The Coffee Experts Club Podcast

The Collab Team
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Welcome to the Coffee Experts Club! If you're anything like us, then you've taken what could have been just a job and appreciated it enough to make it a calling. Coffee is at the center of communities, economies and most people's mornings. Being a coffee professional can allow you to be a stable presence in the lives of many, but it also comes with a lot of hard work and a lot of variables that need to be figured out in order to deliver that perfect cup every day. Aaron, Drew and Ben have over 25 years of combined experience in the coffee industry and they are still helping major coffee brands today with their daily operations and opening of new locations. Come join these experts as they have in depth conversations about: opening new locations, managing people, sourcing products, business strategies and pitfalls and a whole lot more. And when you're ready to make this world your own, let us help you open up YOUR FIRST COFFEE DRIVE THRU! www.myfirstdrivethru.coffee FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecoffeeexpertsclub Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecoffeeexpertsclub

  1. 2D AGO

    123. Moving Locations Without Losing Customers

    SUMMARY: In this episode, Aaron, Drew, and Ben break down what it really takes to relocate and reopen a coffee shop during peak season—after their building was torn down. They walk through the strategic decision to add a café lobby (despite preferring drive-thru models), the tradeoffs of higher overhead versus deeper community engagement, and how the new location performed compared to past grand openings. The team shares what worked: leveraging local vendors, live music, smart marketing, and leaning into their "hometown hero" momentum to overcome a less visible, foot-traffic-only location. They also get candid about the messy parts: equipment failures the night before opening, supply chain misses across multiple stores, and the stress that comes with rapid transitions. The conversation lands on practical leadership lessons—clear ownership of lanes, accountability systems, and how business partners navigate tension without damaging trust. If you're growing, relocating, or reopening a shop, this episode offers grounded insight into managing operations, partnerships, and community-driven growth under pressure.   Minute by Minute:  00:00 Introduction and Casual Banter 01:53 Navigating Grand Openings and Relocation Challenges 06:01 The Evolution of the Cafe Experience 11:22 Building Community and Hometown Hero Status 17:25 Accountability and Partnership Dynamics 20:56 Conclusion and Future Plans

    22 min

  2. FEB 18

    122. Grand Openings, Growing Pains, and Hard Lessons in Expansion

    SUMMARY: In this episode of Coffee Experts Club, the hosts reflect on how far they've come since launching the podcast and the importance of zooming out to recognize progress amid the daily grind of running a business. They share a candid look at the realities of scaling coffee shops in Belize—opening multiple locations with limited capital, navigating slow seasons, and racing toward a grand opening after being forced to relocate their flagship store. The conversation highlights the emotional and operational pressure of "crunch time," from coordinating contractors and shipments to making sure every last detail is ready for opening day. The team also unpacks lessons learned about site selection, managing expectations for new locations, and how traffic patterns and seasonality can make or break performance. They compare building in Belize versus the U.S., emphasizing the impact of local government processes, choosing the right contractors, and maintaining strong accountability. The episode closes with practical advice for founders: build for the future, partner with people who execute, manage expectations realistically, and stay humble and community-minded as you grow. Minute by Minute: 00:00 Reflecting on the Journey 02:55 The Challenges of Opening New Locations 05:59 Navigating Expectations in Business 08:53 The Speed of Business in Belize vs. the States 14:31 Building Relationships for Success

    18 min

  3. FEB 11

    121. How Community Partnerships Fuel Coffee Shop Growth

    SUMMARY: In this episode, the hosts share the story behind relocating their first coffee shop in Belize after learning the original building would be torn down. Instead of treating it as a setback, they used the move as an opportunity to re-launch the location with a community-focused grand opening. By partnering with local businesses, artists, and vendors, they created a market-style event that benefits everyone involved while introducing the shop to new audiences. The conversation centers on the importance of collaboration over isolation for independent coffee shop owners. The hosts explain how building relationships with complementary businesses, nonprofits, and community groups can drive traffic, reduce marketing costs, and help a shop become a true "hometown hero." They share practical ideas for partnerships, events, and local engagement strategies that can help owners grow beyond a single location and build a stronger, more sustainable brand. Minute by Minute:  00:00 Introduction and Belize Experience 02:11 Challenges of Expanding Coffee Locations 04:46 Community Integration Strategies 09:22 Building Local Partnerships 14:29 The Importance of Hometown Hero Status 19:19 Conclusion and Future Plans

    20 min

  4. FEB 4

    120. A Conversation Worth Revisiting: People, Systems, and Coffee

    SUMMARY: This episode is a replay from a few years back, but the conversation is just as relevant today. Aaron Hovivian and Drew Moody dig into what really makes the coffee industry (and any service business) better: humility, shared learning, and healthy competition. Drawing from experiences across independent shops, larger brands, and new market launches, they talk about why seeing the "underbelly" of multiple businesses matters—and how collaboration often beats ego. From community-driven competition to learning from different shop layouts and workflows, the focus stays on staying flexible and open to better ways of doing things. The episode also goes deep on barista development and operations. Aaron and Drew discuss hiring green talent versus experienced staff, the importance of consistency and clear standards, and how systems, training, and SOPs create confident teams and better customer experiences. The core takeaway still holds up: simple, repeatable systems paired with genuine investment in people lead to happier baristas, stronger teams, and businesses that scale without losing their soul. Minute by Minute:  00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back 01:58 The Value of Diverse Experiences in Coffee 04:02 Healthy Competition in the Coffee Industry 05:55 Collaboration Among Coffee Shops 07:47 Innovative Coffee Shop Designs and Workflows 09:38 Training and Developing Baristas 11:29 The Balance of Experience in Hiring 13:19 Establishing Standards and Consistency 15:17 Creating Raving Fans in Coffee Shops 17:20 Empowering Baristas and Future Leaders

    26 min

  5. JAN 28

    119. The Metrics That Make Multi-Location Drive Thru's Work

    SUMMARY: This episode focuses on the practical side of manager accountability and why clear, measurable expectations are critical as a business grows. Ben and Drew explain how vague feedback leads to confusion and turnover, while metric-based systems give managers clarity, confidence, and a clear path to improvement. They share how a quarterly manager report card—built from weekly checklists, audits, and performance metrics—helped them scale multiple locations consistently. By tying accountability to core values, operations, and bonuses, they created a system that improved leadership development, reduced chaos, and made the business easier to run without constant owner involvement. Minute by Minute:  00:00 Introduction to Manager Accountability 02:40 Practical Tools for Accountability 05:42 Quarterly Report Cards Explained 08:27 Metrics and Performance Tracking 11:19 Building a Robust System 14:11 Leadership Development and Feedback 16:59 Conclusion and Resources

    18 min

  6. JAN 21

    118. How to Create Consistency Across Multiple Coffee Shops

    SUMMARY:  In this episode, Ben and Drew discuss the simple systems that help coffee shops stay consistent as they grow. From checklists and aesthetic walk-throughs to customer feedback, they explain how small tools prevent details from slipping and protect the customer experience when owners can't be in every shop every day. They also share how clear SOPs and manager tools empower teams to run stores with confidence and consistency. The key takeaway: building structure early makes growth easier, reduces stress, and creates a better experience for both customers and staff as your coffee business scales.   Minute but Minute:  00:00 Introduction 02:09 Tools for Managing Coffee Shops 04:07 The Importance of Cleanliness 06:44 Aesthetic Teams and Customer Experience 09:59 Engaging Customers for Feedback 11:18 Creating Checklists and SOPs 17:16 The Magic Binder and Transparency in Management 21:32 Conclusion and Teaser for Part Two

    22 min

  7. JAN 14

    117. What Your Menu Prices Should Actually Be Doing

    SUMMARY:  In this episode of Coffee Experts Club, Aaron Hovivian and Ben Clatterbuck break down how coffee shop owners should think about drink pricing and profitability beyond simply covering costs. Drawing from Ben's experience scaling a multi-location coffee brand, they explain why knowing your numbers, setting a clear profit benchmark, and pricing with intention are critical to running a sustainable business. The conversation covers practical strategies like using a 3x cost-of-goods baseline, leveraging loss leaders, managing high-margin items, and handling add-ons like alternative milks. They also discuss how to raise prices gradually, account for rising costs, and avoid customer sticker shock, giving operators a clear, realistic approach to protecting margins without hurting demand.   Minute by Minute:  00:00 Introduction to Coffee Business Dynamics 03:07 Understanding Profitability in Coffee Shops 06:01 Pricing Strategies and Market Competition 08:55 The Role of Loss Leaders in Attracting Customers 11:48 Managing Alternative Milk Costs 14:42 Incremental Price Increases and Consumer Perception 17:27 Navigating Rising Costs and Market Trends

    21 min

  8. JAN 7

    116. Staying Profitable as Wages and Costs Increase

    SUMMARY: In this episode of Coffee Experts Club, Aaron Hovivian, Ben Clatterbuck, and Drew Moody break down one of the toughest realities coffee shop owners face: rising costs and the need to raise prices without losing customers. They discuss how minimum wage increases, higher labor costs, and rising commodities impact margins—and why avoiding price adjustments only leads to bigger, more painful increases later. The conversation focuses on practical strategies to stay profitable while remaining competitive, including understanding true drink costs, making incremental price changes, and actively monitoring local competitors' pricing. The takeaway is clear: price increases are unavoidable, but when handled thoughtfully and backed by data, they can protect margins, maintain customer trust, and even create opportunities to compete more strategically in your market.   Minute by Minute:  00:00 Beard Banter and New Beginnings 02:28 Navigating Price Increases in Coffee Shops 09:07 Strategies for Adjusting Menu Prices 13:46 Competitive Pricing and Market Research

    20 min
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About

Welcome to the Coffee Experts Club! If you're anything like us, then you've taken what could have been just a job and appreciated it enough to make it a calling. Coffee is at the center of communities, economies and most people's mornings. Being a coffee professional can allow you to be a stable presence in the lives of many, but it also comes with a lot of hard work and a lot of variables that need to be figured out in order to deliver that perfect cup every day. Aaron, Drew and Ben have over 25 years of combined experience in the coffee industry and they are still helping major coffee brands today with their daily operations and opening of new locations. Come join these experts as they have in depth conversations about: opening new locations, managing people, sourcing products, business strategies and pitfalls and a whole lot more. And when you're ready to make this world your own, let us help you open up YOUR FIRST COFFEE DRIVE THRU! www.myfirstdrivethru.coffee FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecoffeeexpertsclub Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecoffeeexpertsclub

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