575: Celebrating Barista Culture w/ Steve Moloney of The Barista League!

575: Celebrating Barista Culture w/ Steve Moloney of The Barista League!

Author: Chris Deferio December 2, 2025 Duration: 43:04

For the last 10 years The Barista League has been putting on competition/events that tap into the culture of the working barista and offers a fun environment that also showcases and celebrates the skills of the people who serve customers globally. In the current landscape where competition is increasingly isolated from reality and can easily be seen as a place to conform, perform TBL is a needed balance.

Now they are taking the next step in their evolution and introducing a newer format and judging criterial born from their ten years of conversations with he baristas they hope to serve. and we are going to talk all about it with the founder, Steve Moloney!

Steve is a long time coffee professional, barista, and 2x Swedish Barista Champion who for the last tan years has been leading the event and competition The Barista League. Criss crossing the globe every year Steve and the team get to see a wide variety and sampling of the various barista cultures that make coffee a wonderful and diverse landscape. 

Today we are going to talk with Steve about:

  • The purpose and evolution of The Barista League
  • Why it is important to recognize the real elements of bar work
  • Team competition and what it does to enhance professional development
  • The need for expression and fun in coffee
  • New format and criteria
  • Measuring the customer experience 
  • What should we strive for in shops to push coffee forward

Links:

www.thebaristaleague.com

IG: @thebaristaleague

 

Related Episodes:

 

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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
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