Our coffee shop startup consulting team supports hundreds of successful coffee shops and other coffee businesses in 30+ states, Guam and Bangladesh.
Through Crimson Cup’s 7 Steps to Success program, they show entrepreneurs with little to no coffee experience how to open and run a profitable coffee businesses.
Based on Founder and President Greg Ubert’s book, Seven Steps to Success: a Commonsense Guide to Succeed in Specialty Coffee, the 7 Steps program offers everything an aspiring coffee shop owner needs to establish a thriving business.
In fact, many of our customers say that buying the book is the best investment they’ve made in their coffee businesses.
The 7 Steps team has helped open independent coffee shops, corporate coffee kiosks, university coffee shops, cafes, restaurants, bakeries and more.
These coffee shop startup consultants bring decades of coffee experience as coffee shop owners, managers and business advisors.
And, with years of success advising our growing group of Crimson Cup Coffee Houses and Crimson retail flagship store, our 7 Steps team shares proven, up-to-date operating methods with our coffee shop customers.
Founder and President Greg Ubert
Twin passions for coffee and entrepreneurship have driven Greg Ubert’s career for over 30 years.
It all started in 1991, when the lure of emerging café culture inspired the recent Harvard University graduate to leave a promising career in computer software.
Instead, he fell in love with specialty coffee. He bought a tiny roasting machine, set up in a one-room office, and began roasting coffee in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
He named his company Crimson Cup for the ripe red cherry of the coffee tree and Harvard’s official color. And he set out with three core values: achieve results, have fun and give back to the communities that supported him.
Under Greg’s leadership, Crimson Cup is now recognized as one of the country’s top coffee roasters. Among other honors, our coffee won 2017 and 2020 Good Food Awards, which recognize the nation’s best-tasting and most responsibly sourced coffees. In 2016, we earned Roast magazine’s coveted Macro Roaster of the Year award.
Director of Sustainability Brandon Bir
Pursuing his passion for coffee sustainability and community development, Brandon Bir travels over 100,000 miles in an average year to visit coffee communities around the globe.
He played an instrumental role in establishing our Friend2Farmer initiatives and over 50 direct trade coffee relationships in Africa, Asia and Central and South America.
His goal is to create a more sustainable, fair and responsible coffee future for farmers, roasters and consumers.
Brandon joined Crimson Cup in April 2010. He deploys an impressive arsenal of coffee experience, knowledge, connections and certifications in his work.
7 Steps Sales Leader Scott Fullerton
Scott is the first contact for potential coffee shop owners. He will help you discover if owning coffee house is right for you.
If you decide to go for your dream, Scott will put you on the path to success.
Along the way, he’ll offer guidance on writing a coffee shop business plan, finding the best location, options for financing your coffee shop and much more.
Scott has helped start over 100 coffee businesses since joining Crimson Cup in 2007.
7 Steps Project Manager and Trainer Steve Bayless
Steve Bayless is a relentless road warrior, visiting independent coffee shops all over the country to train owners, managers and baristas.
For at least 26 weeks each year, he gives hands-on training at independent coffee shops, college and university coffee shops and other coffee businesses.
A Proven Coffee Shop Manager
Steve joined Crimson Cup in 2008 as general manager of the new Crimson Cup Coffee House in Clintonville.
After graduating with a history degree from Ohio State University, he had worked at local restaurants, gaining experience as a line cook and manager.
Over his first three years with Crimson Cup, Steve followed our Seven Steps to Success to build the Clintonville location into a profit-making machine. Soon, it became a model for other independent coffee shops.
7 Steps Customer Growth Rep Heather Ciranna
Heather Ciranna learned about Crimson Cup by opening her own coffee shop.
Born and raised in Stow, Ohio, Heather had dreamed about bringing a coffee shop to her hometown since she was a teenager.
After a 20-year corporate career in business, marketing and public relations, she brought Corner Cup Coffeehouse to Stow in 2015.
Her goal in building a small business was to offer a place where locals could connect and learn, with and about each other and their community.
“Looking back on when I was opening my first shop, I knew nothing about the coffee business!” she recalls.
7 Steps Customer Growth Rep Jenn Koenig
You could say Jenn Koenig grew up in the coffee business.
Her mother opened Scioto Valley Coffee in Circleville, Ohio in 2009 through our 7 Steps to Success program.
Jenn helped out in the shop throughout high school. She received initial training from Armando, the cupper who gave his name to our Armando’s Blend coffee.
While attending Ohio University in Athens, she worked for Court Street Coffee, another Crimson Cup customer.
After graduating with a double major in communications and public relations , Jenn worked in marketing. But coffee and Crimson Cup kept calling to her.
She joined the 7 Steps team as a Customer Growth Specialist in 2018.
Since then, she has worked with dozens of independent coffee shop owners.
Put Our Real-world Experience to Work for You!
Our coffee shop startup consulting services cover everything you need to open and run a profitable coffee business, including:
- Writing a successful coffee shop business plan
- Choosing a profitable location
- Buying the best equipment
- A full week of hands-on barista training on your equipment at your coffee business
- Coffeehouse manager and customer service training
- On-site support during your opening week and Grand Opening celebration
- Ongoing consulting services to ensure your long term success
As a one-stop shop for all things coffee, we also provide:
- Award-winning specialty coffee and tea
- Regular menu updates and drink recipes
- High quality coffee bar equipment
- Industry leading cups, sleeves and other coffee shop supplies
- Ongoing marketing support
- And much more
More effective than a short-term coffee school, our coffee experts are with you from the time you decide to open a coffee house until you open your doors – and beyond.
Crimson Cup customers know that our team is just a call away whenever you need help. We’re with you as long as you’re with us!
Ready to take the next step toward opening your coffee shop?
Call 888-800-9224 to chat with one of coffee business consultants, or fill out this form, and we’ll get right back to you!
If you’re eager to get started, you can buy the 7 Steps to Coffee Shop Success book now (backed by our risk free guarantee).