187 episodes
- JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep173
So you want to open a coffee shop? Before you sign a lease, let us try to talk you out of it, or at least make sure you know what you're actually signing up for. In this episode we play devil's advocate on our own dream job: managing a revolving door of 20 somethings, why "I'll roast my own coffee to save money" is really just starting a second, harder business, and why permitting alone can cost more than your whole buildout depending on where you live. We get honest about the money, the messy math of business partners, and the gap between loving coffee and loving running a coffee shop. If you still want to open one after this, we'd genuinely love to help.
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=ep173
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 - JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep172
Joey's been running our catering operation for a year and a half and has somehow not quit. In that time we went from 3 events a month to 30, hit $239k in revenue, and learned basically everything the hard way. We're breaking down real numbers, real pricing, permits, equipment, staffing, and how to actually get bookings. No fluff, just the stuff we wish someone told us before we started this epic journey. Come hang!
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=ep172
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 What Eleven Madison Park Taught Us About Running a Coffee Company – Valor Coffee Podcast Ep. 171
29/06/2026 | 1h 12 mins.JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep171
We just celebrated 10 years of Valor Coffee with a trip to New York and dinner at Eleven Madison Park AKA the restaurant behind two of the most talked-about hospitality books in the industry. In this episode we break down the full experience, what they did that nobody else does, and how it's shaping the way we think about our own cafes. If you're in coffee or just work in any form of hospitality, this one will be well worth your time.
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=ep171
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/ethanrivers777Is Specialty Coffee Ready for Automation? (w/ Project Zero) – Valor Coffee Podcast Ep. 170
22/06/2026 | 2hJOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep170
What happens when two specialty coffee companies from opposite sides of the world sit down to talk about the future of coffee? In this extended episode, we're joined by Kirk Pearson from Project Zero in Australia to unpack one of the biggest conversations happening in specialty coffee today: automation. From pre-batched espresso and AI to hospitality, barista wages, and the role of craft, we explore what the next generation of coffee shops might actually look like. Whether you agree or disagree, we hope this conversation challenges you to think critically about where our industry is headed. Let us know your thoughts in the comments! We'd really love to hear your 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: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=ep170
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- JOIN THE VALOR COFFEE COMMUNITY – Courses, Exclusive Videos, PDFs, Spreadsheets and more: https://community.valor.coffee?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=ep169
Is automation helping specialty coffee or slowly replacing the craft that made people fall in love with it in the first place? We explore the growing trend of pre batched espresso, automated milk systems, and what these changes could mean for coffee shops, baristas, and guests. After running our own blind taste tests, the results challenged some of our assumptions about freshness, quality, and speed. We also discuss how technology is changing hospitality, how AI is reshaping other industries, and why the future of coffee may look very different than its past. If you love innovation or believe coffee should stay handcrafted, this is a conversation worth having.
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=ep169
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
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About Valor Coffee Podcast
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.
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