Coffee Business Consulting & Training

The Canadian Barista Institute has helped independent cafés, coffee bars, and roasteries open and operate successful, sustainable coffee businesses for over two decades. Our consulting is practical, unbiased, and focused on protecting you from costly mistakes while helping you build a business that actually works.

We offer one unified consulting service for our alumni, plus an introductory phone consultation for new inquiries.

Which Option Do You Need?

Quick links:

• Alumni Consulting & Foster-Style Mentorship
• Phone Consultation (for new inquiries)

Who Our Consulting Is For

Our consulting is for people who want clear, practical guidance from experienced coffee professionals — without franchising fees, equipment sales agendas, or upselling.

To access alumni consulting (remote or in-person), you must first complete the Business Course, which is included in:

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

We require the Business Course first because most early-stage questions are fully covered in class. Consulting time is far more valuable when used for deeper, business-specific decisions.

New to the Canadian Barista Institute?
You can start with a Phone Consultation or explore our Coffee Courses & Bundles.

Alumni Consulting — Remote Support by the Minute

These consulting minutes are for remote support only (phone, video, email, document review). In-person work is quoted separately below.

After completing the Business Course, alumni can add consulting minutes to their course at enrolment or purchase alumni support through our Alumni Consulting & Foster-Style Mentorship product.

Remote consulting is delivered by phone, video, email, and document review. It is billed by the minute, using pre-purchased packages, and is ideal for both startup planning and improving existing businesses.

Startup Support

• Evaluating potential locations and concepts
• Startup cost planning and budgeting
• Equipment selection and purchasing strategy
• Menu design, costing, and pricing
• Workflow and bar layout planning
• Hiring strategies and staff systems
• Opening-day setups and checklists
• Startup risk reduction and feasibility checks

Existing Business Support

• Improving bar flow and service speed
• Consistency and quality control
• Menu profitability and product mix
• Operational troubleshooting
• Staff supervision and management systems
• Scaling, second locations, and growth planning

Buy vs. Build Evaluations

Remote consulting can also help you compare:

• Buying an existing café vs. starting from scratch
• Reviewing financials and operations (when provided)
• Assessing equipment, workflow, and risk
• Deciding whether to proceed or walk away

Consulting minutes are tracked in a shared sheet so you always know how much time you have used and how much remains.

To see how alumni consulting packages work in detail, visit: Foster Barista Alumni Support.

In-Person Alumni Training & Mentorship (“Foster Barista” Style)

For alumni who need hands-on help at their own café or roastery, we offer in-person training and mentorship in our “Foster Barista” style — practical, collaborative, and tailored to your real day-to-day operations.

In-person support can include:

• Staff training and bar flow coaching
• Workflow and layout refinement
• Hands-on espresso, brewing, and latte art training
• Menu execution, consistency, and service 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, it is quoted on a project-by-project basis, taking into account:

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

If you are an alumnus and would like a quote for in-person training, please contact us with details about your business, location, and goals.

Request an In-Person Alumni Training Quote

Phone Consultation (General Public)

If you have not yet taken a course with us, you can still book a one-time phone consultation. This is ideal if you need clarity before enrolling or making a major business decision.

Learn more about Phone Consultations

What We Can Help You With

Consulting and training can support nearly every stage of your coffee business, including:

• Café layout and ergonomic bar flow
• Menu design, costing, and profitability
• Equipment planning and purchasing strategy
• Hiring, training, and supervising baristas and managers
• Systems, SOPs, and operating manuals
• Evaluating a café you are considering buying
• Roastery planning and quality control
• Improving consistency, speed of service, and customer experience