Under the Microscope: What Does a Coffee Importer Do?
Importers are the bridge between the two ends of the coffee spectrum. They connect farmers with roasters. They find interesting lots of coffee, set up...
Eric is a contributor based in the USA
Omni Roast: Is There One Roast to Rule Them All?
Roasting sets the stage for eye-opening coffee experiences. After all, no amount of brewing technique can salvage a poorly roasted coffee. But do we need...
Even More Ways to Fund Your Dream Shop
Starting a new coffee shop? You’re in for an extremely rewarding career – but you should also be prepared for a lot of hard work,...
Coffee Cocktails: The 3 Rules for Using Syrup
Love coffee cocktails? Not sure how to create your own? Never fear: designing cocktails isn’t as intimidating as it may seem. In fact, if you...
Coffee Cocktails: How to Make Your Own Simple Syrups
When specialty coffee first came into its own, it suddenly became cool to be a purist. No cream or sugar. No blended drinks. And no...
How to Spot a Leader: Growing Baristas into Managers
Growing baristas into managers is much like growing coffee. You could just pick a lot of cherries and process them with whatever equipment you have...
5 Steps to Getting the Best Service from YOUR Local Barista
Here at Perfect Daily Grind, we think a lot about providing great customer service. But there’s a flip side to this too: being the customer....
5 Tips for Hiring The Perfect Barista
Hiring the perfect barista is like chasing the perfect shot: difficult, but worth the effort. Many people still view being a barista as a part-time...
Eco-Friendly: 6 Ways to Minimize Waste in Coffee Shops
Going green isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s also good business. In fact, perhaps the best way to improve your bottom line and...
4 Practical Ways to Teach Third Wave Coffee to Second Wave Consumers
I’ve no doubt that you love great coffee: you’re in the specialty coffee industry, after all. If you’re anything like me, you’ve spent countless hours...
Five Things No One Tells You About Opening a Third Wave Coffee Shop
You’ve dreamed about opening a coffee shop for ages. You’ve got the layout and the design mapped out perfectly. You know which coffees and which...
How to Choose a Payment Processing & POS System: 10 Steps
With all the complexities of running your own coffee business, shopping around for the best point of sale (POS) system can seem like a nightmare....
Barista Skills: 7 Ways to Make a Great First Impression
Think back to your first favourite coffee shop – real coffee shop, that is, not the chain ones you went to before you knew what coffee was. You probably...
Hold the Dairy: A Barista’s Guide to Alternative Milk
I have a confession to make: I don’t really drink alternatives to dairy milk. Being part Swedish, I could drink heavy cream all day long...
What Should You Do If a Customer Wants “Bad” Coffee?
It’s become cool to cop an attitude about certain drinks. You know what I’m talking about – the barista complaining about making too many single...
4 Steps to Serving Seasonal Drinks in 3rd Wave Style
It’s that time of year again, when a certain coffee chain rolls out a particular drink for a limited time only. Devotees have waited for...