Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders

Our businesses are the results of the small and large decisions we make over the years. It is our behavior in the business that ultimately determines the success and Impact we can realize. Some have said that the 4th wave is ,marked by more passionate coffee balancing that passion with good business practice and strategy. 
Today will be talking with someone who has been hugely influential in teaching solid and sustainable business behavior to countless coffee professionals and companies world wide. 
I happy to welcome Tracy Allen to the show!  
Tracy Allen founded Brewed Behavior, a global consulting and education firm dedicated to advancing the specialty coffee industry worldwide in 2008.

Through Brewed Behavior, Tracy has trained and advised hundreds of coffee professionals, roasters, café owners, and organizations across multiple continents. His consulting work focuses on elevating bean quality, optimizing operations, developing world-class training programs, and preparing teams for top-level competition.

With more than 30 years of hands-on experience, Tracy brings unmatched depth to his clients. His journey began as a passionate home roaster in the 1990s, followed by roles as Beverage Specialist at Procter & Gamble (Millstone and Folgers), Operations Manager for a Kansas City roaster, and Co-Owner of Zoka Coffee Roaster & Tea Company in Seattle. At Zoka, he helped establish the company as a leader in both quality and barista training — with its baristas consistently ranking among the top in U.S. Barista Competitions.

Today, Tracy channels this extensive expertise through Brewed Behavior to help clients worldwide achieve excellence. He is the last full-term President of the SCAA and Founding Chair of the WBC Rules & Regulations Committee. He has been a certified U.S. and World Barista Competition judge, an SCA Certified Cupper, a certified Q Grader and Instructor, and a three-time "Super Taster." Through Brewed Behavior, Tracy Allen continues to shape the future of specialty coffee on a global scale. 
We Cover: 
Understanding Business and Passion in Coffee
The Importance of Financial Discipline
Navigating Growth and Corporate Culture
Consumer Behavior and Coffee Trend
Best Practices for Long-Term Success
Developing Financial Acumen
The Importance of Financial Discipline
Navigating Projections and Inventory Management
Understanding Market Dynamics and Unique Value Propositions
Links: 
www.brewedbehavior.com 
 
 
KEYS TO THE SHOP ALSO OFFERS
1:1 CONSULTING + COACHING!
If you are a cafe owner and want to work one on one with me to bring your shop to its next level and help bring you joy and freedom in the process then email 
[email protected]
of book a free call now: 
https://calendly.com/chrisdeferio/30min 
 
Related episodes: 
 
576: Financial Stability Using Profit First for Coffee Businesses w/ Kim Logsdon of Caffeinate Your Cash
447: Understanding the Business of Coffee w/ Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood
022 : Founder Friday w/ Colin Harmon of 3fe Coffee, Dublin Ireland & Author of the new book, "What I know About Running Coffee Shops"
283 : 5 Bad Reasons to Open a Coffee Shop
SHIFT BREAK! Become Immune to Fear-Based Coffee Marketing
327: Founder Friday! w/ Phuong Tran of Lava Java
489: Tips for Creating a Resilient Cafe
223 : Building a Financially Resilient Business w/ Andrew Carroll

The best coffee businesses are built on solid values, local community, and small consistent steps taken toward deeper connection through hospitality and excellence in the product. The story of Wheelhouse Coffee is one that demonstrates the power of intentional people-first work over time and what happens when you make growth a conversation with those your serve. 
I am thrilled to get to talk with the founder of Wheelhouse Coffee in Nova Scotia, CA, Amos Gillespie!
Wheelhouse Coffee began with an eight-year-old Amos sharing morning coffee with his dad. By 17, that simple joy had grown into a coffee dream. After an espresso machine, a barista job, and a life-changing Portland coffee show, Amos launched Wheelhouse in 2018.
However, being a single owner with a small sample roaster and a full-time job became increasingly challenging.
In 2020, after a beautiful summer wedding, he and his wife set out to grow Wheelhouse together. From basement beginnings to a thriving café, their journey is driven by their love for coffee and the people they serve.
We discuss:
How Amos Was Introduced to Coffee
Beginning and Building Confidence in Roasting
Navigating Stagnation
The Shift Towards a Coffee Business
Feedback and Growth in Coffee Roasting
Understanding Customer Relationships
The Move To Opening a Coffee Shop
Balancing Vision with Financial Realities
Building Relationships with Customers
Advice for Aspiring Cafe Owners
KEYS TO THE SHOP ALSO OFFERS
1:1 CONSULTING + COACHING!
If you are a cafe owner and want to work one on one with me to bring your shop to its next level and help bring you joy and freedom in the process then email 
[email protected]
of book a free call now: 
https://calendly.com/chrisdeferio/30min 
 
Related episodes: 
476: Founder Friday! The Story of Story Coffee w/ Don Niemyer of Story Coffee Co.
391 : Founder Friday! w/ Megan Wilson of Spuds Coffee in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
145: Founder Friday w/ Red Rooster Coffee Roasters co-founder, Haden Polseno-Hensley

It may seem unfair, but it is the truth. Customer hold a special place in their brains for negative experiences. Don't we do the same? And when do most of these lower quality experiences tend to take place? Usually when we are the busiest and have the greatest opportunity to build a good reputation. It's diabolical! 
On today's Shift Break we will be talking about why you are only as good as your worst drink, worst service encounter, worst whatever! And what we can do to rewire the part of our brains and operations that allow these moments to happen. 
 
Sign up for 1:1 CONSULTING AND COACHING
If you are a cafe owner and want to work one on one with me to bring your shop to its next level and help bring you joy and freedom in the process then email [email protected]
OR... book a free call now to talk about working together
https://calendly.com/chrisdeferio/30min 
 
Related Episodes:
YouTube:
SHIFT BREAK! How to Think About Quality
533: Principles of Quality Control
SHIFT BREAK: Quality Still Matters
084 : Crushing the Rush : Tips and Best Practices for Busy Times
520: Tips For Great Workflow and Bar Presence
Spotify:
SHIFT BREAK! How to Think About Quality
533: Principles of Quality Control
SHIFT BREAK: Quality Still Matters
084 : Crushing the Rush : Tips and Best Practices for Busy Times
520: Tips For Great Workflow and Bar Presence
Website:
SHIFT BREAK! How to Think About Quality
533: Principles of Quality Control
SHIFT BREAK: Quality Still Matters
084 : Crushing the Rush : Tips and Best Practices for Busy Times
520: Tips For Great Workflow and Bar Presence

Congratulations! You have been made the cafe manager! Now what? Well, you are now occupying one of the most critical roles in all of coffee retail. As a leader you have a lot of growth opportunities and can make a massive difference as you serve the company, the staff, and the customers. The first six months - a year is a pretty critical time where you either build trust and establish healthy outlooks and habits, or you succumb to the dysfunction and stress that management without structure and purpose falls into. 
Today we are going to go over practices, mindsets, and approaches to your role and the work of management that are proven to set you and everyone else up for success vs the all too typical burn-out that seemingly is baked it to the manager role. It does not have to be! This episode shows you how. 
 
1:1 CONSULTING + COACHING!
If you are a cafe owner and want to work one on one with me to bring your shop to its next level and help bring you joy and freedom in the process then email 
[email protected]
Book a free call now: 
https://calendly.com/chrisdeferio/30min 
 
Related episodes: 
229 : 7 Tips for New Managers
248 : The 5 Elements of Resourcing your Team
261 : The Basics of Managing Managers
226 : The Art of being Indispensable at Work w/Bruce Tulgan
179 : What you MUST Know About Employee Culture w/ Stan Slap
172 : Why Tracking Performance is a Must!
028 : Why it's Ok to be the Boss w/ Bruce Tulgan : A guide to defining and fighting the under management epidemic in your cafe so you can be the manager your staff need
018: Hiring, Culture, and the Future of your Shop
013 : Leadership & Management Master Class w/ Eva Attia : Leadership | management | hiring | career
004: Leadership in the Cafe : 10 Steps to Being a People First Leader
258 : Prioritizing your Mental Health in the New Year w/ Dr. Lara Pence
244 : Top 10 Ways to Lose Employees

Nothing kills cafe culture like an a staff member who is a bad fit for their role. Often this manifests in work performance issues that are felt by customers, coworkers, and leaders alike. It brings people down.
The diabolical thing is that the most common response cafe leadership has is to simply wish it away and let it go on far too long. Meanwhile a toxic or ill fit employee continues (whether unwittingly or knowingly) to do damage to morale, service, and the reputation of the business. 
Today on Shift Break we will be talking about how to approach this "Bad Apple" situation in a way that seeks the highest good for all parties involved and affords you the opportunity to develop more decisiveness  and resilience in the face of these unfortunate situations. 
 
KEYS TO THE SHOP®  1:1 CONSULTING AND COACHING
If you are a cafe owner and want to work one on one with me to bring your shop to its next level and help bring you joy and freedom in the process then email [email protected]
OR... book a free call now to talk about working together
https://calendly.com/chrisdeferio/30min 
 
Related Episodes: 
Raising Your Hiring Standard
496: Hard Decisions and High Standards
125 : Confidence in Conflict w/ Kwame Christian : A framework for Compassionate Curiosity