Valor Coffee Podcast
A podcast and video show hosted by seasoned coffee pros and Valor Coffee founders Ethan Rivers, Ross Walters and Riley Westbrook where we discuss coffee, starting and running a business, and the specialty coffee industry.
Mon, April 21, 2025
The Most Impactful Trip of our Careers: Valor’s Colombia Trip – 04/16/2025
JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee/landing-page?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep138 Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! We just got back from one of the most impactful trips in the history of our company — a sourcing trip to Colombia that’s bound to shape our business for years to come. In this episode, we reflect on everything from getting searched by police on the streets of Jardín to the transformational conversations we had with coffee producers whose livelihoods depend on the volatile C-market.From walking through coffee farms in Andes to partnering with inspiring producers like Santiago Arango and Andres Cardona, this episode gives a behind-the-scenes look at what it really means to build a sourcing model based on relationships rather than just flavor scores and price points.We also dig into the nuances of green sourcing, the importance of understanding your true cost (on both the roasting and farming sides), and why the future of specialty coffee depends on young, innovative farmers like the ones we met. A must-listen for anyone in the coffee world, or anyone interested in how meaningful relationships can fuel better business. *If you purchase something through one of our links, we may be entitled to a share of the sale* Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at wholesale@valor.coffee to set up an account! Want to send us coffee? Have a question you want to answer on the show? Send us an email to info@valor.coffee We're partnered with Clive to bring you sweet deal at a discounted rate! Use Discount Code VALOR5 at checkout for 5% off Mahlkonig, Anfim and Eureka products! Shop Clive products here: https://clivecoffee.com?sca_ref=5315485.6axWuRlcEr Want to get your business in front of more people? We partnered with Local Eyes Growth to grow our business through SEO and the results have been incredible. Local Eyes is offering a FREE backlink ($300 value) to Valor Coffee Podcast listeners who partner through our exclusive link. Visit https://localeyesgrowth.com/valor to get the ball rolling! Follow the Valor Coffee Pod
Mon, April 14, 2025
SEO for Coffee Companies | Website Changes You Need to Make Today – 04/09/2025
JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee/landing-page?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep138 Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! We had the pleasure of sitting down again with our buddy Kent from LocalEyes, our go-to SEO expert and a wizard behind the curtain when it comes to how coffee companies can actually win on Google. Whether you’re running a cart, a café, or selling beans online, this episode is for you. We define key SEO terms (H1s, meta descriptions, and more), walk through real listener-submitted websites, and share instant improvements that can help your pages rank better today. Kent also gives us a sneak peek into the brand new SEO course he filmed for our Valor Coffee Community. It’s packed with insight, as we roast some websites (gently) and break down exactly what coffee companies are doing right and wrong. Whether you’re DIY-ing your Squarespace site or working with an agency, this is one you don’t want to miss. Kent's Socials: https://taplink.cc/kent.fyi *If you purchase something through one of our links, we may be entitled to a share of the sale* Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at wholesale@valor.coffee to set up an account! Want to send us coffee? Have a question you want to answer on the show? Send us an email to info@valor.coffee We're partnered with Clive to bring you sweet deal at a discounted rate! Use Discount Code VALOR5 at checkout for 5% off Mahlkonig, Anfim and Eureka products! Shop Clive products here: https://clivecoffee.com?sca_ref=5315485.6axWuRlcEr Want to get your business in front of more people? We partnered with Local Eyes Growth to grow our business through SEO and the results have been incredible. Local Eyes is offering a FREE backlink ($300 value) to Valor Coffee Podcast listeners who partner through our exclusive link. Visit <
Tue, March 25, 2025
How to Make Excellent Coffee Cocktails at Your Coffee Shop – 03/19/2025
JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee/landing-page?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep137 Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! We’re diving deep into the world of seasonal coffee cocktails—how to make them, why they work, and how to actually execute them in a busy café setting. We get into the creative process behind building a solid seasonal menu, from drawing inspiration from craft cocktails to balancing drink archetypes that hit everything from matcha to mocktails. If you’re running a coffee shop and want to up your signature beverage game, or if you’re just a fan of cool coffee drinks (ever heard of a Valade?), this one’s packed with useful insight and behind-the-scenes context. Plus, Ross introduces a new basketball challenge—things get competitive. Let’s chop it up! *If you purchase something through one of our links, we may be entitled to a share of the sale* Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at wholesale@valor.coffee to set up an account! Want to send us coffee? Have a question you want to answer on the show? Send us an email to info@valor.coffee We're partnered with Clive to bring you sweet deal at a discounted rate! Use Discount Code VALOR5 at checkout for 5% off Mahlkonig, Anfim and Eureka products! Shop Clive products here: https://clivecoffee.com?sca_ref=5315485.6axWuRlcEr Want to get your business in front of more people? We partnered with Local Eyes Growth to grow our business through SEO and the results have been incredible. Local Eyes is offering a FREE backlink ($300 value) to Valor Coffee Podcast listeners who partner through our exclusive link. Visit https://localeyesgrowth.com/valor to get the ball rolling! Follow the Valor Coffee Podcast on Instagram: http://instagram.com/valorcoffeepod Follow Valor on Instagram: http://instagram.com/valor.coffee Subscribe to Riley's YouTube Channel: <a href="https://youtube.co
Thu, March 20, 2025
Q&A: Should I Buy a Turn Key Cafe, Scheduling Apps and More! – 03/20/2025
JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee/invitation?code=E3A29B Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! Should you buy a turnkey café? What’s the best way to schedule multiple cafés in one app? We’re tackling your coffee business questions today on the Valor Coffee podcast! We dive into the realities of taking over an existing café, what scheduling software actually works (spoiler: it’s not all good), and our biggest regrets when launching new locations. Plus, we break down our recent road trip to visit wholesale partners in Texas and Oklahoma, talk about the power of SEO, and debate who’s the best driver on the Valor team. This one’s packed—hope y’all enjoy! *If you purchase something through one of our links, we may be entitled to a share of the sale* Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at wholesale@valor.coffee to set up an account! Want to send us coffee? Have a question you want to answer on the show? Send us an email to info@valor.coffee We're partnered with Clive to bring you sweet deal at a discounted rate! Use Discount Code VALOR5 at checkout for 5% off Mahlkonig, Anfim and Eureka products! Shop Clive products here: https://clivecoffee.com?sca_ref=5315485.6axWuRlcEr Want to get your business in front of more people? We partnered with Local Eyes Growth to grow our business through SEO and the results have been incredible. Local Eyes is offering a FREE backlink ($300 value) to Valor Coffee Podcast listeners who partner through our exclusive link. Visit https://localeyesgrowth.com/valor to get the ball rolling! Follow the Valor Coffee Podcast on Instagram: http://instagram.com/valorcoffeepod Follow Valor on Instagram: http://instagram.com/valor.coffee Subscribe to Riley's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@rileywestbrook Follow Riley: <a href=
Mon, March 17, 2025
How Many Hours per Week Do Coffee Shop Owners Work? – 02/26/2025
JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee/invitation?code=E3A29B Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! How much do coffee shop owners actually work? If you’re thinking about opening a cafe, you might be wondering: Is this a part-time gig? A 9-to-5? Or a full-on, life-consuming endeavor? In this episode, we break down what it really looks like to run a coffee shop, drawing from our own experience of starting and operating two cafes. We cover the different approaches people take—whether you’re behind the bar every day or trying to build a more passive operation—and the challenges that come with each model. Plus, we share strategies to avoid burnout, delegate effectively, and ultimately create a sustainable work-life balance. Hope this one helps! *If you purchase something through one of our links, we may be entitled to a share of the sale* Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at wholesale@valor.coffee to set up an account! Want to send us coffee? Have a question you want to answer on the show? Send us an email to info@valor.coffee Want to revolutionize your catering business with a single hub for logistics, invoicing, estimates, and more? Flashquotes is changing the way Valor and other catering companies do business, leading to more bookings and better events. Check out https://flashquotes.com/valor to learn more! We're partnered with Clive to bring you sweet deal at a discounted rate! Use Discount Code VALOR5 at checkout for 5% off Mahlkonig, Anfim and Eureka products! Shop Clive products here: https://clivecoffee.com?sca_ref=5315485.6axWuRlcEr Want to get your business in front of more people? We partnered with Local Eyes Growth to grow our business through SEO and the results have been incredible. Local Eyes is offering a FREE backlink ($300 value) to Valor Coffee Podcast listeners who partner through our exclusive link. Visit https://localeyesgrowth.com/valor to get the ball rolling! Follow the Valor Coffee Podcast on Instagram: http://instagram.com/valorcoffeepod Follow Valor on Instagram: <a href="http://in
Thu, February 27, 2025
Douglas Weber of Weber Workshops – 02/19/2024
JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee/invitation?code=E3A29B Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! I (Riley) was stoked to sit down with Douglas Weber, the mastermind behind Weber Workshops, a brand known for designing some of the most beautiful and well-engineered coffee equipment out there. From the EG-1 grinde...
Mon, February 17, 2025
Coffee Prices Just Hit Record Highs Here’s What You Need to Know – 02/12/2025
JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee/invitation?code=E3A29B Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! We’re joined by Lucas Cuadros (Unblended Coffee) and Ricardo Pereira (Purity Coffee, Age of Coffee) to break it all down. We cover: ☕️ Why the coffee market just surpassed a staggering $4/lb 🌍 Historical price spike...
Wed, February 12, 2025
Everything Wrong with Your Business is Your Fault – 02/05/2025
JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee/invitation?code=E3A29B Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! In this episode, we dive deep into the concept of extreme ownership and how it can completely change the way you lead your business. Inspired by the principles from Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin,...
Wed, February 05, 2025
This Coffee Cart Business Booked Over 3,000 Events in 2024 – 01/29/2024
JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee/invitation?code=E3A29B Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! 🔗 Check out Flash Quotes here: https://flashquotes.com/valor Booking over 3,000 coffee catering events in 2024 sounds impossible—until you hear from Justin Goodhart of Goodhart Coffee and Flash Quotes. With 44 coffe...
Tue, January 21, 2025
Software We Use To Run a Coffee Company – 01/15/2025
JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee/invitation?code=E3A29B Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! In this episode, we dive into the nitty-gritty of running a coffee business by breaking down the software and tools we use daily. From managing our books and financials with QuickBooks, automating workflows with Za...
Tue, January 14, 2025
Essential Barista Tools for Your Coffee Shop – 01/08/2025
JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee/invitation?code=E3A29B Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! In this episode, we dive into essential barista tools for coffee shop owners and enthusiasts. From must-have milk pitchers to overlooked items like knock boxes and jiggers, we cover the gear that keeps your bar flo...
Mon, December 30, 2024
Conical vs Flat Burr Grinders for Coffee Shops – 12/18/2024
JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee/invitation?code=E3A29B Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! In this episode, we dive deep into the great debate: conical vs. flat burr grinders. We share our experiences with different grinders, like the Mazzer Robur S and the Mahlkönig E80 Supreme, testing their performanc...
Tue, December 17, 2024
Don’t Start a Coffee Shop, Grow a Coffee Catering Business Instead – 12/11/2024
JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee/invitation?code=E3A29B Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! We’ve all dreamed of starting a cafe, but what if we told you that growing a coffee catering business could be a smarter move in 2025? In this episode, we break down why coffee catering might be the future of speci...
Mon, December 09, 2024
The Most Overlooked Aspect of Specialty Coffee: Water – 11/19/2024
JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee/invitation?code=E3A29B Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! In this episode, we sit down with Taylor and Charles from Third Wave Water to dive deep into one of the most overlooked aspects of specialty coffee—water. They break down how water composition impacts coffee extrac...
Mon, December 02, 2024
We Tier Listed Every Coffee Drink – 11/20/2024
JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee/invitation?code=E3A29B Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! In this oh-so-serious episode, we take on the ultimate challenge: tier-ranking every coffee drink we could think of! From the cappuccino and espresso to Japanese iced pour-over and espresso tonic, no drink is safe ...
Mon, November 18, 2024
Designing a Cafe When You Can’t Afford an Interior Designer – 11/13/2024
JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee/invitation?code=E3A29B Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! Opening a coffee shop likely means sacrificing the option of working with an interior designer. In this episode, we share practical tips and lessons learned from building out two cafes without the help of designers...
Mon, November 11, 2024
Q&A: Competition in Coffee, Steps to Opening a Coffee Shop And More – 11/06/2024
JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee/invitation?code=E3A29B Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! In this episode, we break down the complex dynamics of growing a coffee business, from securing funding for a new cafe to deciding when to add staff as sales increase. We dive into a variety of listener questions f...
Wed, November 06, 2024
We Threw Out Our Core Values... – 10/30/2024
JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee/invitation?code=E3A29B Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! We just had a big moment at Valor Coffee: we changed our core values! In this episode, we talk about how and why we went from five to three core values, breaking down how we landed on these core pillars and what th...
Mon, October 28, 2024
Q&A with Valor’s Cafe GM – 10/23/2024
JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee/invitation?code=E3A29B Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! In this episode, we sit down with Savannah Grace Lyle (aka Savvi), Valor's GM in Dunwoody, for a Q&A filled with honest insights on team culture, leadership, and running a specialty coffee shop. Savvi and the t...
Mon, October 21, 2024
Three Changes That Will Take Your Mobile Coffee Cart to New Heights – 10/16/2024
JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee/invitation?code=E3A29B Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! This ep we dive into carts, sharing lessons learned from years of catering experience. From undercharging and overcharging to dealing with equipment malfunctions, we've seen... a lot. Today we focus on three game-c...
Mon, October 14, 2024
The Story of Valor Part 3: Opening Our Cafes and Roastery – 10/02/2024
JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee/invitation?code=E3A29B Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! In this episode, we dive into the third and final part of the story behind Valor. Join us as we discuss opening our first cafe, launching our roastery, and expanding to a second location, all while navigating chall...
Mon, September 30, 2024
The Story of Valor Part 2: Booking Events, Permanent Pop-up, Going Full Time – 09/25/2024
JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee/invitation?code=E3A29B Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! In this episode, we dive into some of our most memorable early events, like surprising the Church of Scientology with a coffee cart and serving drinks at an unexpected Michael Jackson-themed drag show in Atlanta. W...
Thu, September 19, 2024
The Story of Valor Part 1: Creation, Kickstarter, Cart Buildout – 09/11/2024
JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee/invitation?code=E3A29B Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! In this episode of the Valor Podcast, we dive into Part 1 of The Story of Valor, where it all began. From friendships formed in high school to early coffee experiences that sparked a love for specialty coffee, we w...
Fri, August 30, 2024
Introducing Our Online Platform, The Valor Coffee Community – 08/28/2024
JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee/invitation?code=E3A29B Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! When we started our company, we'd often be faced with problems we'd just have to figure out ourselves, mainly because there wasn't a central online resource that went really deep in helping us with the nitty-gritty...
Fri, August 23, 2024
Splurge on These Things When Building Out Your Coffee Shop – 08/21/2024
JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee/invitation?code=E3A29B Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! In this episode, Riley and Ethan dive into a crucial topic for anyone looking to open or improve their coffee shop: the key investments you should never skimp on. While it’s tempting to save money on certain pieces...
Fri, August 16, 2024
Q&A – How Much Are Coffee Shops WORTH …and More! – 08/07/2024
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! In this episode, we dive into the nitty-gritty of evaluating a coffee shop acquisition, discussing the hidden costs that can make or break a deal. We also chat about the challenges of maintaining ...
Wed, August 07, 2024
Opening a Coffee Shop for Less Than $100k – 08/01/2024
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! In this episode, we dive deep with Elijah Knapp, a seasoned coffee professional, former Valor Pit Crew Member, current owner of Elliott Coffee in Dayton, Kentucky, and one of our dear friends. We ...
Fri, July 26, 2024
Keeping Veteran Baristas Invested – 07/24/2024
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! In this episode, we delve into the heart of staying passionate and committed as a veteran barista. Ethan is joined by our long-time Head Coach, Lillabea Goins, and they explore service philosophie...
Fri, July 19, 2024
Consistency is Everything – 07/17/2024
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! This week, it’s just Riley and Ethan diving deeper into our service philosophies. We explore the crucial role of consistency in everything we do and how it impacts our decisions and operations. Fr...
Fri, July 12, 2024
Three Service Philosophies That Built Our Business – 07/10/2024
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! In this episode, we dive into the service philosophies that have shaped our company, discussing how to create memorable customer experiences through empathy and connection. We also recount a rare ...
Fri, June 28, 2024
What Does It Even Mean To Break Even? – 06/28/2024
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity DOWNLOAD THE CAFE VIABILITY SPREADSHEET: https://mailchi.mp/valor/viability-spreadsheet Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! Ever wondered what “breaking even” really means for a business? In this episode we delve into the concept o...
Fri, June 21, 2024
Running a Business As a Parent – 06/21/2024
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! When we started Valor, we had all the hours in the world to put towards building our business, but things have changed greatly with our growing families. Today we reflect on this and what our live...
Fri, June 14, 2024
Why Your Coffee Shop SHOULD Start Roasting – 06/12/2024
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! The boys sit down and have a continuation of last episode's topic of why you shouldn't start a coffee shop, this time explaining why it might be a good idea. We also discuss Ethan's trip to J...
Fri, June 07, 2024
Why Your Coffee Shop SHOULD NOT Start Roasting – 06/05/2024
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! This week Riley and Ross chop up something we here from sooooo many wholesale partners: "Yeah, we'll probably eventually start roasting..." As a company who has taken this path, we feel it's our d...
Fri, May 31, 2024
Cat & Cloud x Valor Coffee: Burn Out, Human Dignity, Tacos & Dunking – 05/28/2024
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! We credit a lot of our success to the Cat and Cloud Podcast, where we learned so many things about the industry, extraction, running a coffee business and more when we were just getting started. I...
Fri, May 24, 2024
This Episode Has No Topic – 05/22/2024
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! Well...Ross sat down with Jared Truby for this week's planned episode and was met with technical issues. But we REFUSE to let a week go by with no progrum, so we sat down and just caught up on qui...
Fri, May 17, 2024
Tips to Prevent Employee Turnover at Your Coffee Shop – 05/15/2024
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! This episode is a continuation of our previous episodes of the epidemic of high turnover within the coffee industry. We dive into a few practical ways coffee shops can pivot to make their establis...
Fri, May 10, 2024
Why Coffee Shops Have Terrible Turnover – 05/08/2024
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! The coffee industry is one of notoriously heavy turnover, something we've experienced at our business and heard from many other cafe owners. On this specific progrum, we dive in to the reasons thi...
Fri, May 03, 2024
Q&A: Barista vs Roasting Job + Should Baristas Have to Work Weekends? – 05/01/2024
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! This week we field a few questions, including helping one listener choose between stepping forward as a barista or making a move to roasting operations and answering another listener's question ab...
Fri, April 26, 2024
SCA EXPO 2024 Chicago Recap – 04/24/2024
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! Wait... 100 Episodes?! Who knew this little podcast would make it this far? This week we share stories from our first SCA Expo experience, drink the most expensive coffee we've ever purchased, and...
Thu, April 18, 2024
Keys to the Shop x Valor: How to Raise Barista Wages – 04/13/2024
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! We were stoked to have the opportunity to take a break from the action at SCA Expo 2024 to sit down with a true veteran of the coffee industry, Chris Deferio. Chris has 20+ years of experience in ...
Fri, April 12, 2024
Making It Cool to Care at Your Coffee Shop – 04/10/2024
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! This week we're in a different room because of roast shifting, but we still dish out some straight fire. Ethan and Ross chat about building a culture that thinks it's cool to give a crap and how t...
Fri, April 05, 2024
Should You Open a Second Coffee Shop? – 04/03/2024
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! It’s been a year since we opened the doors of our second cafe, so we do some reflecting on what we’ve learned and whether or not we’d do it all again. We're hiring in the roastery and in Dunwoody...
Fri, March 29, 2024
Competition: Should You Care About "Competitor" Coffee Shops? – 03/27/2024
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! When you're running a coffee shop or looking to start one, it's easy to look around at other companies and wonder whether they're taking a slice of a pie. Is that true? If so, should you care? How...
Fri, March 22, 2024
Coffee Shop Owners Suck at These Three Things – 03/20/2024
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! Uh Oh! We're going in this week on our PAST SELVES, dishing out the mistakes we've made throughout our careers that we see as trouble spots for many people jumping into owning a cafe. Our reason f...
Fri, March 15, 2024
Blending Coffees: Do Blends Deserve the HATE? – 03/13/2024
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! We welcome our Director of Roasting Operations, Sam Smith, back for his third round on the progrum to discuss all things BLENDS. In our opinion, blends get more hate than they deserve, so we press...
Fri, March 08, 2024
What It’s Really Like Being a Barista - 03/06/2024
DOWNLOAD THE CAFE VIABILITY SPREADSHEET: https://mailchi.mp/valor/viability-spreadsheet Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! Today we’re joined by three of our incredible baristas – Lillabea Goins, Paul Judy, and Joey Cristofanelli....
Fri, March 01, 2024
We Interviewed the Owner of Our Favorite Coffee Shop - 02/28/2024
DOWNLOAD THE CAFE VIABILITY SPREADSHEET: https://mailchi.mp/valor/viability-spreadsheet Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! Side Track in Opelika, Alabama is one of our favorite places in the world. Period. What David Bizilia has b...
Fri, February 23, 2024
How Much Can a Coffee Shop Owner Make Per Year? - 02/21/2024
DOWNLOAD THE CAFE VIABILITY SPREADSHEET: https://mailchi.mp/valor/viability-spreadsheet Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! This week, we dive into the question so many folks jumping into this industry have: how much can I make as ...
Fri, February 16, 2024
Crafting the Perfect Coffee Shop Menu - 02/14/2024
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! Riley fell ill this week, so Ethan and Ross sit down together and really just lay into some topics, including questions about one of our favorite books, and "business smart" things we've had to im...
Fri, February 09, 2024
Q&A: Owner Disagreements, Drive-Thru Specialty Coffee, & Slushie Machines – 02/07/2024
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! We had a whole dang episode planned out, but we had so many solid questions that we decided to pivot.! We cover a few really awesome topics like: how do you know who to go into business with? What...
Fri, February 02, 2024
Are Coffee Shops Profitable? A Look at the Numbers - 01/31/2024
DOWNLOAD THE CAFE VIABILITY SPREADSHEET: https://mailchi.mp/valor/viability-spreadsheet Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! We're live just 42 minutes from Six Flags Over Georgia to answer a very common question: are coffee shops p...
Fri, January 26, 2024
Small Business, Big Impact: How Coffee Shops Shape Community – 01/25/2024
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! We welcome Valor Alpharetta's Head Coach, Lillabea Goins, back for her third round on the podcast to discuss all sorts of fun with Ethan, including the joys of feedback and failure, the power of c...
Thu, January 18, 2024
One Year of Owning a Coffee Shop w/ J.P. McKenzie of Meadowlark – 01/17/2024
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! JP is a dear friend and owner of Meadowlark, a beautiful sub-500 square foot cafe in Gainesville, GA. This is JP's second time on the progrum, and it was a joy to talk about all sorts of stuff, ma...
Thu, January 11, 2024
Predicting Trends in the Coffee Industry in 2024 – 01/10/2024
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! We gather around the table and talk about where we think the industry might be heading this year, including commercialized bean spritzing, low caff varietals and more. We also taste a yum coffee f...
Thu, January 04, 2024
Opening a Coffee Shop With No Barista Experience – 01/03/2024
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! We're often contacted by folks asking us our suggested first steps in their journey towards opening a coffee shop? Our first question... "Have you ever worked in coffee before?" Ethan and Riley di...
Thu, December 28, 2023
2023 in Review: Our Biggest Year Ever – 12/27/2023
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! David LaMont has been in the coffee industry in Atlanta/the Southeast for the past 20 years, filling roles from barista, to wholesale sales, and now as the Southeast Sales Manager of La Marzocco. ...
Thu, December 21, 2023
David LaMont, La Marzocco – 12/20/2023
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! David LaMont has been in the coffee industry in Atlanta/the Southeast for the past 20 years, filling roles from barista, to wholesale sales, and now as the Southeast Sales Manager of La Marzocco. ...
Thu, December 14, 2023
Pour Overs Are DEAD. Long Live Coffee Shots! – 12/12/2023
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! We've always struggled with a particular dilemma: we love the clarity and flavor we can achieve by brewing pour overs, but doing so behind a busy coffee bar is wildly inefficient and inconsistent....
Thu, December 07, 2023
Skills You Should Learn as an Entrepreneur, God Shots, Branding Single Origins – 12/06/2023
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! This was one of those episodes where we sat down with a topic, but the conversation led us in a different direction that produced some FIRE radio. We talk about some of the skills we've developed ...
Thu, November 30, 2023
Why Your Business Should LOSE Money on Black Friday & Cyber Monday – 11/29/2023
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! After a week off for Thanksgiving, we're back in the midst of one of the busiest weeks in Valor's history! We ran a wild sale for Black Friday / Cyber Monday, so we thought it would be a great tim...
Thu, November 16, 2023
Will Shurtz, Methodical Coffee – 11/14/2023
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! Will Shurtz is the co-founder of Methodical Coffee out of Greenville, South Carolina, who are, simply put, one of the most respected coffee companies in the country. We've looked up to Will for ye...
Thu, November 09, 2023
Should You Scale Your Coffee Company? – 11/08/2023
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! For many, the natural progression of business might point towards roasting or opening a second location as obvious steps. This week, we discuss whether or not that path is for everyone, along with...
Thu, November 02, 2023
Underextraction Explained | What Is It and How Can You Fix It? – 10/31/2023
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! We think underextraction PLAGUES many cafes and home brewers. We discuss why we think it's so common, why it's accepted, and. of COURSE, how you can go about fixing it. We also taste a Colombian G...
Thu, October 26, 2023
Overextraction Explained | What Is It and How Can You Fix It? – 10/25/2023
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! Overextraction is a hot topic in the coffee community, but honestly, we think it happens less than many baristas think it does. We go into depth about the science of overextraction, including disc...
Thu, October 19, 2023
What a Career in Coffee Roasting is Actually Like w/ Sam Smith – 10/18/2023
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! This week we taste coffee from Jimmy Butler's Big Face Brand – a washed Burundi! Then we jump in to a discussion with our Director of Roasting Operations, Sam Smith. We talk transitioning from bar...
Thu, October 12, 2023
How to Start a Coffee Cart Business in 2023 | Coffee Cart Masterclass – 10/11/2023
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! Ever thought about building a mobile cart to start your coffee business? US TOO. In 2016, we built a coffee cart that launched our business from nothing to multiple cafes and a roasting headquarte...
Thu, October 05, 2023
Five Tips to CRUSH a Busy Rush – 10/04/2023
Sign Up for Alerts About Our Community (coming soon) – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://mailchi.mp/018d9c38a953/valorcafecommunity Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! The Coffee Sometimes Podcast is now the Valor Coffee Podcast! This week, we sip Colombia Jair Oidor, answer a listener question about catering pricing and packages, and finally, give five tips (pl...
Thu, September 28, 2023
Q&A – Roastery Startups, Bookkeeping Tips, Vesting Schedules, OH MY! – 09/27/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! We taste a banger of a coffee from Touchy Coffee brewed on our new toy, the Next Level Pulsar, followed by answering some listener questions on a VARIETY of topics, including hidden costs associated with starting a coffee roastery, bookkeeping, operating agreements and more. Thanks for listening! Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watch on Youtub...
Thu, September 21, 2023
Our Espresso Tech on His Recommended Gear, Periodic Maintenance & MORE! – 09/20/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! A fun week here! A YouTube commenter told us we should review our own coffee to get a baseline, so we did just that! We taste Freethrow, wrap up Unreasonable Hospitality, and chat with our espresso tech, Caleb Hall of Bronnie's. He lets us in on some steps cafes can take to prevent equipment nightmares, tells us about his journey into a coffee career, and e...
Thu, September 14, 2023
The Power and Purpose of Individuality on Your Team – 09/13/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! This week we taste Chamberlain Coffee, beans from mega-YouTube star Emma Chamberlain's brand. We snagged it a grocery store and boy...it's somethin'. We sit down in this episode with our Alpharetta HC (Head Coach aka General Manager) Lillabea Goins to discuss team dynamics, making guests' days and more. Hope ya enjoy this one because we sure as heck did! B...
Thu, September 07, 2023
Four Tips to Improve Your Palate | Taste Coffee BETTER – 09/06/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! Gather 'round! This week we talk about how to improve that palate of yours so you can make better coffee! We dish out four tried and true methods, plus review coffee from Sprout Coffee Roasters, dive into Unreasonable Hospitality Chapter 19, and ultimately just have a dang good time. Thanks for listening, friends! 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:39 Coffee Review: Spr...
Thu, August 31, 2023
How to Get Hired at Valor (OR ANYWHERE!) – 08/30/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! A fun one where we talk about the things we look for when hiring new people for our Pit Crew. We also continue to develop (lol) our coffee review portion of the program and taste a yum coffee from Choco Coffee in Athens, Georgia, scoring a 33.5/50! Chapter 18 of Unreasonable Hospitality hit different and taught us the importance of going above and beyond wi...
Thu, August 24, 2023
Q&A: Pre- vs Post-Roast Blends, Best Books for Cafe Managers & MORE! – 08/23/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! New Podcast setup! We're now shooting all of our podcasts in our warehouse with the lab area as a backdrop, which we think is pretty dang cool. This week we talk about Unreasonable Hospitality Chapter 17, drink coffees from Splitlog Coffee in Kansas City, and take Questions and give some Answers. Thanks for tuning in to the progrum. 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:07 ...
Thu, August 17, 2023
Why Do SO MANY Roasters UNDERDEVELOP Their Coffees? – 08/15/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends. It goes a long way <3 Shots fired? Maybe, but we're just trying to help! We've noticed a trend during our time in the coffee industry – namely, there's a lot of underdeveloped coffee out there. We discuss why this is the case, plus we chat about Unreasonable Hospitality Chapter 16, sip on some bean, and discuss wholesale samples. 00:00:00 Intro 00:07:44 What We're Drinking 00:12:28 Unreaso...
Thu, August 10, 2023
Are Coffee Shops Recession Proof? – 08/08/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends. It goes a long way <3 We have fun, we have fun. This episode we talk about the adversity we've faced in the past (lookin' at you, COVID-19) and how we made it out alive. Does that conclude that coffee shops are recession proof? LISTEN FOR OUR TAKE! We also dive into Unreasonable Hospitality Chapter 15 and sip on a freaky Colombian Pink Bourbon from Italian coffee roaster Gardelli. THANKS F...
Thu, August 03, 2023
Hiring or Starting a Business with Your SPOUSE – 08/01/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 Last week we threw a rager and we're still buzzed...off the GOOD TIME. We debrief about how we (think we) threw an incredible event, chew on Chapter 14 of Unreasonable Hospitality and, lastly, discuss our decision to hire Ross' wife and how we plan to keep things CLEAN within this new dynamic. 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:27 What We're Drinking: Kenya Test Batch 00:30:01 Unreasonable Hospitality Chapter...
Thu, July 27, 2023
Get Away From Your Business to Work on Your Business – 07/25/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 We spent last week on a retreat where we gathered our thoughts for the next year, including how to take our product to the next level. This week we sip on a crazy Colombia Gesha from Black and White and also dive into Chapter 13 of Unreasonable Hospitality. Enjoy! 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:53 What We're Drinking: Black & White Colombia Geisha 00:15:18 Unreasonable Hospitality Chapter 13 00:26:06 ...
Wed, July 12, 2023
The Three Biggest Mistakes We've Made – 07/11/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 This week we get really real and discuss some of the biggest mistakes we've made since starting our business, along with going over Unreasonable Hospitality Chapter 12 and drinking our delicious washed Kenya. 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:45 What We're Drinking: Kenya Nyeri Hill Estate AA 00:06:40 Ethan's Ankle Update 00:11:28 Unreasonable Hospitality Chapter 12 00:25:39 Our Biggest Mistakes 01:02:41 Ou...
Thu, July 06, 2023
Your Company Should Go Into Debt – 07/03/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 Ross was out this week, but Ethan and Riley couldn't stand going another week without getting behind the mic – this week we talk Unreasonable Hospitality Chapter 11, drink some bourbon, and discuss how going into debt has created opportunities for Valor to grow and thrive. 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:33 What We're Drinking: E.H. Taylor Small Batch 00:07:48 Unreasonable Hospitality Chapter 11 00:32:24 ...
Thu, June 22, 2023
How We DIAL IN ESPRESSO at Our Cafes – 6/20/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 This week we go IN on whose way is the right way to dial in espresso, specifically in a commercial/cafe environment – SPOILER ALERTL: we argue a ton. We also talk chapter 10 of Unreasonable Hospitality and drink some coffee from our friends Little Wolf. Check out Tetherball: https://www.tetherballcoffee.com Subscribe to Riley's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@rileywestbrook 00:00:0...
Thu, June 15, 2023
Home Coffee Setup Need Improvement? Here's What to Do! – 6/13/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 This week we dive into our home setups and how we can each do one or two things to improve how we are brewing at home. We also drink some instant coffee and talk through Chapter 9 of Unreasonable Hospitality. Love y'all. Check out Papertown Coffee: https://www.papertown.coffee/ Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop 00:00:00 Intro 00:03:12 What We're Brewing: Dapper & Wise Instant...
Thu, June 08, 2023
Imposter Syndrome and How to Handle It – 6/06/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 On this episode we brew up our new (returning) summer blend Tanlines, chat about Chapter 8 of Unreasonable Hospitality and go off about how Imposter Syndrome doesn't even matter, ya feel? Thanks for listening, love ya. Buy our summer blend, Tanlines: https://valor.coffee/shop/tanlines Check out Jethro's Coffee and Public House: https://www.instagram.com/jethroshouse/ 00:00:00 Intro 00:0...
Thu, June 01, 2023
Core Values and Culture LEGEND Karen Walters – 5/30/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 On this episode, we welcome a very special guest who has truly shaped Valor's company from the ground up, Karen Walters. Yes, Karen is the mother of Ross. BUT that's not the only reason she's on! Karen was a human resources manager for the Atlanta Falcons and the Arthur Blank Family of Businesses for YEARS, helping shape the culture that expanded from a small team to THOUSANDS of employees over ...
Thu, May 25, 2023
DON'T Put Macchiato On Your Menu – 5/24/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 This week we dive in on the philosophy of creating a non-confusing coffee menu, brew up some bean on the Fellow Stagg [XF], give a wholesale partner shoutout to our friends Warehouse 4, and tackle chapter 7 of Unreasonable Hospitality. Thanks for listening, love ya! Check out Warehouse 4 Coffee: https://www.warehouse4coffee.com 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:16 What & How We're Brewing 00:09:28 Smal...
Thu, May 18, 2023
Do Coffee Companies PROFIT from Branded Merchandise? – 05/16/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 Weber Workshops was kind enough to bump us up in the queue of Moonraker shipments so we could talk about it on the program! We discuss this fun tool, plus dive in on Chapter 6 of Unreasonable Hospitality, answer some YouTube comment questions, give a wholesale partner shoutout to our friends Prophet Coffee, and go IN on whether or not its worth it to drop serious cash on branded merchandise. Hop...
Thu, May 11, 2023
How to Handle Bad Reviews of Your Coffee Shop – 05/09/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 Another week of three idiots talking about some stuff – this time we cover chapter five of Unreasonable Hospitality, plus get in the weeds on the topic of Online Reviews and how YOU should handle your coffee shop getting negative things published on the interwebs. 00:00:00 Intro 00:03:05 Small Talk 00:13:24 Unreasonable Hospitality Chapter 5 00:35:30 Online Reviews: How to Deal with Negative Re...
Wed, May 03, 2023
We've Been Under-Extracting the CRAP Out of Our Coffees..? – 05/02/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 This week we get back into our book series, tackling Chapter 4 of Unreasonable Hospitality, plus talk a good bit about extraction, including being brutally honest about how we might be underextracting some coffees by...a lot. 00:00 Intro 07:00 Unreasonable Hospitality Chapter 4 21:50 NFL Draft 33:48 Extraction – Moonraker WDT Tool 39:45 Curtis Seraphim and Low Extraction Problems 44:19 We Try t...
Thu, April 27, 2023
Social Media and Instagram for Coffee Shops and Roasters in 2023 – 04/25/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 We've gone through many-a philosophy where Instagram and social media are concerned, so we wanted to share with you all some of the things we've done right and, more importantly, wrong so that you can get straight to building an engaged following for your cafe (or other company)! 00:00 Intro 01:45 Motivations to Grow on Instagram 06:37 Do All Types of Businesses NEED an Instagram? 13:13 Local v...
Thu, April 20, 2023
WE OPENED A SECOND CAFE – 04/19/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 WE'RE BACK. After a break (that wasn't really much of a "break" at all, we were busy af) to get our Dunwoody Cafe LIVE, we are back on the mic(s) to talk aaaaaalllll about our new space. Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at wholesale@valor.coffee to set up an account! Follow Coffee Sometimes: http://instagram.com/coffeesometimespo...
Wed, February 22, 2023
Roasting Your Own Coffee vs. Multi-Roaster vs. Exclusive Partnership – 02/22/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 Donate to our Indiegogo Campaign: https://igg.me/at/valorcoffee Buy Unreasonable Hospitality: https://amzn.to/3XDd93M This week we dig into a hypothetical: if we were starting a new coffee business from scratch, would we: a) Roast our own coffee; b) Be a Multi-roaster; or c) Have an exclusive wholesale provider. THE RESULTS MAY SHOCK YOU. Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Wa...
Wed, February 15, 2023
Hosting a Hiring Event + Read a Book w/ Us! – 02/15/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 Donate to our Indiegogo Campaign: https://igg.me/at/valorcoffee Buy Unreasonable Hospitality: https://amzn.to/3XDd93M We start our 5 Minute Book Club this week, plus give updates on our Dunwoody cafe and discuss our hiring event. We missed y'all, thanks for your patience as we navigate our current crazy schedules until our new cafe opens! Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Wa...
Wed, February 01, 2023
Effective and Efficient Bar Flow in Your Cafe – 02/01/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 A topic we could honestly go on for hours about – BAR FLOW! We talk a little about how we arranged our bar in our first cafe and some things we'll be changing in cafe #2 in order to pump out as many high quality drinks as possible. Enjoy! Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at wholesale@valor.coffee to set up an account! Follow Coff...
Wed, January 25, 2023
Q&A Round 3 – Super Automatic Espresso Machines & More – 01/25/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 We got some amazing questions from a regular listener, so on this episode we go through them. We include our take on superautomatic espresso machines, why we don't just drop "coffee" from our mission statement and more. WE ALSO KICK OF THE VALOR BOOK CLUB: First book we'll be reading – Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara. We'll be discussing on our Instagram and Podcast, so get your copy h...
Wed, January 18, 2023
What Makes a Coffee Shop Good or Bad? – 01/18/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 Last episode we asked listeners to write in with the things that make or break a coffee shop experience when visiting a new cafe. On this episode, we dissect those answers and give our opinions on what makes a cafe great or lackluster. Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at wholesale@valor...
Mon, January 16, 2023
Culture Couch Episode #13 – Peer to Peer Conflict – 01/16/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 Ross and Ethan dive in on how to confront and navigate conflict between co-workers. Enjoy! Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at wholesale@valor.coffee to set up an account! Follow Valor: http://instagram.com/valor.coffee ____ Follow Riley: https://instagram.com/rileywestbrook Fol...
Wed, January 11, 2023
How Much It Costs to Open a Coffee Shop in 2023 – 01/11/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 Want to know how much you should budget out for your dream cafe? We're right in the midst of dishing out some serious cash for our new location, so we thought we would pull up the spreadsheet and share some full transparency with you in terms of how much it costs to open a coffee shop in the current economic climate, including how much more expensive Cafe #2 is vs our first location. Buy Valor ...
Mon, January 02, 2023
Culture Couch Episode #12 – "Fire" Leadership – 01/02/2023
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 VOTE COFFEE SOMETIMES FOR BEST PODCAST OF 2022: https://sprudge.com/vote Ethan and Ross quite literally SPIT FIRE on this week's Culture Couch. We talk about the lessons we've adopted from Danny Meyer's Setting the Table ( buy it here: https://amzn.to/3B4HKNF) and how to use different forms of the Fire concept when leading your staff. HAPPY NEW YEAR! Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop...
Wed, December 28, 2022
Designing Your Goals to be ACHIEVABLE – 12/27/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 VOTE COFFEE SOMETIMES FOR BEST PODCAST OF 2022: https://sprudge.com/vote We move across the hall to our new podcast studio (still a work-in-progress) and talk about what this year has brought, how we've met or fallen short of our goals, and where we think next year will take our business. Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Want to...
Fri, December 23, 2022
Culture Couch Episode #11 – Above and Beyond w/ Mykie – 12/26/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 VOTE COFFEE SOMETIMES FOR BEST PODCAST OF 2022: https://sprudge.com/vote Monthly on Culture Couch, we'll be highlighting a member of the team who has shown excellent hospitality and a display of Valor's values at some point within the previous month. This person is chosen by their peers, rewarded, and brought on Culture Couch to break down how their interaction played out. First up is Mykie to ...
Thu, December 22, 2022
Culture Couch Episode #10 – New Hire Discusses the Onboarding Process – 12/19/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 VOTE COFFEE SOMETIMES FOR BEST PODCAST OF 2022: https://sprudge.com/vote Our newest Pit Crew member, Makenna, was thrown to the WOLVES and came on Culture Couch on her fifth day on the job. She talks about the hiring process and breaks down what the first few days on-the-job at Valor look like. Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Wa...
Thu, December 22, 2022
Valor's Year in Review – 12/22/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 VOTE COFFEE SOMETIMES FOR BEST PODCAST OF 2022: https://sprudge.com/vote We move across the hall to our new podcast studio (still a work-in-progress) and talk about what this year has brought, how we've met or fallen short of our goals, and where we think next year will take our business. Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Want to...
Tue, December 13, 2022
Specialty Coffee HOT TAKES 2022 – 12/13/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 Ethan, Ross and Riley are finally back on the mic TOGETHER to bring you some of our hottest takes, like a certain popular espresso machine that Ethan hates and a brew method that has never produced a good result for Riley. There's also a chance Ross flashes his coffee tattoo on air. Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Want to become ...
Thu, December 08, 2022
Culture Couch Episode #9 – Servant Leadership: Assuming the Best – 12/12/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 Servant Leadership CONTINUED AGAIN?! This one goes deep, so we have even more topics to cover. Ethan and Lillabea sit down to talk about assuming the best of our co-workers and how to dish out and receive feedback. Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at wholesale@valor.coffee to set up an ...
Wed, December 07, 2022
Dynamics of a World Class Team – 12/07/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 Ethan's back! He sits down with Lillabea, one of our longest tenured Pit Crew members and future Valor Alpharetta Head Coach, to talk about team dynamics, matching strengths with others' weaknesses, and workplace feedback within a fast-paced cafe environment. Thanks Lillabea! Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Want to become a Whole...
Mon, November 28, 2022
Culture Couch Episode #8 – Servant Leadership: Leading By Example – 11/28/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 Servant Leadership CONTINUED! Ross and Riley discuss leading by example and how that plays out even when we aren't always around or the most in-the-know about the deeper details of the operation. Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at wholesale@valor.coffee to set up an account! Follow Va...
Tue, November 22, 2022
Have We FAILED Our Mission? – 11/22/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 Ross and Riley go IN while Ethan takes time off with his new baby. On this episode, we discuss our original vision that we set out to accomplish when we started Valor and how that has changed and adapted over the years. Thanks for listening, Happy Thanksgiving! Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Want to become a Wholesale Partner? E...
Mon, November 21, 2022
Culture Couch Episode #7 – Servant Leadership: Being a Cheerleader – 11/21/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 To continue their chat on Servant Leadership, Ethan and Ross discuss what it looks like to take a step back from the spotlight and step into being a cheerleader for those on your team. Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at wholesale@valor.coffee to set up an account! Follow Valor: http:/...
Wed, November 16, 2022
Hiring Philosophy: Hungry, Humble, Smart – 11/15/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 When we're looking to hire new Pit Crew members, we have a framework that often helps us qualify or disqualify candidates that we borrowed from one of our favorite books – measuring three factors: Hungry, Humble, and Smart (emotional intelligence). We also added a couple more to this: Hang and Logistics. We hope this helps you hire great people for your business! Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor...
Mon, November 14, 2022
Culture Couch Episode #6 – Servant Leadership: Checking Your Ego at the Door – 11/14/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 Ethan and Ross talk about our method for dealing with stressful situations and how to channel panic into action using a little routine we created called the DIAL Method. Enjoy! Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at wholesale@valor.coffee to set up an account! Follow Valor: http://instagr...
Wed, November 09, 2022
How to Hire AMAZING PEOPLE for Your Coffee Shop – 11/08/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 A moment to toot our own horn: one of the most common questions we are asked is, “How do you guys get such great people to work for your company?” Today, we try to touch on the subject and give you all a glimpse of the hiring process at Valor. Enjoy! Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at ...
Wed, November 02, 2022
Kent Sheridan, AKA the TITAN of Specialty Instant Coffee – 11/01/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 One of our coffee besties, Kent Sheridan, phoned in to the program this week to show us a good time. Kent founded VOILA, a company that (formerly) produced the best, most convenient instant coffee in the world. We talk about his history in the coffee industry, our friendship, AND we taste some "convenient" coffees on the air. Follow Kent: https://www.instagram.com/kent.fyi/ Kent's Website: http...
Mon, October 31, 2022
Culture Couch Episode #5 – The DIAL Method – 10/31/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 Ethan and Ross talk about our method for dealing with stressful situations and how to channel panic into action using a little routine we created called the DIAL Method. Enjoy! Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at wholesale@valor.coffee to set up an account! Follow Valor: http://instagr...
Wed, October 26, 2022
Should You Yell at Your Employees? – 10/25/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 This is one of those "Sometimes" pods where we go off about football and then bring it around to how different styles of leadership look within different industries (i.e. a coffee shop vs a pro football team lol). Thanks for listening. Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at wholesale@valor...
Mon, October 24, 2022
Culture Couch Episode #4 – Details Matter: What Separates Good from GREAT – 10/24/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 Ross sits down with Riley this week to talk about another one of our Core Values, Details Matter. This value can elevate businesses to stick out from the rest by empowering us and our team to take a step back and look at the areas where we can go beyond the norm. Thanks for listening! Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Want to becom...
Wed, October 19, 2022
How to Make a GREAT Product, CONSISTENTLY – 10/18/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 One of the MOST IMPORTANT things to us is giving our guests a similar experience each and every time they step foot through our doors, NO MATTER WHO is behind the bar. Today we talk about ways we do this while giving the best possible product, including practical steps such as setting a "Range of Excellence" and shooting to achieve the same product at the slowest volume and fastest rush. Thanks ...
Tue, October 11, 2022
Schedules of a Coffee Company Owner – 10/11/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 This week we talk about how our weeks and schedules play out as three guys who own a coffee company. Obviously this can play out differently depending on what kind of coffee business you are running (i.e. cafe vs roasting operation vs both) and how many owner's your business has. This is a question we've been asked a few times, hope y'all enjoy! Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watc...
Tue, October 11, 2022
Culture Couch Episode #3 – A DEEPER DIVE: Put Empathy Into Action – 10/17/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 As a follow-up to last week's Culture Couch episode, this week Ross and Ethan go even deeper on why Put Empathy Into Action is our most talked about core value and how we apply this with our lives, space-design and more. Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at wholesale@valor.coffee to set ...
Thu, October 06, 2022
Culture Couch Episode #2 – Put Empathy Into Action – 10/10/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 On this episode of Culture Couch, Ethan and Ross take a moment to talk about our most talked about Core Value, Put Empathy Into Action and how we live by this in our day-to-day operations. Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at wholesale@valor.coffee to set up an account! Follow Valor: ht...
Wed, October 05, 2022
Aaron Fender and Marcus Hollinger of Portrait Coffee – 10/04/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 We're stoked to put out this conversation we had with our friends from Portrait Coffee. Portrait is crushing it, dishing out great coffees while on a great mission. We talked with Aaron and Marcus about their brand, mission & vision, and business challenges. Thanks for watching! Buy Portrait Coffee: https://portrait.coffee/ Follow Portrait: https://www.instagram.com/portraitcoffee/ Buy Val...
Thu, September 29, 2022
Culture Couch Episode #1 – Fun & Focused w/ Mykie Rutter – 10/03/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 This week we take a deep dive into one of our values that we think fuels Valor to truly be more than just a coffee company – Fun & Focused. Operations coordinator Mykie Rutter sits down with Ross to talk how she has seen this lived out in the cafe. Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us a...
Wed, September 28, 2022
Founder Q&A Round 2 – 09/27/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 This week we answer questions asked by Instagram followers and emailers including what we'd do different if we started a cafe, how to manage work/life balance, how to increase sales volume in your cafe, how to maintain a fun culture while remaining professional, plus many, many more! Thanks for listening! Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorco...
Fri, September 23, 2022
Culture Couch Episode #0 – Pilot – 09/26/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 New segment! Weekly, along with our normal long-form Coffee Sometimes episode, we'll be dropping short-form episodes focused on culture – if you watch the video on YouTube, you'll see that these episodes are recorded on a couch in our HQ, hence the title...Culture Couch! This episode lays out what we'll focus on in this series, along with touching on the definition of core values and giving insi...
Thu, September 22, 2022
Lauren Purvis of Mizuba Tea Co – 09/20/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 Mizuba Tea Co dishes out some of the finest matcha in the game and Valor is a verrrrry proud partner! We sat down this week with founder Lauren Purvis and discussed Mizuba's origins and lots of tea talk, including some of those nerdy details that we know lots of you listeners will love. Thanks to Lauren for coming on our show! Buy Mizuba's matcha: https://mizubatea.com Follow Mizuba: https://ww...
Thu, September 15, 2022
Melissa Bartz of Little Wolf Coffee – 09/13/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 Little Wolf coffee is one of Valor's favorite roasters, so we had a ton of fun sitting down with co-founder Melissa Bartz and hearing more about the company. We had the pleasure of visiting their cafe-roastery in Ipswich, MA In 2021 and it, along with Melissa and team's excellent service and coffee, was a dang treat. Little Wolf just opened their new cafe and is constantly pushing the industry f...
Wed, September 07, 2022
Lucas Cuadros & Barry Burgess of Unblended Coffee – 09/07/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 Unblended is, simply put, one of our favorite companies in the business. Lucas and his team are focused on fixing root issues within the supply chain, including introducing younger producers to the coffee industry and building brands around producers hard work. Unblended focuses energy on this, along with some of the most excellent coffees we've ever had, including experimental processes like th...
Wed, August 31, 2022
Live Exit Interview with Elijah Knapp – 08/30/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 Elijah is one of a kind, a true treasure that came to Georgia and began working at Valor about two years ago. We've seen him blossom and bring so much joy to our team and our guests. Elijah is moving on to pursue his career in design, so we decided to do a sort of live exit interview to discuss how Valor can grow. We'll miss you Elijah, love ya! Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watc...
Fri, August 26, 2022
How We Brew Coffee at Home – 08/23/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 We're back! This week the three of us sat down together for the first time in a hot minute due to the arrival of a couple babies. We answer some questions about our home coffee setups and coffees we've been digging lately. Thanks for listening, enjoy! Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/valorcoffee16 Want to become a Wholesale Partner? Email us at...
Wed, August 10, 2022
Riley Solo Ep: Q&A, Coffee Trends, The Industries Future – 08/09/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 Stuffs weird around here with a baby officially out and another coming soon, so we're apart this week but still wanted to dish out an episode for you. Riley sat down and spat out words for a whole dang hour, including answering questions asked to him by our Instagram followers, including some talk of his schedule and systems to get work done, coffee trends, and what the future holds for specialt...
Tue, August 02, 2022
How to Get Your Boss to Listen to Your Ideas – 08/02/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 We've seen it from both angles and this one is a tough one to navigate until you NAIL IT DOWN. Ever given a GREAT idea to your boss/manager, but then felt like they ignored you or forgot about it? This is likely because there wasn't a proper system for feedback to be delivered. This week we discuss how owners/bosses can creates a place for employees to feel heard and for ideas to lead to growth ...
Wed, July 27, 2022
Are All Industries Specializing? – 07/26/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 Ross is officially on dad-leave, so this week found Ethan and Riley chopping it up about a bunch of random stuff, including which industries they would like to see offer a specialty product, an update on our E80, frustration with bourbon culture + package stores, a cart-project update. This is a very *SOMETIMES* podcast, so buckle in. Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee/shop Want to become ...
Wed, July 20, 2022
First Things We'd Do If We Were Starting a Coffee Shop Today – 07/19/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 Intro: 0:00 Laying Out The Episode: 35:12 Step 1 – What Do You Want?: 37:45 Step 2 – Why Do You Want It?: 58:00 Step 3 – Logistics Lineup: 1:04:05 We just ran a series on the questions we are most often asked by those starting coffee shops. Here we discuss the next step – actually putting a plan into action. We detail the first three steps we would take if starting from scratch – simple things ...
Tue, July 12, 2022
Top Three Questions When Starting a Coffee Shop Part 3 – 07/12/2022
Thanks for listening, following/subscribing and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 Our third and final part of our series on questions we get from folks starting coffee shops discusses all things MENU. We answer the following questions and more: How can you create an empathetic menu? What types of beverages should your menu have? How should you lay it out? How can you manage approachability AND showcasing hyper-specialty drinks? Thanks for listening! Buy Valor Coffee: h...
Wed, July 06, 2022
Top Three Questions When Starting a Coffee Shop Part 2 – 07/05/2022
Thanks for listening and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 In part two of our series on our most common questions from coffee shop founders, we discuss a topic that overwhelms lots of folks: EQUIPMENT. Whether you already know all about the different brands OR you're coming in blind, this episode will likely help you from deciding which brand or size machine, to potential blindspots that you might not be expecting. Thanks for listening! No affiliate links in this one! ...
Wed, June 29, 2022
Top Three Questions When Starting a Coffee Shop Part 1 – 06/28/2022
Thanks for listening and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 Starting a cafe can be intimidating, and it can feel like there are a million things to learn. As Valor's Partner Success Director, Ross hears common concerns and lends advice based on our experience. We're going to do a little series on three of the most common questions Ross gets, starting with...HIRING. We discuss the philosophy of hiring, how many people you should hire, and how you should build out your schedule,...
Tue, June 14, 2022
Valor Roaster Sam Smith on Experimental Processing – 06/14/2022
Thanks for listening and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 Continuing on our streak of the upmost nerdy coffee content, this week, we sit down with our roaster Sam Smith to discuss his story, along with experimental processing methods such as anaerobic, carbonic maceration, orange washing, and more. This one was really, really fun and will really scratch an itch if your interested in some of the deep science behind the coffees you drink. Here's some of the books Sam mentione...
Wed, June 08, 2022
Development Time Ratio and Destratification – 06/07/2022
Thanks for listening and giving us a good review, it goes a long way <3 No Ross, no problem. Ethan and Riley go deep on coffee, talking about some Valor roasting philosophy, sipping other folks' coffees, talking destratification & MORE! Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee Follow Valor: http://instagram.com/valor.coffee ____ Follow Ross: https://instagram.com/rosswalters Follow Riley: https://instagram.com/rileywestbrook Follow Ethan's Parody Account: https://instagram...
Wed, May 18, 2022
Our Favorite Books, Cold BooBoo, Jimmy Butler – 05/17/2022
This week we talk about our cold brew process, Miami Heat small forward Jimmy Butler's specialty coffee company, and books that have shaped our lives. Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee Follow Valor: http://instagram.com/valor.coffee ____ Follow Ross: https://instagram.com/rosswalters Follow Riley: https://instagram.com/rileywestbrook Follow Ethan's Parody Account: https://instagram.com/ethanrivers777 ***If you buy something through our external/third-party links, we may ge...
Tue, May 10, 2022
Q&A | Things We'd Change About the Specialty Coffee Industry, Our Onboarding Process & More – 05/10/2022
We opened up our Instagram to questions and received some fun ones, including topics like things we'd change about the specialty coffee industry, our onboarding process, and whether or not cold brew is actually good. Thanks for listening! Follow Valor: http://instagram.com/valor.coffee Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee ____ Follow Ross: https://instagram.com/rosswalters Follow Riley: https://instagram.com/rileywestbrook Follow Ethan's Parody Account: https://instagram.com/...
Thu, May 05, 2022
Valor's Own Myka Collins – 05/03/2022
It was an absolutely thrilling time sitting down with our own operations coordinator, Myka (Mykie) Collins. Mykie has been with us for almost three years and will be running our second cafe. She is one of the most talented, hard working, dedicated people we've EVER met. Everyone can learn a little something from Mykie, even if there are some poop jokes along the way. Follow Mykie: http://instagram.com/bornofthewind Follow Valor: http://instagram.com/valor.coffee Buy Valor Coffee: https://v...
Tue, April 26, 2022
Aligned Priorities, Employee Ownership, Guest Policies – 04/26/2022
All startups could benefit in sitting down and getting priorities aligned and ordered from least to most important – this week we touch on ours, along with some sports talk and our least favorite policies to enforce upon our guests. Follow Valor: http://instagram.com/valor.coffee Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee ____ Follow Ross: https://instagram.com/rosswalters Follow Riley: https://instagram.com/rileywestbrook Follow Ethan's Parody Account: https://instagram.com/ethanri...
Tue, April 19, 2022
College vs Experience, Distractions, and Other Bad Advice – 04/20/2022
This week we dive into some completely, totally, genuinely original ideas that no one else has ever thought of. Follow Valor: http://instagram.com/valor.coffee Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee ____ Follow Ross: https://instagram.com/rosswalters Follow Riley: https://instagram.com/rileywestbrook Follow Ethan's Parody Account: https://instagram.com/ethanrivers777 ***If you buy something through our external/third-party links, we may get a small share of the sale. This helps...
Wed, April 13, 2022
David Bizilia of Side Track Coffee – 04/12/2022
Few cafes have given us experiences that nearly bring us to tears – Side Track in Opelika, Alabama is one of 'em. They offer top notch coffee and top notch surface in their cafe 20 minutes outside of Auburn. David is one of the best guys around, and we were THRILLED to sit down with him and chat about values, branding, Godzilla, and his five star Little Caesars experience. Follow Side Track: https://www.instagram.com/sidetrackcoffee Follow Valor: http://instagram.com/valor.coffee Buy Valor ...
Tue, April 05, 2022
The Great Valor Brand Refresh – 04/05/2022
This episode is highly visual. Hope over to our Youtube to watch along: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtrhE0QWoWEOsGY-Z3NQUjQ We're back! This week we talk all about our refreshed brand and how we got here from where we started. We discuss why we chose the design element we did and look over our new packaging, merch, and more. Follow Valor: http://instagram.com/valor.coffee Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee ____ Follow Ross: https://instagram.com/rosswalters Follow Riley: htt...
Tue, March 08, 2022
JP McKenzie of Meadowlark Coffee – 03/08/2022
JP is one of our very best friends within the coffee industry and one of the most genuinely nice people you will ever meet. He is a large inspiration into why we are the service focused brand that we are. He is a busy guy, running wholesale for Bellwood Coffee, building his own brand through his espresso cart, Meadowlark, and playing guitar for Athen's based band Family and Friends. We talk what it's like being a wholesale sales guy, JP's travels, where Meadowlark is heading, and more. Much l...
Thu, March 03, 2022
Why You Should Have a Co-Founder + Our Roles in Valor – 03/03/2022
This week we talk about Ethan being better than Ross at Madden, and more importantly, why we like the idea of finding a co-founder when you look to start your own business and our roles within Valor. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni (Amazon): https://amzn.to/349LeBQ *If you buy something through our external/third-party links, we may get a small share of the sale.* Follow Valor: http://instagram.com/valor.coffee Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee ____ Follow Ross: ht...
Tue, February 22, 2022
How to Pick Your Core Values – 02/22/2022
We think pretty much all good businesses have something in common: strong values. We talk about how we picked our values a couple of years back and give a great framework to get you started. Here are the questions we referenced in the video: 1. At the end of your day, when you feel energized and purpose-filled, what did you do that day? What sense of accomplishment did you feel? Put those feelings into words. -Do you have a specific memory? Share 2. In 10 years, what do you want people to ...
Thu, February 10, 2022
Joel & Charles Norman of Bellwood Coffee – 02/01/2022
This week we are joined by some of our very best friends in the coffee industry. Joel and Charles Norman are two of the mot genuine guys we know, and their company, Bellwood, shares many of the values that Valor holds dear. We talk Gen Z slang, Bellwood's story, what it's like running a business with your brother, barista wages and some roasting philosophy. We had a TON of fun with this one and hope you love it! Follow Valor: http://instagram.com/valor.coffee Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor....
Tue, February 01, 2022
Everything We Know About Starting a Mobile Coffee / Espresso Cart – 02/01/2022
We are constantly being asked about the in's and out's of starting a coffee cart by aspiring entrepreneurs near and far. Questions from Do I need an LLC? to What espresso machine do I need? and How much money does it cost? just begin the list. We sit down for a couple hours to talk about how we did it plus answer some of our most common questions. Follow Valor: http://instagram.com/valor.coffee Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee ____ Follow Ross: https://instagram.com/rosswalters Follow...
Wed, January 26, 2022
Preventing Employee Turnover, Roasting Philosophy, Valor News – 01/25/2022
What DON'T we talk about in this episode? We give lots of Valor updates, talk about cafe #2, have some words about employee turnover and creating positions for employees to grow, question why lots of roasters underdevelop their coffee, and owner involvement within a growing company. Follow Valor: http://instagram.com/valor.coffee Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee ____ Follow Ross: https://instagram.com/rosswalters Follow Riley: https://instagram.com/rileywestbrook Follow Ethan's...
Wed, January 26, 2022
*Bonus* – Sports! Super Bowl Picks, Jimmy G's Future, Matt Ryan and More! – 01/25/2022
Don't listen to this one if you hate football. We talk our picks to win the Super Bowl, whether or not Jimmy G will have a future in the NFL, Falcons options at WR + what position they might take in the draft, salary caps vs luxury tax, and Ross trash talks the Rams' jerseys. Follow Valor: http://instagram.com/valor.coffee Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee ____ Follow Ross: https://instagram.com/rosswalters Follow Riley: https://instagram.com/rileywestbrook Follow Ethan's Parody ...
Thu, January 20, 2022
Starting a Business with (and Hiring) Your Friends – 01/18/2022
Ross debuts an original song, Riley rambles on about his weekend in Nashville, Ethan touches on "his" idea for a specialty coffee candy bar, plus some important stuff, like whether or not you should start a business with your (best) friends OR hire friends at all. Follow Valor: http://instagram.com/valor.coffee Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee ____ Follow Ross: https://instagram.com/rosswalters Follow Riley: https://instagram.com/rileywestbrook Follow Ethan's Parody Account:&nbs...
Wed, January 12, 2022
Some Tips for Starting a Coffee Shop – 01/11/2022
Riley loses a bet to his dad, plus we give a few tips on how to open your own coffee shop, including vesting schedules, making sure you have a few irons in the fire, redundancy in equipment, and never leaving your employees/co-workers alone. Oh yeah, and Ethan still can't stop talking about crossbody bags??? Follow Valor: http://instagram.com/valor.coffee Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee ____ Follow Ross: https://instagram.com/rosswalters Follow Riley: https://instagram.com/ril...
Fri, January 07, 2022
David Funk – 01/07/2022
David Funk is a worship leader with Bethel Music hailing from none other than Gainesville, GA. More importantly, Dave is an extremely close friend of ours who has watched, drank, and been involved with Valor from the very beginning. In this episode, we discuss some extremely crucial topics like Could Ross score a single point on Iman Shumpert in 1-on-1 and we react to our Kickstarter video from 2016. Follow Valor: http://instagram.com/valor.coffee Buy Valor Coffee: https://valor.coffee...
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