Post by Blue Bottle Coffee

We recently brought together our Area Leads from across the U.S., along with Jody Heltzel, our General Manager of U.S. Cafes, and our Regional Directors. It was a moment to step back and focus on the work inside our cafes. At the center of that time were our cafes—the teams within them, the experiences we create for our guests, and the role leadership plays in shaping both. That focus continues to shape how we operate and how our cafes show up every day across the U.S. Over the course of the summit, Area Leads shared best practices across markets and took part in focused sessions to strengthen how they lead their teams, how we continue to improve the guest experience, and how we serve coffee to our standards across our cafes. The time included coffee tastings and hands-on brewing sessions, reinforcing the connection between leadership, craft, and the experience in our cafes. Area Leads also spent time connecting and learning from one another, reinforcing the sense of hospitality that defines our cafes. That time together also reflected the leadership that has shaped our cafes over time, with Jody’s influence foundational and carried forward through our Regional Directors and Area Leads across the U.S.