The Coffee Experts Club Podcast

Hosted by The Collab Team

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Episodes

149

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

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

Listen to episodes

60 recent

September 9, 2026Episode 15119 min

151. What I Learned About Coffee At Its Source

Summary: What happens when you leave the highways behind and experience coffee at its source? Drew joins Ben to talk about his month-long motorcycle journey through Mexico and Guatemala, from mountain roads and remote villages to coffee farms, passionate coffee shops, and some seriously unexpected experiences along the way. They explore what it was like to travel through Central America, connect with local communities, and see the coffee industry from a completely different perspective. Curious about coffee beyond the cup? Follow Coffee Experts Club for more conversations with the people, businesses, and ideas shaping the coffee industry. Minute-by-Minute: 00:10 Introduction to the Adventure 02:52 The Journey Begins: Motorcycling Through Central America 05:29 Cultural Insights and Coffee Exploration 08:22 The Reality of Coffee Farming 11:11 Traveling Off the Beaten Path 13:53 Interactions with Locals 16:27 Coffee Culture in Central America 19:07 Reflections on Travel and Future Adventures

September 2, 2026Episode 15421 min

150. What Happens When Your Best Leader Leaves?

Summary: Leadership changes are inevitable. The key is making sure your business can keep moving when a key person leaves. Aaron, Ben, and Drew discuss how strong systems, clear roles, and documented processes can make leadership transitions easier and your coffee shop more scalable. Ready to find the gaps in your business? Check out the Gap Analyzer and start building a business that does not depend on one person. Minute-by-Minute: 00:10 Introduction to Coffee Experts Club 02:02 Navigating Leadership Changes in Coffee Shops 06:47 The Importance of Developing Future Leaders 11:06 Creating Systems for Smooth Transitions 16:50 Tools for Managing Change Effectively

August 26, 2026Episode 14921 min

149. Make It or Buy It?

Summary: Making your own syrups can save money, create unique flavors, and give your coffee shop more control. But is it actually worth the extra work? Ben and David break down the real costs, challenges, logistics, and benefits of bringing production in house, and explain when it makes sense for a growing coffee shop. Want to build a stronger coffee business? Follow us on social media, reach out to the team, and check out Coffee Experts Academy. Minute-by-Minute: 00:00 | Introduction 03:57 | Making Syrups In House 08:29 | Creating Signature Flavors 10:40 | Cutting Costs 12:05 | Understanding Your Customers 15:57 | When to Start 16:43 | Syrups vs. Sauces 19:15 | The Bigger Opportunity 20:16 | Consistency Is Key

August 19, 2026Episode 14821 min

148. One Piece of Paper That Protects Your Shop

Summary: HR may not be exciting, but it can make or break your coffee shop. Aaron and Ben discuss employee handbooks, clear policies, write-ups, and creating consistency as your business grows. Want the same write-up policy template Aaron and Ben use in their own shops? Opt-In here and they'll send it your way. Minute-by-Minute: 00:10 Adventurous Beginnings and Personal Updates 02:10 The Importance of Human Resources in Coffee Shops 05:57 Building a Strong Employee Culture 11:28 Establishing Policies and Procedures 17:19 Accountability and Consistency in Management

August 12, 2026Episode 14719 min

147. The Cogs Number That Should Scare You

Summary: Are you paying too much for the products and supplies your coffee shop uses every day? Aaron Hovivian and Ben Clatterbuck break down how smart vendor decisions can lower COGS, improve profitability, and simplify your operations. From negotiating better pricing to working with local distributors and consolidating orders, they share practical ways to keep more money in your business. Want to get a clearer picture of your coffee shop's profitability? Check out the free Profit & Loss tool from Coffee Experts Academy and see where you can start saving. Minute-by-Minute: 00:00-Opening Conversation 02:59-Supply Chain Strategy 03:46-Evaluating Your Vendors 06:17-Sales vs. Savings 08:38-Reducing COGS 10:23-Negotiating Better Pricing 12:35-Local vs. National Vendors 14:49-Consolidating Your Orders 16:23-Finding More Savings 17:49-The Cost of Vendor Complexity 19:00-Final Takeaways

August 5, 2026Episode 14619 min

146. Coffee Shop Equipment Essentials

Summary: Opening a coffee shop? Aaron and Ben explain how to choose the right equipment, when to buy used vs. new, and how to avoid expensive mistakes as your business grows. Planning your first shop or your next location? Explore the free resources at MyFirstDriveThru.Coffee to help you launch and scale with confidence. Minute-by-Minute: 00:00 Introduction 01:03 Building a Coffee Shop the Smart Way 01:56 Why Equipment Choices Matter 04:00 Buying Used vs. New Equipment 09:34 In-House vs. Outsourced Repairs 15:02 Standardizing Equipment for Growth 19:17 Final Tips & Takeaways

July 29, 2026Episode 14519 min

145. Why Great Coffee Shops Start Slipping

Summary: Aaron Hovivian and Ben Clatterbuck discuss why great coffee shops start slipping, how bad habits slowly affect successful businesses, and why strong systems and communication are key to staying on track. Want to build better systems and communication within your coffee business? Check out the Free Communication Guide and discover more tools for coffee leaders at Coffee Experts Academy . Minute-by-Minute: 00:00: Why Great Businesses Slip 04:15: Avoiding the Bottleneck 08:50: Better Communication Systems 13:52: Building Teams That Scale 19:35: Final Thoughts

July 22, 2026Episode 14420 min

144. Build a Coffee Shop, Not Just Another Job

Summary: This week on Coffee Experts Club, Aaron Hovivian and Ben Clatterbuck reflect on lessons from their conversation with Melissa Cardenas of Lifeline Coffee. They explore what it means to become a hometown favorite, build strategic partnerships that fuel growth, and create a coffee business that works for you, not one that depends on you. Grab the free delegate and elevate tool here and stop giving yourself another job. Still working on location one? We got you. Check out our Free Masterclass: myfirstdrivethru.coffee Minute-by-Minute: 00:00 Introduction, summer heat and coffee shop challenges. 03:30 Recap of Melissa Cardenas and lessons from her growth. 05:10 Becoming a hometown hero by serving your community. 07:26 Strategic partnerships for growth. 11:46 Building a business versus creating a job. 15:58 Why owners shouldn't do all the barista work themselves. 17:27 Long-term growth planning. 20:17 Final takeaways and closing thoughts.

July 15, 2026Episode 14316 min

143. She Made $30 a Day, Now She Has 5 Shops

SUMMARY: Aaron, Drew, and Ben sit down with Melissa Cardenas, who opened her first coffee shop a week after finishing nursing school with zero barista experience and grew it into five locations, with a sixth on the way, in eight years. Melissa walks through the gas station partnership that fueled her expansion, the Latin inspired menu that sets her drive thrus apart, and why she still refuses to fully step back from the stores. Minute-by-Minute: 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:01 Transition from Nursing to Coffee Business 06:10 Building Relationships and Expanding Business 08:46 Unique Offerings and Community Engagement 11:59 Future Plans and Business Model 14:40 Challenges and Growth in the Coffee Industry

July 8, 2026Episode 14222 min

142. Don't Let a Great Idea Create Chaos

Summary: Every coffee shop owner has a great idea, but not every great idea should launch tomorrow. In this episode, Aaron Hovivian and Ben Clatterbuck share hard-earned lessons on rolling out promotions, products, and grand openings the right way Free Masterclass & Tools: myfirstdrivethru.coffee Coffee Experts Academy: coffeeexpertsacademy.com Minute-by-Minute: 00:00 The Journey of Collaboration 02:59 The Importance of Family Time 05:50 Lessons from Launching Gift Cards 08:35 The Chaos of Last-Minute Decisions 11:37 The Role of Planning in Successful Launches 14:28 Creating a Collaborative Environment 17:18 The Balance of Urgency and Planning

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