When Veronica Ratcliff left her career in corporate human resources after nearly 20 years, she knew it was time to finally chase a lifelong dream. She had worked at companies like Airbnb, Merck Pharmaceuticals, and Under Armour, but deep down she always pictured herself owning a community-centered business.
This summer, that dream became reality. Veronica launched Odd Roots, a mobile coffee trailer in South Austin, inspired in part by outdoor adventures from her Northern California upbringing.
Is 2025 a Good Year to Start a Coffee Shop? You May Be Surprised.
2025 Might not seem like the obvious year to start a coffee shop business. With news cycles full of economic uncertainty, many aspiring entrepreneurs ask, “Is 2025 really a good year to open a coffee shop?” The surprising answer is yes. Specialty coffee consumption in the U.S. has reached record highs, and independent coffee shops are capturing more demand than ever.
A coffee shop deployment plan is one of the most underrated tools for creating consistency, efficiency, and flow in your daily operations. It’s more than just a schedule. Deployment is the art of assigning every barista a clear role and routine based on your forecasted volume and staffing.
Many of our Coffee Shop Operations Master Class graduates tell us they didn’t realize how much smoother their shop could run until they started deploying their team with intention.