Episodes

April 14, 2023

Ristretto Shots: Inspiring email from a listener

In this episode of Ristretto Shots I read Phil’s email to me about a coffee gig he did, describing how it went and how much fun he had going out on his own and making it happen! This is what it’s all about folks; just gettin…
Sept. 19, 2022

26 - Interview with Jamie and Ryan Getchell of The Nest Family Cafe

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. A…
July 28, 2022

25 - Books that helped me through the process

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, S…
June 20, 2022

22 - Cash, POSes and Scammers

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 …
Feb. 8, 2022

24 - The last days of Cafe Chocolat

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…
Aug. 11, 2021

23 - FINAL Episode and Parting Thoughts

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…
July 16, 2021

21 - Should you offer FREE Wifi?

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://…
July 2, 2021

9 - Where to find money to finance your business

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. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ristrettotime/message Support this podcas…
June 19, 2021

20 - How many cups do I need? (Questions from listeners)

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 es…
May 30, 2021

19 - Your Customers are not your Friends

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…
May 8, 2021

14 - 3 attributes of a great barista

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 sce…
April 27, 2021

11 - Hiring staff, employee types and how to develop them

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 --- Send i…
April 6, 2021

13 - Interview with Alex Escobar of Cervantes Coffee Roasters

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, …
April 1, 2021

18 - How to think about starting a shop the right way

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 atte…
March 16, 2021

17 - Answers to some of your questions

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.ristretto…
March 13, 2021

Ristretto Shots: The Coffee Shop Success Formula

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.rist…
March 9, 2021

16 - Is it the right Location and Space?

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 …
Feb. 21, 2021

15 - SEO for coffee shops and retail with Granit Doshlaku of Manaferra

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…
Feb. 14, 2021

10 - Earning PR and getting your shop noticed

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 sh…
Jan. 27, 2021

Ristretto Shots: Read the fine print! READ 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 sho…
Jan. 24, 2021

12 - Running a pirate ship (coffee shop)

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 discu…
Dec. 30, 2020

8 - Entrepreneur Mindset - Interview with Alban Selami of Shqipful

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. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ristrettotime/messa…
Dec. 21, 2020

7 - Choosing the right Coffee Supplier (Part 2) Interview with Travis Vaughn of La Colombe Coffee

We talk about what to look for in Suppliers. The future of coffee consumption and the local Washington DC coffee scene. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ristrettotime/message Support this podcast: https://an…
Dec. 14, 2020

6 - Choosing Coffee Suppliers with Travis Vaughn of La Colombe (Part 1)

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. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ristrettotime/mess…