfield, Indiana
Hitherto Coffee and Gaming Parlour
Episode: 616: How to Run a Boardgame Cafe w/ Kevin Kerkhof of Hitherto Coffee and Gaming Parlour!
Sam Lewontin
Coffee shop owner and sales/market development professional; former Everyman Espresso co-owner and Stumptown sales lead
Stumptown Coffee Roasters; Everyman Espresso
Episode: 615: The Key to Excellent Cafes, Sales, and Wholesale Support w/ Sam Lewontin!
Sarah Charles
Founder of Underscore Communications; former editor of Coffee Intelligence; author and writer focusing on coffee trends and origin stories
Underscore Communications
Episode: 613: Challenges and Opportunities in Changing the Industry w/ Writer Sarah Charles of Underscore Communication
Yaren Maya
Owner and founder of Cafeto Cacao in Oaxaca, Mexico
Cafeto Cacao
Episode: 612: Founder Friday! w/ Yaren Maya of Cafeto Cacao in Oaxaca, Mexico!
Colin Harmon
Founder of 3FE Coffee Roastery and author
3FE Coffee Roastery, Dublin
Episode: 611: What Colin Harmon Knows About Growing Coffee Shops!
Blew Kind
Founder and CEO of D'Griot Cafe
D'Griot Cafe
Episode: 609: Lessons On Running a True Community Space w/ Blew Kind of D'griot Cafe | Philadelphia, PA
Tracy Allen
Founder and CEO of Brewed Behavior
Brewed Behavior
Episode: 608: The Best Behaviors for Building Resilient Cafe and Roastery w/ Tracy Allen of Brewed Behavior Consulting

Host

Chris DeFirio
Host of Keys To The Shop; leads conversations on cafe leadership, operations, and people management

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 546 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 States9 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.

A highly actionable resource for cafe owners and managers.
Listeners appreciate practical guidance and real-world guest insights.
The show is consistently valuable for leadership and operations in coffee shops.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#86
United States/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#168
Canada/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#200
United Kingdom/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#228
France/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#15
Indonesia/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#27
India/Arts/Food

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
613: Challenges and Opportunities in Changing the Industry w/ Writer Sarah Charles of Underscore Communication
Q: How did Sarah approach starting as a writer in coffee, and what shaped her perspective?
Sarah explains that she began with an international development background and moved into coffee writing through projects at the ITC and later Perfect Daily Grind, emphasizing field experience on farms and the value of interviewing diverse voices to understand value chains.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

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

A practical, leadership-focused show for current and aspiring cafe owners, managers, and operators. Episodes consistently center on people management,Operational excellence, hospitality, and scalable systems in coffee shops, with a strong emphasis on culture, training, and sustainable growth. Notable throughlines include hands-on coaching, mindset shifts for leadership, and a pragmatic approach to budgeting, branding, and customer experience. A recurring strength is bringing in practitioners from across the coffee ecosystem and highlighting education, mentorship, and heart-driven business practices that prioritize staff development and community impact. This mix makes it valuable for listeners seeking actionable tactics and real-world examp... 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. Timothy Keller Sermons Podcast by Gospel in Life
5. BibleProject

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this podcast launched 10 years ago and published 1149 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. Tim Wendelboe
2. Kwame Christian
3. Kevin Kerkhoff
4. Sam Lewontin
5. Sarah Charles
6. Yaren Maya
7. Colin Harmon
8. Blew Kind

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