Valor Coffee Podcast

Valor Coffee
  • 4.8 (44)
  • FOOD
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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.

  1. OCT 6

    Do Specialty Coffee Drive-Thrus Actually Work? – Valor Coffee Podcast Ep. 158

    JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ ⁠https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep158 Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! Third-wave coffee and drive-thrus don’t usually mix, so we rolled across Atlanta to see how our friends at Sequel Coffee Co. are pulling it off! We hit the lane, grabbed a few drinks (and snackies), and talked through what actually makes a specialty drive-thru work: clear signage, friendly face-to-face ordering, and a bar flow that keeps things moving without killing quality. Then we pop inside to chat vibe, team culture, and the little ops choices that make busy mornings feel smooth! If you’ve ever thought, “Could we do a drive-thru?” this episode is the fun, no fluff look at how it can actually click. This week's episode is brought to you by our friends at Odeko: Use our code VALOR10 for 10% off your first supply order! Hit the link below to sign up now:n https://portal.odeko.com/signup *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?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep158 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 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:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rileywestbrook⁠⁠ Follow Ross: ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rosswalters⁠⁠ Follow Ethan's Parody Account:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/ethanrivers777

    54 min

  2. SEP 29

    74 Minutes of Unfiltered Business Advice – Valor Coffee Podcast Ep. 157

    JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ ⁠https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep157 Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! Join us behind the scenes of Valor Coffee's 2025 Nashville owners retreat where we get honest about our biggest weaknesses as leaders and debate whether you can actually build a lifelong career in coffee. We dive into everything from marketing lessons learned the hard way to our Mount Rushmore of favorite Valor coffees, plus why we believe in giving away business knowledge for free. This candid walk-and-talk covers servant leadership, work-life balance with kids, and building company culture rooted in trust. Expect some real talk about the messy realities of growing a coffee business together! This week's episode is brought to you by our friends at Odeko: Use our code VALOR10 for 10% off your first supply order! Hit the link below to sign up now:n https://portal.odeko.com/signup *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?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep157 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 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:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rileywestbrook⁠⁠ Follow Ross: ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rosswalters⁠⁠ Follow Ethan's Parody Account:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/ethanrivers777

    1h 15m

  3. SEP 8

    Labor Percentages for Our Coffee Shop – Valor Coffee Podcast Ep. 156

    JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ ⁠https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep156 Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! Time to spill the beans on our labor costs from the first five months of 2025 – we're showing you the actual numbers from both Valor locations because transparency is fun! We break down why paying baristas more money actually makes everyone happier (shocking, we know), the difference between making-coffee labor vs doing-paperwork labor, and how we keep our labor around 25-27% without going broke. Maybe you're dreaming of opening a coffee shop or just curious about what it really costs to make your morning latte. Regardless, grab some popcorn because we're diving into spreadsheets and it's surprisingly entertaining. This week's episode is brought to you by our friends at Odeko: Use our code VALOR10 for 10% off your first supply order! Hit the link below to sign up now:n https://portal.odeko.com/signup *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?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep156 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 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:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rileywestbrook⁠⁠ Follow Ross: ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rosswalters⁠⁠ Follow Ethan's Parody Account:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/ethanrivers777

    49 min

  4. SEP 1

    How We Made Our Coffee Shops Busier: Becoming a High Volume Cafe – Valor Coffee Podcast Ep. 155

    JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ ⁠https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep155 Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! Most coffee shops struggle to grow, but we share how we went from $87 pop-up days to cafés on track for $1M each. We talk about the simple things that actually get people through the door—like guest experience, location, and staying consistent—plus plenty of laughs and stories from along the way. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to keep a coffee shop alive (and thriving), this one’s for you. This week's episode is brought to you by our friends at Odeko: Use our code VALOR10 for 10% off your first supply order! Hit the link below to sign up now:n https://portal.odeko.com/signup *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?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep155 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 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:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rileywestbrook⁠⁠ Follow Ross: ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rosswalters⁠⁠ Follow Ethan's Parody Account:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/ethanrivers777

    56 min

  5. AUG 25

    Why We Love Starbucks – Valor Coffee Podcast Ep. 154

    JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ ⁠https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep154 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 week's episode, the boys take a little detour to Starbucks before hitting the studio. They try out a lineup of Starbucks drinks (mostly recommended by their wives), share what they genuinely enjoy about the coffee giant, and dive into why the specialty coffee world often has a love-hate relationship with them. Join us for a unconventional taste test and some honest coffee talk from a specialty coffee perspective. This week's episode is brought to you by our friends at Odeko: Use our code VALOR10 for 10% off your first supply order! Hit the link below to sign up now!https://portal.odeko.com/signup *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?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep154 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 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:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rileywestbrook⁠⁠ Follow Ross: ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rosswalters⁠⁠ Follow Ethan's Parody Account:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/ethanrivers777

    1h 14m

  6. AUG 15

    Why Your Coffee Shop Line Backs Up (And What to Do About It) – Valor Coffee Podcast Ep. 153

    JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ ⁠https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep153 Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! Ethan and Ross answer the age old café question: Why is there always a line out the door at your coffee shop? Is that a good thing or a bad thing? In this episode, we break down what a long line really means for your business, how it could be hurting your bottom line, and smart strategies to speed things up without sacrificing quality. Whether you're a café owner, barista, or just love coffee culture, this one's for you. *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?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep153 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 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:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rileywestbrook⁠⁠ Follow Ross: ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rosswalters⁠⁠ Follow Ethan's Parody Account:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/ethanrivers777

    13 min

  7. AUG 6

    What Our Mentor Taught Us About Coffee Shops - Roy Keely – Valor Coffee Podcast Ep. 152

    JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ ⁠https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep152 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 welcoming our longtime friend and mentor, Roy Keely, to the podcast this week. Roy played a pivotal role in helping us launch our first café through a private loan and has remained a key voice in our story over the past seven years. In this convo, we dive deep into the lessons Roy has taught us: about coffee, business, investing, time management, and how to not go broke starting a café. Roy has a knack for challenging conventional wisdom in the most encouraging way possible, and this episode is packed with insights for anyone thinking about starting a coffee shop (or already in the trenches). Also, we finally addressed the early cold brew controversy... you won, Roy. *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?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep152 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 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:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rileywestbrook⁠⁠ Follow Ross: ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rosswalters⁠⁠ Follow Ethan's Parody Account:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/ethanrivers777 00:00:03 Mics are hot and kankers are cranking 00:00:55 Meet Roy 00:05:16 Helping Fund Our First Cafe 00:17:13 How do you decide to spend your time? 00:29:06 Filling the Gaps 00:36:34 Practical wisdom from friend of the pod: Jay Z 00:46:19 Winning and Losing: A Spectrum

    1h 7m

  8. JUL 31

    Ultimate Coffee Brewing Methods Tier List (Pour Over, AeroPress, Espresso & More!) – Valor Coffee Podcast Ep. 151

    JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more:⁠ ⁠https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep151 Thanks for listening, following/subscribing, giving us a good review, and sharing with your friends on social media. It goes a long way! Which brew method reigns supreme? In this episode, we go full coffee nerd and build the ultimate coffee brewing methods tier list. From French Press to AeroPress, Chemex to Kalita Wave, even specialty instant and siphon brewers, nothing is safe from our judgment. We reflect on our first brewers, share stories of failed espresso machines from thrift stores, and talk about what makes a method great (or terrible). *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?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep151 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 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:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rileywestbrook⁠⁠ Follow Ross: ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/rosswalters⁠⁠ Follow Ethan's Parody Account:  ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/ethanrivers777

    57 min
See All (172)

4.8
out of 5
44 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Valor Coffee
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    172
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Valor Coffee
  • Show Website
    Valor Coffee Podcast

You Might Also Like