Workshop Description: 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.
Date: Sunday, April 12, 2026
Time: 12:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Room Number: 30 B
Category: Business
REGISTRATION FEES:
EARLY BIRD Regular* - $250
EARLY BIRD Paid Member* - $210
Regular - $275
Paid Member - $230
*Early Bird pricing ends March 1, 2026
Booking: To book your place in this Workshop, head to the World of Coffee San Diego Registration & Booking Portal and add a session to your order. Already registered? Simply login using the credentials created at purchase to access your booking and add other paid events to your badge.
Instructor
Selina Viguera
Cafe Leader
Selina Viguera is a Café Leader for Blue Bottle Coffee in Venice, bringing 25 years of experience in coffee, including 17 years in specialty coffee and 15 years with Blue Bottle. Her expertise spans café leadership, clear and effective communication, barista coaching and training, and cultivating hospitality-driven culture. An SCA volunteer since 2011, Selina has worked at and managed bars for the Barista Guild, TED, and TEDxMed coffee services. She has supported dozens of cafés across a wide range of workflow configurations, pairing operational excellence with a people-first approach to create memorable guest experiences.
Emma Isabel
Learning & Development
Emma Isabel is the Regional Trainer for Southern California and Las Vegas at Blue Bottle Coffee, supporting barista and leadership development through intentional training, facilitation, and mentorship. Her work spans multiple markets and new cafe openings, helping teams build strong foundations and sustainable practices. She began her career in 2010 at Tierra Mia Coffee, gaining early experience with a rapidly expanding independent Latino brand. Since then, she has been passionate about engaging baristas at every stage of their careers and bridging the gap between making coffee and becoming a true coffee professional in ways that feel fun, authentic, and empowering.