The Coffee Experts Club Podcast

Hosted by The Collab Team

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138

Latest episode

Jun 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

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60 recent

June 10, 2026Episode 13820 min

138. Where Should My Money Go?

Summary:In this episode of the Coffee Experts podcast, Aaron Hovivian, Drew Moody, and Ben Clatterbuck tackle a major question every growing coffee business eventually faces: should you invest in opening a new location, or should you put that money into improving your current operation? Drawing from real conversations happening inside Coffee De Los Mayas and with consulting clients across the country, the team breaks down the risks, rewards, and hidden complexities behind both decisions. Aaron also dives into the realities of scaling a coffee business, including operational strain, staffing challenges, branded products, roasting in-house, and the importance of using real financial data instead of gut feelings alone. They also discuss why timing, business maturity, and alignment between partners matter so much when making growth decisions. Whether you are preparing to launch your first coffee shop or deciding how to scale an existing brand, this episode offers practical insight into making smart long-term investments for your business. Want to learn more about opening and growing a successful coffee business? Free Masterclass: myfirstdrivethru.coffee Coffee Experts Academy: coffeeexpertsacademy.com Minute-By-Minute: 00:00 Navigating Controversy and Business Decisions 02:53 Pros and Cons of Opening New Locations 05:23 Data-Driven Decision Making 08:19 Balancing Complexity and Cash Flow 11:01 Strategic Growth and Marketing 14:07 Preparing for New Ventures 16:56 Innovative Approaches to Starting a Coffee Business

June 3, 2026Episode 13719 min

137. Back to Basics in Coffee Operations

Summary: In this episode of the Coffee Experts podcast, Aaron Hovivian, Drew Moody, and Ben Clatterbuck dive into the importance of getting back to the basics in running a successful coffee business. From slow drive thru times to inconsistent drink quality and customer experience, the team discusses how easy it is for core systems to slip when owners and operators become focused on growth, expansion, and day to day fires. Drawing from real client experiences and their own operations in Belize, they break down why speed, service, and consistency remain the foundation of every thriving coffee shop. The conversation also explores how owners can create systems that hold teams accountable without micromanaging. The hosts share practical strategies such as flow testing, car time tracking, retraining systems, and empowering managers to reinforce standards in healthy ways. Whether you are opening your first drive thru or managing multiple locations, this episode is packed with practical reminders on why mastering the fundamentals is still the key to long term success. Want to learn more about building successful coffee systems? Free Masterclass: myfirstdrivethru.coffee Coffee Experts Academy: coffeeexpertsacademy.com Minute by Minute: 00:00 Weather and Beach Conditions 02:19 Getting Back to Basics in Coffee Shops 05:44 Importance of Speed and Service 09:30 Managing Staff and Systems Effectively 13:11 Training and Reassessing Barista Skills 18:01 Resources for Coffee Shop Owners

May 27, 2026Episode 13622 min

136. Protecting Your Culture as You Grow

In this episode of the Coffee Experts podcast, Aaron Hovivian, Drew Moody, and Ben Clatterbuck dive into the realities of building and protecting company culture in the coffee industry. Drawing from recent firsthand experiences in Belize, the team opens up about the challenges of leadership, employee turnover, generational shifts in work ethic, and the emotional weight of investing deeply into people who may not stay long term. They discuss how culture can easily fade if it is not intentionally reinforced and why difficult conversations, clear expectations, and consistent vision casting are essential for healthy teams. The conversation also explores how modern employees often value work differently than previous generations, forcing business owners to adapt while still staying true to their core values. Through personal stories, practical insights, and honest reflection, the hosts encourage coffee shop owners and leaders to define their culture clearly, communicate it consistently, and understand that not every employee will be the right long term fit, and that is okay. Minute by Minute 00:00 Introduction to Coffee Culture 02:05 The Importance of Culture in Business 05:41 Navigating Generational Differences in the Workplace 11:09 Hiring and Retaining the Right People 16:32 Maintaining Culture Amidst Change 20:08 Final Thoughts and Reflections on Culture

May 20, 2026Episode 13521 min

135. Why Your Coffee Shop Is Good But Not Great Yet

SUMMARY: Aaron, Ben, and Drew dig into what it actually takes to go from running a good coffee shop to running a great one. The conversation gets honest about why success can be the very thing that keeps owners stuck, and why bravery is the ingredient most people overlook. From niching down to serve a specific cultural demographic to making your own horchata, cutting dead cogs lines when you add something new, and getting your team on board with higher standards, they cover the real moves that separate shops that plateau from shops that keep climbing. Recorded live from Belize, this one is packed with practical wisdom from three people who have built and scaled coffee shops the hard way. Minute By Minute: 00:00 Welcome to Belize: Setting the Scene 02:31 From Good to Great: The Journey of Coffee Shops 04:07 Bravery in Business: Embracing Change 05:36 Understanding Your Community: Tailoring Offerings 08:50 Innovations and Calculated Risks 17:59 Team Dynamics: Growing Together 20:53 Conclusion: Serving Customers Better

May 13, 2026Episode 13420 min

134. Do You Know What Your Drinks Are Actually Costing You?

SUMMARY: Aaron and Drew get into one of the most overlooked levers in a coffee shop's profitability: cost of goods sold. Drawing from hard-won lessons running three locations in Belize without the safety net of US infrastructure, they break down how producing their own syrups dropped their COGs dramatically and why paying by the bottle instead of by the hour changed everything. It is a raw, practical conversation about challenging the way things have always been done, getting creative with contractor relationships, and knowing exactly what it costs to put a drink out the window. Grab the free drink cost calculator at menu.coffeeexpertsacademy.com. Minute by Minute: 00:00 Introduction to Coffee Experts in Belize 03:03 Challenges of Operating in Belize 06:07 Reassessing Production Methods 09:11 Cost of Goods Sold: A Deep Dive 12:03 Innovative Contractor Relationships 15:02 Quality Control and Speed in Production 18:09 Tools for Cost Management and Conclusion

May 6, 2026Episode 13323 min

133. The $1.7 Million Coffee Shop: Here Is What They Did Right

SUMMARY: Aaron, Ben, and Drew tackle a question most coffee shop content never touches: what do you actually do when your business starts winning? Inspired by a client running a $1.7 million location, they break down the smartest moves to make when the money is rolling in, from keeping your eyes on every line item no matter how fat the bank account gets, to knowing exactly which season your business is in before deciding where to invest. They get into culture, infrastructure, marketing, and the real reason some coffee shops become hometown legends while others flame out fast. They wrap up with a honest breakdown of what is actually driving that client's success and what any coffee shop owner can take from it. Minute by Minute: 00:00 Navigating Success in the Coffee Industry 05:06 Strategic Planning for Growth 12:56 The Importance of Culture in Business 19:23 Secrets to Successful Coffee Shops

April 29, 2026Episode 13220 min

132. What Kind of Coffee Shop Do You Actually Want to Run?

SUMMARY: Aaron and Drew get into one of the most important questions every coffee shop owner eventually has to answer: what kind of experience do you actually want to create, and who are you creating it for? Picking up from last week's P!ng episode, they explore the spectrum from fully automated robotic coffee to handcrafted Belizean expressions, and everything in between. From kiosk-style ordering concepts to roasting beans in front of the customer, the conversation gets honest about what it costs to lean into craft versus consistency, why your avatar matters more than the trend, and how bad reviews and big decisions about your space are really just invitations to get clearer on what you stand for. Grab the free masterclass on starting your first drive-through at myfirstdrivethru.coffee. Minute By Minute: 00:00 Exploring Belize and Nostalgia for the Pacific Northwest 02:57 Innovations in Coffee: Robotics and AI 05:46 The Evolution of Coffee Shop Experiences 08:36 Craft vs. Automation in Coffee 11:07 Creating Unique Customer Experiences 17:02 Defining Your Coffee Shop's Identity

April 22, 2026Episode 13122 min

131. One Second Faster Means $30,000 More. These Founders Did the Math.

SUMMARY: Aaron and Ben welcome Rob Whitten and Jane Lo, co-founders of Ping, a fully automated drive-through coffee concept that is changing what speed and convenience can look like for coffee customers. The robot-powered pod makes a drink every 30 seconds, adjusts to the height of your car window, and times your order to arrive fresh exactly when you pull up. No waiting, no scanning, no tipping. Rob and Jane break down how they built the technology around the customer experience rather than the other way around, why their micro retail footprint opens up franchise opportunities for everyday entrepreneurs, and how automation does not have to mean losing the human touch. If you have ever timed cars in a drive-through lane and wondered how much faster it could get, this one will blow your mind. Minute By Minute: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 02:59 The Concept of P!ng and Its Technology 05:39 Customer Experience and Convenience 08:32 Challenges and Solutions in Robotics 11:20 Balancing Technology with Human Interaction 14:09 Logistics and Space Efficiency 17:04 Franchising and Future Opportunities

April 15, 2026Episode 13020 min

130. Stop the Chaos: How to Actually Communicate With Your Team

SUMMARY: Aaron, Ben, and Drew tackle a problem that quietly kills team culture and operational clarity in coffee shops: communication chaos. From the dreaded group text that everyone eventually mutes to building out a smart, scalable WhatsApp structure, they walk through what actually works when you are managing multiple locations and cannot be everywhere at once. Drew breaks down the simple daily and weekly update cadence he uses to stay informed without drowning in noise, and Ben makes the case for why WhatsApp wins over Slack for most coffee shop teams. The takeaway is simple: organize your communication channels with intention now, before the chaos scales with you. Grab the free communication naming convention framework at comms.coffeeexpertsacademy.com. Minute By Minute: 00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene 02:15 The Importance of Communication in Business 05:46 Choosing the Right Communication Platforms 11:48 Establishing Effective Communication Practices 18:02 Managing Communication Chaos 20:19 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

April 8, 2026Episode 12923 min

129. Clean Books, Better Decisions: The Coffee Shop Finance Deep Dive

SUMMARY: Aaron, Ben, Drew, and bookkeeping specialist Faith dig into why so many coffee shop owners are flying blind when it comes to their finances and what it actually costs them. From dairy vendors quietly hiking prices to invoices that never get cross-checked, the crew breaks down how clean, detailed books give you the visibility to catch what is slipping through the cracks, negotiate better deals with vendors, and make smarter decisions about things like bonuses and ordering. The bottom line: you can only grow sales or cut costs, and you cannot do either without knowing your numbers. Minute By Minute: 00:00 Welcome to the Coffee Experts 01:42 Understanding Coffee Shop Finances 05:52 The Importance of Detailed Bookkeeping 10:58 Vendor Management and Cost Control 16:50 Effective Communication with Vendors

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