625: 5 Ways To Make Your Coffee Taste Better

625: 5 Ways To Make Your Coffee Taste Better

Author: Chris Deferio September 7, 2026 Duration: 42:03

The quality of your coffee is one of the main reasons people choose your cafe vs another. It is the baseline expectation customers have for a specialty coffee shop and today, in spite of our abundant resources and access to information and tools, we are still far from consistently meeting, let alone exceeding, those expectations. 

On the show today we will cover 5 ways your cafe can make your coffee and your whole menu taste better. I do believe we have claimed victory too soon and have conflated procuring quality products with producing quality products. I hope this episode makes you think and begin to implement intentional systems and cultural norms around quality that actually delivers! 

 

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 Spring 2026 Cohort:

Click below to learn more: 

APPLY TO KEY HOLDER COACHING GROUPS

 

 

KEYS TO THE SHOP CONSULTING HELPS YOU MAKE YOU CAFE BETTER!

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: 50

Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
Podcast Episodes
SHIFT BREAK! Don't Give Your Staff Invisible Targets [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:39
If we want our staff to succeed, we have to give them clear target to aim for. Unfortunately shocking number of cafes have what I would describe as invisible targets that only appear once the arrow is released. No wonder…
What are the Key Holder Coaching Groups? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:32
For cafe owners, the way you and your coffee shop grow is determined by how you are supported and nourished by community. The trouble is most owners are isolated, stressed, and are in desperate need of a type of communit…
622: Lifting Up Coffee Farmers w/ Ben Carlson of Long Miles Coffee! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:02
In coffee we can often question the impact of our efforts. Over time though, small consistent steps in the right direction can not only carry you over many miles, it can transform you and those for whom you are working.…
SHIFT BREAK! What It Means To Have Integrity In Our Work [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:33
Integrity is hard to identify unless you are actively looking for and working on it. But what is "it"? Well, in some ways it is consistency, but that is not enough. Integrity is more than production of the same thing the…