Ristretto Time: Starting (and running) your own Coffee Shop

I have been thinking about doing this interview for months!   Ryan and Jamie are the founders of The Nest Family Cafe in Londonderry, NH.  They -- just like me -- started without having any coffee or business experience.   After over a year and a half of hard work, they took the leap of faith, left the comforts of corporate behind and dove into this new adventure.  We talk about how they started, the easy parts and hard parts of owning and running a business.   We talk about how they run their shop, how they manage their staff, marketing, social media and how they feel about their journey as new business owners.  If you are seriously thinking about running a business, listen to Ryan and Jamie and maybe this is the nudge you needed.   Learn more about The Nest Family Cafe online at https://www.thenestfamilycafe.com/ 

I have gotten a few emails with listeners asking what books I recommend. I email each person individually, but decided it would be more beneficial if I just record a Bonus episode. I broke the list in 4 categories: Coffee, Strategy, Operations, Mindset. I end it with some thoughts on work-life balance. As always, email me at dollani@gmail.com with any questions or comments. http://www.ristrettotime.com

In this episode, I talk a bit about POSes, but spend a good amount of time talking about various aspects of working with cash and how to protect your business or coffee shop from scammers. I share some issues I ran into and how you can avoid them. Let me know what you think dollani(at)gmail.com. http://www.ristrettotime.com

I spent 1.5 years over 23 podcast episodes talking about what we did at Cafe Chocolat and how we did it. Meanwhile the 800 pound gorilla was sitting right next to me staring at me — Cafe Chocolat had been shut down. I wasn’t podcasting about a wildly successful shop, or some chain that I grew and sold off. For all intents and purposes it was a failed business — regardless of how and why. But here’s the reality — most businesses fail. Yours will probably, as well. In this BONUS podcast episode I revisit the last days of Cafe Chocolat, and what shutting down a coffee shop I loved meant to me (and still does). RistrettoTime.com

We have come to the end if the “Starting Your Coffee Shop” journey. In this episode I share a personal story of a childhood book/character that I always think of when I run into something that looks hard and scary, and how I use that to dive in the many directions my career has taken me. I also talk about my favorite episodes I have recorded. Ristretto Time http://www.ristrettotime.com

Yes, FREE Wifi is nice, it’s convenient, it’s fun, but it’s not a right. Should you offer it at your coffee shop? Should you not? Let’s discuss! Ristretto Time: Starting and Running Your Coffee Shop by Gjergj Dollani http://ristrettotime.com

In this episode I talk about some different ways to find money to support your new business. I share how I did it at Cafe Chocolat.

In this episode I answer some of the questions that although may seem trivial are important and will keep you up at night. How many cups do you need? Should you offer different cappuccino sizes? Should you carry different espresso blends? — http://www.ristrettotime.com twitter: @gjergjdollani

In this Episode I talk about the importance of treating customers like patrons first, and friends second. Just because they’ve been coming to your shop for years, it doesn’t mean you can take liberties with them as you would with old friends. Joking, or providing subpar service can backfire, and you can lose an old, loyal customer in a heartbeat. Listen and let me know what you think. Podcast by Gjergj Dollani http://www.ristrettotime.com

In this episode I talk about the 3 attributes that make for an outstanding barista. At Cafe Chocolat, I only spent about 5 min interviewing each candidate. I didn’t need more time, because I was not interested in playing scenario games or learning more than was necessary for me to understand if I had a great barista in front of me. Trust me, exquisite latte art is not on my list of attributes. Listen, subscribe, share and let me know your thoughts. http://www.ristrettotime.com

In this episode I talk about how to hire the right employees. What to be aware of. I share the hiring process we had at Cafe Chocolat. Also, things you can do to develop your staff. http://www.ristrettotime.com

In this episode Alex and I talk about how he started his coffee roastery in his home 10 years ago, and how he grew it to distribute in the entire east coast. We talk about trends in the coffee business, product development, partnerships between roasters and retailers and branding in the coffee business. http://www.ristrettotime.com

In this episode, I dissect a call I had recently with someone passionate about starting their own little shop. They were very excited about it, and asked me the right questions, but those were questions they should have attempted to answer themselves first, before getting as far as they had. Let me know your thoughts at dollani-at-gmail-com

In this episode, I decided to answer some of the questions I have started to get via email. Some of the questions are about the type of espresso machine, space renting, number of employees you need, etc. http://www.ristrettotime.com

Here it is! The most important episode I’ve ever recorded (and probably will ever record). I’m giving out the formula to success or failure, and even highlighting what the best solution is. ...you’re welcome! http://www.ristrettoshots.com

In this episode, I talk about the things that need to be considered when choosing a location for your coffee shop. It is not an exhausting list, but it is a few of the most important details. The last 2 minutes also I think are important to note down. http//www.ristrettotime.com

My guest, Granit Doshlaku is an expert in Search Engine Optimization. He is a featured speaker in TEDx and various international Search conferences. Granit and I talk about ways coffee shops and small business can capitalize from Google and various platforms to drive business. http://www.ristrettotime.com

In this episode I talk about how to get earned media (being talked about in the news), leveraging Twitter and Instagram go get the word out. Cafe Chocolat made the news as far as Indonesian TV, and your shop can too. I’ll show you how I did it.

Here it is; just read the damn fine print. Don’t let wishful thinking take over rational thinking. No matter how good something sounds, there is a catch. Find out what it is. Don’t be like the people I talk about in this short episode! http://www.ristrettotime.com

As the owner and/or manager of a coffee shop, you are running a pirate ship! And I mean it! You’ll be managing people that are not all necessarily trying to really learn the business and grow with it. In this episode I discuss; should you be loved or feared? http://www.ristrettotime.com

In this episode we discuss what it takes to have an entrepreneurial mindset. Changing your strategy in a dime. Understanding when to quit. Stoicism. Etc.

We talk about what to look for in Suppliers. The future of coffee consumption and the local Washington DC coffee scene.

Travis and I talk about choosing suppliers. What to look for. What consumers are looking for in the coffee experience. We also discuss coffee scene in DC.

Interview with my long-time employees Derek James and Gabriel Falk. A trip down memory lane about what worked and what didn’t work. We also talk about some pricing tricks I played there.

In this episode I talk a bit about Branding and how it relates to everything that you do. I focus on the importance of understanding the consumer journey.

We talk about setting up systems in place, so that you can better manage your time and what’s important to you!

This episode is designed to discourage anyone from starting a coffee shop! You should thank me for doing you a great service! Your family should thank me for crushing your coffee dreams! ...but remember; weak hands fold first!

How did I start Cafe Chocolat? What are some important things to think about when starting a coffee shop? How much time? How much money does it take? These and more in this episode!