"We did a virtual training with Brendan a few months ago to train our team, and he was phenomenal. He covered everything from the basics of drink building and proper milk steaming, to really helpful customer service tips and tricks. He explained things clearly, was extremely thorough, and made sure everyone felt confident before moving on. My staff and I learned so much, and we’ve seen the improvement on bar ever since. I highly recommend him for any coffee shop looking to up their game." - Jessica Marker Solid Grounds Coffee, Jellico, TN
“Brendan was such a phenomenal teacher to our team. After he met with us and showed us everything from perfecting the grind, pulling shots correctly, and the proper steps for drink-making, I felt 100% more confident in my abilities and more comfortable with the espresso machine. I’ve been able to reference my notes from his training session multiple times, especially on the cleaning of the machine. Brendan was friendly, professional, and extremely thorough in his training. He also took the time to work one-on-one on specific steps that some of us needed more explanation on.” - Amber The Book Cellar, Conyers, GA
"I came across Brendan on a Facebook group for coffee owners where I had asked a question. Right away, Brendan answered the question and the same night I spoke with him and was interested in taking his help for my first coffee shop. Not only did he assist me greatly with coffee equipment and setting up my store, he also saved me tons with making costly mistakes. The amount I spent on his training was a fraction of what those costly mistakes and errors would have amounted to. He also goes above and beyond into helping and assisting you in the background without keeping tabs. That goes into telling that he truly cares about setting you up for success instead of just helping you for the agreed time. He also helped us greatly with procuring different espresso and testing for us and connecting us with his contacts in the coffee business. Just the discounts we got through his contacts compensated for this consultancy fee + a lot more value that he gave us."
- Hamza Amir Beans N' Berries, Houston, TX
"Brendan Smith has been our trainer in espresso drinks, steaming milk, machine use and maintenance, and all things coffee. As a coffee shop owner, there are so many details of concern, but thanks to Brendan's thoughtful and clear instructions, making great coffee and espresso drinks is not a problem.
Brendan is a perfectionist that helps the trainee strive to be their best while at the same time being terribly patient. He never minds repeating information for new trainees or offering refresher tips. Brenden works well at a range of experience levels and can improve an expert's performance as well as train a complete novice. His love of coffee shines through and inspires the student. Brendan's processes are repeatable, and the learning materials are extremely helpful for reference. Focus is given to origin, background, taste, cleaning, and safety, as well as cost controls. I would highly recommend Brendan Smith as a trainer to any coffee shop owner and new or experienced baristas."
- Teresa Chalkley, Owner The Chelsea, St Petersburg, FL