553: Career Success, Hospitality, and Cafe Culture w/ Akaash Saini

553: Career Success, Hospitality, and Cafe Culture w/ Akaash Saini

Author: Chris Deferio July 28, 2025 Duration: 57:57

How we grow in the coffee industry will determine how we lead and how we influence those around us. Our guest today has developed a career that has allowed him to not only grow himself into one with a broad and practical perspective on the industry, but to also help others grow their cafes and themselves. I am thrilled to get to chat with, Akaash Saini! 

As the Northwest Sales Manager for La Marzocco, Akaash has  over 15 years of varied experience, having touched nearly every aspect of the coffee world. His journey began as a barista in Seattle, then moved into key positions at Equator Coffees across marketing, events, and wholesale. He's also deeply familiar with equipment from Wilbur Curtis, Schaerer Bean-to-Cup machines, and Ground Control, and brings insights from green coffee sales and import with Port of Mokha.

A certified Q-Grader and a former Regional Brewers Cup Champion, Akaash's passion for beverages even led him to explore wine during the pandemic, working part-time at a Brooklyn wine shop.

We discuss:

  • Akaash's entry into coffee
  • Career development and using opportunities well
  • Technology and innovation
  • The importance of being intentional and engaged
  • Cafe leadership and training
  • Coffee shop culture and what is common amongst successful cafes
  • Advice for professionals on how to create or use opportunities 

Links:

Instagram @akaashsaini 

 

KEY HOLDER COACHING GROUPS! 

Are you a coffee shop owner looking to join a community of other owners to help bring perspective, insight, encouragement, and accountability in a well curated setting? 

Then you need to apply to join Key holder Coaching Groups! 

Applications are now open for fall 2025 Cohort: Click below to learn more: APPLY TO KEY HOLDER COACHING GROUPS


 

KEYS TO THE SHOP ALSO OFFERS 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 

chris@keystothshop.com

of book a free call now: 

https://calendly.com/chrisdeferio/30min 

 

 


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Running a coffee shop is about so much more than pulling great shots. It's a complex dance of craft, culture, and commerce that demands a unique kind of leadership. That's the space where Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders lives. Hosted by Chris Deferio, this podcast digs into the real, often unspoken challenges faced by owners, managers, and aspiring leaders in the specialty coffee world. Each conversation moves beyond abstract theory to deliver concrete, usable strategies you can apply directly to your operation. You'll hear from a diverse range of voices, including seasoned coffee professionals and insightful experts from other fields, all focused on the practicalities of building a thriving business. Episodes tackle the full spectrum of running a shop, from daily systems and financial health to fostering a positive team environment and developing your own skills as a leader. The aim is to provide a genuine resource for growth, whether you're looking to refine your barista program, improve your shop's profitability, or scale your vision thoughtfully. Tune in for honest discussions that equip you with more than just inspiration-they offer the tangible keys to building a better, more sustainable coffee business. This podcast understands that your passion is for coffee, but your success depends on mastering the craft of leadership.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
Podcast Episodes
561: How to Motivate Baristas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:00
This is a question that seems to be answered by many with desperate incentives and what amounts to just brute force to get their staff to do the things they want them to do in the way they want them to do it. In many way…
SHIFT BREAK! What Customers Value and How to Deliver It [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:10
We always talk about adding value to the customer experience. In the coffee shop this is usually focused on things like the look, flavor, price, and service rendered. But I believe it goes a level deeper than that. In fa…
SHIFT BREAK! Taking the First Steps Toward Change in the Cafe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:52
So you have come to the conclusion that things need to change in your coffee shop. Maybe it is something related to systems, schedules, training, culture, or a host of other things you might want to take action on. But w…
559: Myths Coffee Shop Owners Believe Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:54
And the myths just keep on coming! Welcome to part 2 of the series on Myth Coffee Shop Owners Believe. The goal here is to create space and slow down long enough to critically and intentionally examine ideas before we ad…
SHIFT BREAK! The Trend of Backwards Hospitality [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:05
Who is it we are serving when we start or work in the coffee shop? If you listen to a lot of the way people talk today, you might think we expect customers to serve our needs more than we pursue meeting the needs of and…
Shift Break! The Problem of Commiseration [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:35
In forums, trade shows, and conversations everywhere, people are talking about their problems, and that's not a bad thing! The problem starts when the talk is not productive and starts to warp reality and damages our abi…
556: Myths Coffee Shop Owners Believe Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:44
What we believe is often a mixture of what we heard , what we have experienced, and what is convenient for us in the moment. The truth is, we are desperate for certainty and as our desperation grows, our ability to be re…