Special! Interviews From Coffee Fest Chicago 2026! w/ Lan Ho (Fat Miilk), Miranda Haney (Barista Friend), Asia Vo (Loba Pastry and Coffee))

Special! Interviews From Coffee Fest Chicago 2026! w/ Lan Ho (Fat Miilk), Miranda Haney (Barista Friend), Asia Vo (Loba Pastry and Coffee))

Author: Chris Deferio August 10, 2026 Duration: 43:01

Every Coffee Fest we sit down with presenters and speakers to talk about their field of expertise and learn from their experience in coffee.

This time we had a wonderful time talking with three professionals at Coffee Fest Chicago! 

We start with Lan Ho, Founder of Fat Miilk Vietnamese coffee bar in Chicago!

Lan Ho is the founder and CEO of Fat Miilk, a Chicago-based Vietnamese coffee company redefining the role of Robusta in modern coffee. Through a platform spanning direct sourcing, roasting, retail cafés, and consumer packaged goods, she is building a brand that connects origin to everyday ritual.

With a background in pharmacy, Lan brings a systems-driven mindset to an industry often led by tradition. She left a six-figure healthcare career to pursue entrepreneurship and has since been featured on CNBC and appeared on Gordon Ramsay's Food Stars. Fat Miilk opened its first Chicago storefront in 2024, with a second location in Naperville set to open this summer.

Deeply interested in consumer psychology, Lan approaches coffee through the lens of lifestyle, how people drink, feel, and connect through daily habits. She is a leading voice in advancing Robusta's place in the global coffee conversation.

 

Links:

https://fatmiilk.com/

http://instagram.com/fatmiilk/

 

Next we are talking about approachable and joyful coffee training and eduction with Miranda Haney of Barista Friend! 

Miranda Haney is a coffee educator and consultant based in Austin, TX. She is the founder of Barista Friend, a mobile barista training service for home and professional baristas. 

Hailing from a long line of teachers, Miranda is especially passionate about delivering information in a way that's engaging and easy to understand. She's a permanent fixture at the local latte art competitions, a two-time U.S. Barista Championships national competitor, runner-up in the 2024 Barista League, Denver, and currently serves as vice president of the Austin Coffee Collective. Most recently, she was a 2025 Coffee Sustainability Fellow with The Chain Collaborative.

 

Links:

https://www.instagram.com/baristafriend/

https://baristafriend.substack.com/

 

Finally we talk with Asia Vo of Loba Pastry and Coffee 

Asia Vo is a Chicago-based artist devoted to curating intentional food and beverage experiences. In her present role as the Beverage Director of Loba Pastry, Vo honors craftsmanship through her continual pursuit of authentic creation and curiosity.

 

Links:

https://www.lobapastry.com/

https://www.instagram.com/asia__vo/

 

 

Go check out Coffee Fest Trade Shows Today! 

www.coffeefest.com

 

 


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! Why You Need To Cross-Train Staff [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:49
In too many cafes we find staff trained only in the areas they work in with minimal to no knowledge or understanding in other parts of the business. This derails a cafes growth and effectiveness. Staff in the front are n…
SHIFT BREAK! Why It's Hard To Find Good Help These Days [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:49
We have heard this phrase before and, if we are honest, we have said it a couple times too. The statement is problematic since it assumes that the world around us is the reason we can't seem to find the help we want. Tod…
SHIFT BREAK! You're Only as Good as Your Worst Drink [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:51
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…
605: What To Do When You've Been Promoted To Manager [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:19
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 massiv…
SHIFT BREAK! Addressing "Bad Apples" On Your Staff [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:33
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 diab…
604: 5 Habits Holding You and Your Team Back [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:53
Habits we develop around work and leadership can serve to help us grow, or they can hold us back from growth. Many leaders unintentionally develop habits that feel like the right thing in the moment, but in the end actua…