Alumni Consulting & Foster-Style Mentorship

Exclusively for Canadian Barista Institute Alumni

This product is for alumni who have completed the Business Course and want ongoing support — either remotely (by the minute) or in-person at their own coffee shop or roastery.

We use the term “Foster Barista/Roaster” to describe our style of mentorship: practical, honest, apprenticeship-style guidance that helps you become confident and independent without franchising fees or control.

What This Product Includes

• Remote alumni consulting billed by the minute (via your chosen package)
• Access to a shared minute-tracking sheet for clear time records
• The option to request in-person alumni training and mentorship by quote
• Support delivered by experienced coffee professionals with real-world experience

Remote Alumni Consulting (By the Minute)

Remote consulting is delivered by phone, video, email, and document review. Time is billed using pre-purchased minute packages that you select as variants on this product or when you enrol in your Business, 4-Day, or 7-Day course.

Remote consulting is ideal for both new startups and existing coffee businesses that want clear, actionable guidance.

Startup Support

• Evaluating café concepts and locations
• Startup budgets and cost planning
• Equipment selection and purchasing strategy
• Menu design, costing, and pricing
• Workflow and bar layout planning
• Hiring strategies and staff training systems
• Opening-day plans and checklists
• Reducing risk before signing a lease or making large purchases

Existing Business Support

• Improving bar flow and service speed
• Consistency and quality control
• Menu profitability and product mix
• Operational troubleshooting
• Staff supervision, systems, and accountability
• Scaling and multi-location planning

Buy vs. Build Evaluations

• Comparing buying an existing café vs. starting from scratch
• Reviewing financials and operations (when provided)
• Assessing equipment condition, workflow, and risk
• Helping you decide whether to proceed, renegotiate, or walk away

All remote consulting time is tracked in a shared minute-tracking sheet so you always know how much time you have used and how much remains. You may purchase additional minutes at any time through this product.

Unless otherwise stated, minutes are valid for 24 months from the date of purchase and are non-refundable and non-transferable.

In-Person Alumni Training & Mentorship

For alumni who want hands-on support, we offer in-person training and mentorship at your coffee shop or roastery. This is ideal when you want us working directly with your team in your own environment.

In-person work can include:

• Staff training and bar flow coaching
• Workflow and layout refinement
• Hands-on espresso, brewing, and latte art training
• Menu execution, consistency, and speed
• Equipment use, maintenance, and diagnostics
• Roastery setup and roasting guidance
• Multi-location planning and systems
• Leadership, management, and culture building

Because in-person training requires travel and time away from our labs, we provide custom quotes based on:

• Project scope and goals
• Number of training days on site
• Your location
• Travel days and logistics

Travel costs (such as airfare, accommodation, mileage, meals and ground transport) are billed at actual cost. All details are outlined in advance so you know exactly what to expect.

To request a quote for in-person alumni training, please contact us and include your location, the course(s) you have taken, a brief description of your business, and your goals:

Request an In-Person Alumni Training Quote

Eligibility

This product is available only to alumni who have completed the Business Course at the Canadian Barista Institute:

• 2-Day Business Course
• 4-Day Course (Barista + Business)
• 7-Day Course (Roasting + Barista + Business)
• Any bundle that includes the Business Course

If you purchase remote minutes before your Business Course date, your minutes will be activated once your course is complete.