World of Coffee San Diego 2026

Cultivating A Strong Team and an Engaging Coffee Environment ($) (Room 30B)

12 Apr 26
12:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Tracks: Workshop

In this workshop, participants will learn how to create a thriving coffee shop environment by mastering the full barista experience—from hiring to daily engagement. We begin with strategies for attracting and selecting the right candidates, focusing on identifying the qualities that make exceptional baristas and hospitality professionals. Next, we explore effective onboarding practices that set new team members up for success, ensuring they feel confident, welcomed, and aligned with your shop’s values from day one. This workshop emphasizes the importance of cultivating a warm, motivated, and team-oriented culture. Attendees will learn how to create a supportive environment that fosters communication, accountability, and genuine connection—both between staff and with guests. By the end of the session, managers and owners will walk away with actionable systems and tools to strengthen their team, elevate service quality, and enhance the overall guest experience. Whether you're launching a new cafe or improving an existing operation, this workshop provides the foundation for building a consistent, engaging, and memorable coffee shop culture. Learning Objectives: 1. Develop an Effective Onboarding Plan: Attendees will outline a step-by-step onboarding process that helps new hires feel welcomed, informed, and prepared to contribute within their first week. They will learn to define the skills, traits, and values that make an ideal coffee shop team member, and apply structured interview techniques to select strong candidates. 2. Create a Structured Training Framework: Participants will understand the design of a practical training roadmap—including barista skills, feedback standards, and barflow expectations—that supports consistent performance across all shifts. Managers will learn simple methods for providing constructive feedback, monitoring progress, and supporting ongoing skill development. 3. Cultivate an Engaging Team Culture: Attendees will discover strategies to foster teamwork, ownership, and communication to improve morale and reduce turnover. They will connect employee engagement practices with customer-facing behaviors to create a warm, memorable cafe.