Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders25 Apr 2025

537: Success as a Coffee Tech : Training and Relationships w/ Brady Butler W/ Trail Braze Coffee Academy

Maintaining the functionality of your equipment is one of the main tasks involved in running a shop. You yourself may wan to be trained in machine tech, you may want to hire a teach or tech company to service your cafe's equipment, or you might want to raise up an internal technician.

Today on the show we are goping to talk about training technicians and how to coffee techs and owners alike should approach the relationship that helps keeping things working the way they should.

To do this I am talking with one of the best educators in the world of coffee technician training, Brady Butler of Trail Blaze Coffee Academy!

Brady Butler is an Authorized SCA Trainer who has been leading barista, brewing, and coffee technician training classes since 2009. Over his coffee career, Brady has also worked as a barista, a coffee equipment technician, and in wholesale customer support. He was co-lead for the SCA's Brewing Content Creator Group, a Lead Author for the Coffee Technicians Program, and a member of the Service Layer Education Committee. He currently owns Trail Blaze Coffee Academy, an independent training company based in Charlotte, NC.

We learn about:

Brady Butler has a background in engineering and coffee tech.
Why understanding the function of coffee equipment is crucial for technicians.
Training should focus on understanding systems rather than memorizing components.
Building relationships with technicians is essential for cafe success.
How you should see mistakes in training environments as opportunities for learning.
Explaining his role in the Coffee Technicians Program and its aim to provide a global standard for technician training.
Preventive maintenance
Understanding water treatment is essential for coffee quality.
Why Brady thinks techs should have foundational barista training.
How techs can help stabilize the churn in the coffee industry.
Techs as trainers themselves: Why simplifying complex topics for clients is important.
Advice for in-house techs: in-house tech services require careful planning and resources.
Contextualizing recommendations based on coffee types is vital.
Why an eyes wide open approach is necessary for tech decisions.

Links:

VISIT THE TRAIL BLAZE WEBSITE! https://trailblazecoffee.com/courses/

Related Episodes:

INTERESTED IN 1:1 CONSULTING AND COACHING?

If you are a cafe owner and want to work one on one with me to bring your shop to its next level and help bring you joy and freedom in the process then email

chris@keystothshop.com

of book a free call now:

https://calendly.com/chrisdeferio/30min

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