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We sell several Fair-Trade Coffees

This my fellow coffee lovers and entrepreneurs is the heart of the matter.  Good people.  Good Barista's.  Train them well.

It is now Showtime.  If you haven't seen the new Eddie Murphy and Robert DiNero movie, "Showtime", please do so and memorize the way they both intone and utter that wonderfully funny: "It's Showtime".

The coffee business is entertainment.  Your customers journey to your establishment to feel good.  Perhaps for some alone time, which is fine, after the latte or cappuccino has been prepared expertly to their delight.  When you are preparing a drink, always remember "Its Showtime".  Top

If you love to be with people it is a good business to be in, coffee.  There is lots of social activity.  There is lots of interaction.  But you also have to be a business person.  If you have both skills, terrific.  If you need a business person then make sure you get one. 

If you don't like to be with people, go to the well.  If the well is dry, and it may be, think hard about the business.  People are what make any retail business good to be in and successful.  If you are a great accountant, creative and artistic, but do not like people, hire a good people person.

Go slow when you hire!

Hire well.

Fire fast.  If you think you have a problem - you made a mistake - you probably did - so act on it.  In coffee, you brew your mistakes, don't brew your people.  And don't waste time brooding over a mistake.  Top

People

Spend the money to get good people and train them well and give them the support they need to supply great service always.  Pick a location that will give you the volume to afford to do this.  Or, be prepared to supply this service yourself.  Your customers are looking for it and will reward you with loyal patronage.  Be prompt, courteous and kind.

When you are in front of the customer be cheerful and helping always.  Never complain.  Never gripe about anything.  Your backroom problems must be left in the backroom.  Your customers are there to have you provide a service to them, not to listen to your story.  Top

Barista

This is the term describing the person who makes espresso drinks and works the espresso machine.  This is the main character in the show.  This person has frequent interaction with your customer and the best chance to sell other things and keep people involved as the espresso drinks are prepared.

There are contests at the SCAA annual meeting for the best Barista in the Country.  They are great fun to watch.  Top  

Training

You and your staff have to learn the business of coffee, the history, the drinks, the recipes, the names, terms, techniques of brewing, temperatures, display, and TASTING the greatest brew in the world.  Coffee.  With or without sugar.  I prefer, and urge you to develop a taste for, black coffee.  You would not buy or select a book without first reading the jacket, would you.  Tasting is like reading the jacket.

Yes, Chai, Tea, Granita, Mocha, Grande and Maxima-Grande are all part of the mix.  But in the coffee business you have to know coffee, for lots of reasons.   Top

Managers or lead people or leaders or just plain key people are hard to come by, pay them well.

Customers are people too.  Top