Interview with Sam Low, Former NZ Barista Champion
Thinking of starting a café and serving exceptional coffee? Sounds like you are as passionate about coffee as Sam Low, one of New Zealand’s best-known baristas and former NZ Barista Champion. Sam is also a food and beverage creative, a hospitality training consultant, and has a wealth of experience running successful cafes and restaurants in NZ, Australia and Canada.
We asked Sam to share his wisdom on successful café business practices, as well as useful tips on perfect latte art, how to hire great staff, and his prediction of future coffee trends.
Sam recommends that genuine small talk with your customers can make a huge impact on creating loyalty. Ask your regular customers their name and find out what they do. Maybe their workplace is nearby and perhaps they will recommend you to their colleagues or could link you to other potential customers?
“Ask your regulars for their opinion on your café, or even something as simple as if they have enjoyed the new cookie recipe or if they like the brand of oat milk you use,” suggests Sam. The smallest things make a huge impact on creating loyalty with your customers, as they will feel they have been part of the success of your café.
