Hosts David J. Morris and Dave Rand talk shop with Stephanie and Mykel Papke—twin sisters that have been running Jump Start Espresso in Federal Way, WA since 1998. These two are OG baristas hailing from a time in coffee when Santeria by Sublime was playing on repeat and humble coffee carts in front of grocery stores were the go-to.  White chocolate powder was everything.  And let’s not forget about those chocolate-covered espresso beans that topped our drinks… Those were the days!  Fast forward to present day and this power duo is still pulling shots in the same community they grew up in—but this time they’re running the show. These savvy business owners are committed to three things: coffee, customers, and community. And they check their egos at the door.  You can still find them picking up barista shifts at both of their two Federal Way locations and working alongside a team that have been with the company for five, ten, and even twenty years! These two don’t just talk the talk, they walk the walk. Today’s episode is a fun conversation about how to embrace change, benefit from competitors, and discover your resilience. Tune into episode 19 of The DCR Coffee Podcast and listen to the story of Jump Start Espresso’s beginning and the secrets to their 23-year-success. . . . Find Jump Start Espresso on social and online: Web: jumpstartespresso.co Facebook: @jumpstartespressofw Instagram: @jumpstartespresso

In this special episode of The DCR Coffee Podcast, Co-Host Dave Rand takes the opportunity to sit down with two of the guys running one of the biggest brands in the industry: Nuovo Simonelli.  Julian Torres, VP of Sales & Marketing, and Ryan Klineman, Service Engineer, stopped by the DCR headquarters to show us the latest in their line up: Prima from Victoria Arduino. This new machine is a show-stopper. And the best part?  It bridges the gap between smaller cafes and the home aficionado.  It is built to the exacting standards of excellence Nuova Simonelli and Victoria Arduino has defined for decades.  It has sleek, modern styling that sits nicely on any counter-top: home, office, or café.  The DCR Coffee team loved getting a personal tour of what’s up next for a brand we’ve relied on since our company’s launch back in 1992. Enjoy a short chat with Julian, Ryan, and Dave about a brief history of the Nuova Simonelli brand, how to get the best quality espresso out of any machine, and how their brand is representing sophisticated home brewing in their future equipment designs and innovations. . . . Find more information about Nuova Simonelli and the new Prima by Victoria Arduino at SimonelliUSA.com  

On this week’s episode of The DCR Coffee Podcast, the guys welcome Jeff Archer and Betsy San Miguel of YOLO.  These two are teaching us all about how to remember that you only live once.  Whether it’s in their new line of coffee or their stand-up paddle boards and electric beach cruiser bikes, these two are leading a brand that represents a quality of life many of us strive to achieve. Hard work and laser focus brought this vision to bear.  Over the years, they’ve said no to trade shows and yes to more time in the shop pushing their own R&D concepts to the next level.  Thanks to receiving early advice to “stay focused on who you are and what you’re trying to build”, Jeff was able to define the brand based on his own terms and values.  Betsy partnered later having been moved by the YOLO mindset and what it was achieving in the competitive Florida coastline market. Together they’ve grown this brand of SUP board and bikes into one that is loved by celebrities like Drew Brees and Brian Kelley of the country duo, Florida Georgia Line.  And next up: YOLO Coffee.  “Coffee is so fun and it’s allowing us a way to talk to a new, younger customer in a way that we hadn’t before” says Archer.  Dillanos Coffee Roasters is proud to partner with a brand that shares a likeminded sense of values and purpose. Look for YOLO Coffee to continue to grow its presence across the Gulf Coast. . . . Find YOLO Board on social and online: Web: yoloboard.com Facebook: @yoloboardnbike Instagram: @yoloboard

Today’s interview is with Phil Beattie, Director of Coffee for Dillanos Coffee Roasters.  He’s a Professional Q Grader, former chair of the Coffee Roasters Guild, private coach to no less than two US Barista Champions in the last five years, and has invested the last 20 years of his career into the award-winning Dillanos coffee program. The DCR Coffee Mission Statement is unique for a coffee roaster: Help People. Make Friends. Have Fun!  But it makes sense when you think about it… As Phil explains, this philosophy is the heart and soul of how they’ve cultivated authentic relationships around the globe.  He even credits it as the defining factor in Dillanos’s ability to provide a wide spectrum of coffees to both retail and wholesale customers without interruption during last year’s supply chain road blocks. Hosts David J. Morris and Dave Rand discuss challenges the coffee industry as a whole is currently faced with and how Dillanos’s proactive approach to green coffee management has preserved them through the crisis. “Right now, we’re leaning heavy on that relationship capital we’ve built up with our supply chain in order to get what we need” he shares.  Dillanos hasn’t skipped a beat—something Phil’s proud of because of what it means to the cafes, restaurants, and home coffee drinkers Dillanos serves. In a season of immense stress for many, DCR customers had one less thing to worry about. Interested in a peek behind the curtain of the coffee world? Tune into Episode 16 of The DCR Coffee Podcast for a must-listen interview.  Phil, David, and Dave cover what it takes to maintain relationships with farmers and producers all over the world, anticipate fluctuations in the market, and select coffees for the Dillanos Limited line from thousands of samples, all while still taking time to raise up the next generation of professional coffee roasters. . . .  Find Dillanos Coffee Roasters online and on social Web: dillanos.com Instagram: @Dillanos Facebook: @Dillanos Resources & Links Coffee Roasters Guild US Barista Championships Las Lajas by Dillanos Coffee Roasters

Coffee Fest is back for 2021 and we are stoked to chat with Erika Lowery, Portfolio Director for the event, on this week’s episode of The DCR Coffee Podcast! Attendees are in for a treat with live events returning.  Classes and workshops have a huge emphasis on COVID recovery for businesses, including how to plan for the future and shift business models.  They’re putting a lot of focus on how to incorporate the highly sought after mobile ordering.  Mobile ordering is in demand and Coffee Fest has all the tools you’ll need to implement it into your operations. Coffee Fest will also be launching their 365 digital platform this year.  With live events suspended in 2020, Erika saw an opportunity to invest time into developing a fully online resource tool for the Coffee Fest community.  Within the coming weeks, they’ll be rolling out this exciting resource of trusted partners that will benefit everyone in the industry, A to Z! “People want to be heard and they want solutions” says Erika. “If I don’t have it, I guarantee that within two phone calls I can find someone you can help.”  This spirit of service, community, and access drives Erika’s ongoing commitment to meeting exhibitors’ and attendees’ evolving needs.  And that’s exactly what anyone participating in either the live events or Coffee Fest 365 will get to experience this year. Find more information about how you can participate in Coffee Fest 2021.  They will be hosting live events in four locations around the country and are excited to showcase all new workshops, classes, and products to the coffee community. . . . Find Coffee Fest on social and online:  Web: coffeefest.com Facebook: @coffeefest Instagram: @coffeefestshow

From flipping houses to flipping a struggling café into a thriving local hub, Bryon Clarke of Rivers Edge Café in Sumner, Washington talks about his path to success with the guys on this week’s episode of The DCR Coffee Podcast. Dillanos Co-CEO David J. Morris and Bryon became friends in elementary school and continue their fun-filled adventures in friendship and business together to this day.  In fact, Bryon was Dillanos’ first salesperson back in the early 90’s.  He is also credited with creating one of our popular blends, Black & Tan—a strong, full bodied blend roasted to a perfect medium-dark. Together with his wife Danielle, Bryon parlayed his role with Dillanos into purchasing a struggling café several years ago.  They did a deep dive into renovating everything: the décor, the menu, the ingredients, the equipment… and the coffee.  Today, a stop into Rivers Edge Café means a relaxed vibe while enjoying a great sandwich made from top-quality ingredients served alongside a cup of Dillons Blend coffee—Dillanos’ best-selling blend since 1992. Bryon is a local’s local with deep roots in his community.  His café looks out onto the same railroad tracks where his grandfather worked as a switch operator in the 1930’s.  And nearly all of their 12 taps pour beers and ciders from breweries within 5 miles of the café.  Rivers Edge Café is a case-study in how to become a fixture in the community. Listen to Bryon share his thoughts on what inspired his journey to pursue entrepreneurship and how he and Danielle keep their busy Rivers Edge Café humming on episode 14 of The DCR Coffee Podcast. . . . Find Rivers Edge Cafe on social and online. Web: riversedgecafe.net Facebook: Rivers-Edge-Cafe Instagram: @riversedgesumner

We’re kicking off season two of The DCR Coffee Podcast with a behind the scenes look at Barista 22, the only product line created by baristas for baristas.  Tune into for an energetic conversation with Anna Gutierrez, Director of Brand Development. This season Co-Hosts David J. Morris and Dave Rand will continue talking with business owners serving Dillanos coffee in their shops and cafes.  In addition to inspiring stories from entrepreneurs we admire, look for conversations with Dillanos employees and even a few vendors that help us keep our customers at the front of the industry. And the brand that’ll keep your shop at the top of the drink ingredient game?  Barista 22.  Here’s why it matters that these products are created by baristas: most syrups on the market were originally designed for cocktails. They don’t always taste right when mixed with coffee, milk, or in higher volume beverages, like a 24 oz iced latte.  Barista 22 is the only brand whose products were specifically crafted to complement the strong and variable flavors of coffee and espresso, distribute consistently throughout creamy milk beverages, and yet still taste great with just club soda.  These products won’t curdle in milk either—a notorious concern for baristas during spring and summer when fruit syrup flavors are in demand. Anna describes what it’s like to don a lab coat and craft a product from scratch—something unique to Barista 22’s product research and development process. She also shares stories from her 20 years in the industry, including one time when her day started with a routine trade show and ended with a jam session in Kid Rock’s living room. Ready for a taste test of your own?  Head to Barista22.com! Contact Anna with your questions or to request products to sample. Anna is hoping to meet lots of listeners! If you’ve been enjoying our podcast, please leave a 5-star review wherever you’re listening! It will help others like you find us and our guests. . . . Resources from this episode: Book: The Aladdin Factor Web: Barista22.com Instagram: @BaristaTwentyTwo Facebook: @BaristaTwentyTwo Email Barista 22: CONTACT FORM

Co-Hosts David J Morris and Dave Rand take a look back on their favorite moments from Season 1.  Over the last 11 episodes, guests have shared stories of the vision, values, and hard work that paved the path to successful business ownership with our audience.  In this episode, our hosts discuss what these insights mean to them personally and how Dillanos Coffee Roasters applies similar practices in its daily operations. Season 1 covered everything from company culture and community engagement to brand evolution and whether or not franchising is right for your business.  Highlights include: “The Total Customer Experience” by Darren Spicer of Clutch Coffee “How to Cater to a Unique Market” by Shane Murphy of Java Espress “Bold Branding” with Emily Holzer of Hot Shotz “Bringing Community Together” with Andrew Stanisich of Two Guns Espresso “How to be the Solution to Your Culture Problem” with Bryan Reynolds of Anthem Coffee “Expansion Strategies” with Joe Lloyd of Durango Joe’s “To Franchise or Not To Franchise… That is the Question” with Marty Cox of It’s a Grind “Resourcefulness as a Guiding Principle” with Alan Butts of Coffee Crossings “Large Scale Team Management Techniques” with Robin Jean Lyon of Copper Mountain Coffee “Constant, Never-ending Improvement” with Chris Heyer of Dillanos Coffee Roasters All episodes are archived on The DCR Blog and available on Apple Podcasts & Stitcher. If you’ve enjoyed Season 1 of The DCR Coffee Podcast, take a second to leave a review!  We’re already in production on our second season and can’t wait for you to hear more stories from behind the scenes at Dillanos Coffee Roasters---the roaster for the most successful specialty coffee retailers in America!

Get to know Dillanos Co-CEO Chris Heyer in the season one finale of The DCR Coffee Podcast.  Co-Hosts David J. Morris and Dave Rand enjoy a candid and light-hearted conversation with Chris… it’s a little bit of business and a little bit of stroll down memory lane in this last episode of our first season. Those close to the company will tell you: there’s no Dillanos without David, and there’s no Dillanos without Chris.  These brothers are the yin and yang of the DCR Coffee brand and business. And together with their late father/step-father, they built it from the ground up. This duo has been through it all.  Exploding coffee bags, wild goose chases to Las Vegas, and that one time a car drove straight into their very first roastery… And while they’re best known for their wildly different personalities, you’ll still find 90’s rock playing on their Air Pods and New Balance shoes on their feet. Join us for a fun conversation about the odd jobs Chris held before joining David to start building what has become one of the most beloved coffee roasters in America.  Learn what’s still Chris’s favorite thing about running this business, the coffee he’s been drinking every morning for the last ten years, and the shockingly few college classes these successful CEOs have between them in our latest episode! Chris balances the demands of building the systems that keep Dillanos running by adventuring around the Puget Sound to the Salish Sea in his boat with his wife and kids.  You can find his favorite coffee on Dillanos.com, along with the two blends named after his children: Ava Blonde and Skylar’s.

The best part about running your own business? You get to make all the decisions. And the worst part about running your own business? You get to make all the decisions.  Can anyone out there relate? This week’s guest on the DCR Coffee Podcast shares his path to entrepreneurial success with our audience.  Marty Cox of It’s a Grind is like many of our previous podcast guests.  Each finding themselves at professional crossroads along the way and making a leap into owning a coffee shop, often without a sense of what lies ahead. Marty’s background is in sales, and like many others in the industry, Marty often found himself in various cafes throughout the week to catch up on the day’s leads and refuel with a cup of coffee.  After a negative experience trying to place his order for an extra dry double cappuccino, he thought to himself that he would do a much better job if it were his business.  And the idea for It’s a Grind was born. In partnership with his wife Louise, they committed themselves to a brand that was dedicated to customer service. “The customer’s needs drove all of our decisions” says Marty in today’s episode. Right from the start they were turning heads. The first location popped up in July 1995. Over the course of 5 years, another 6 locations were up and running. And by the year 2000, they had begun to franchise It’s a Grind.  The brand was in high demand—they secured a 60-location deal right out of the gate as a newly minted franchisor. As his ownership of It’s a Grind began to sunset, Marty and Louise’s place the spotlight became even brighter.  They were recognized multiple times in the Los Angeles business community, securing award after award from 2004 through 2009. 9th Fastest Growing Privately Held Company in Los Angeles County, Los Angeles Business Journal (2004) 2nd Fastest Growing Privately Held Company in Los Angeles County, Los Angeles Business Journal (2005) Small Business of the Year, Long Beach Chamber of Commerce (2005) Top 100 Movers & Shakers, Fast Casual Magazine(2005, 2006) 3rd Top New Franchises in the United States, Entrepreneur Magazine (2006) 1st Fastest Growing Privately Held Company in Los Angeles County, Los Angeles Business Journal (2006, 2007, 2008) Top Franchisors in Los Angeles County, Los Angeles Business Journal (2006, 2007) Biggest Customer Award, Dillanos Coffee Roasters (1998 through 2009, annually) Listen to episode 10 of The DCR Coffee Podcast to hear real insights from the front lines of business ownership. Get a sense of the hard days that fuel the good days, the kind of hard work that is so often a prelude to the big wins. . . . It’s a Grind has 200 locations across 15 states. If you happen to find one in your neighborhood or in your future travels, be sure to stop by for a cup of coffee.  And in the meantime, you can always order a bag of whole bean Dillons Blend for a taste of It’s a Grind at home.