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! Walking Out Effective Leadership and Management [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:08
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 puttin…
619: 4 Mindset Shifts Every Cafe Owners Needs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:38
How we think determines how we act. This is especially true when it comes to pressurized situations like the kind that we find in a busy coffee shop environment. We talk a lot about leader, ship, tactics, and principles,…
618: Founder Friday! w/ Tim Wendelboe | Oslo, Norway [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:27
It's Founder Friday and I am so pleased to finally welcome the one an only Tim Wendelboe! Tim Wendelboe runs his own roastery and espresso bar in Oslo, Norway where he imports, roast and serve high quality coffees. Apart…
SHIFT BREAK! Start Small [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:44
Seemingly in balance to our episode with Kwame Christian on big swings, we need to talk about small starts! Making decisions about size, scope, and scale of our cafes can set us up for success or it can set us up for dis…
SHIFT BREAK! Are You Holding Your Business Back? Let it Grow! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:11
I had a conversation with a successful cafe and roastery client recently. We talked about delegation and what was standing in the way of them giving tasks and authority to others. It came out that they were worried about…
SHIFT BREAK! Avoid Burnout By Serving Your Managers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:42
We serve 2 types of customers. External and internal. The external customer is the one that comes in for a coffee and spends money and time with us as guests in the cafe. The internal customer comes in for a job and spen…