1066: How to Break Into the Quick Service Industry With Paul Schlader, Birch Coffee [Espresso Shots]

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Paul Schlader is a co-founder and owner of Birch Coffee, a specialty coffee roaster and coffee shop in New York City.  Paul fell in love with specialty coffee at a convention in D.C. and never looked back. In 2009 he partnered with his friend, Jeremy Lyman, to create the Birch brand.  Before the 2020 pandemic, Birch had 13 stores around NYC.  Paul is a coffee roaster as well as a certified Q Grader, which gives him the qualification to grade coffees based on a specific set of standards. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur Paul worked in the food and beverage industry. He graduated from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy with a major in theater.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT IN THIS EPISODE: 

• How the industry is amenable to all walks of life (5:28)
• Why listening and communication skills are incredibly important in the quick service industry (9:56)
• What Paul’s favorite part is about being in the coffee industry (12:01)
• Why you should always trust yourself (15:41)
• Why to watch A Film About Coffee to learn more about the industry or read the books The World Coffee Atlas or Craft Coffee: A Manual: Brewing a Better Cup at Home
• If you want to learn more about what Paul does as a certified Q Grader and coffee roaster listen to his main T4C interview episode #702