At The Caffeinery, we've had years of experience with running and consulting coffee shops. One of the most integral and behind-the-scenes keys to keeping everything on the right path is a comprehensive Employee Handbook. As many of our wholesale partners have heard us say countless times... it's essential that the coffee program is stronger than any one individual. That's not to say that people aren't important... It's simply saying that a well-designed system will eventually outlast everyone. Consider your shop a country and your employee handbook your constitution. Without a solid framework, things are bound to get messy. This handbook will help keep all parties true to purpose.
This will not be a ready to adopt document, as you will need to adapt the various sections to fit your needs. Not everyone uses the same communication, scheduling, or training tools... but this will provide a framework from which you will be able to adapt the document to best suit your individual situation.
Should you choose to utilize any of the software platforms mentioned in the handbook, don't forget to mention you heard about them through The Caffeinery. ;)