The software offers baristas real-time data to boost consistency, efficiency, and skill development.
PAID PROMOTION
BY EMILY JOY MENESES
BARISTA MAGAZINE
Photos by Nikole Carrillo
In an industry where precision and consistency are paramount, coffee professionals constantly seek means to enhance both the quality of their beverages and the efficiency of their operations.
Enter Cropster Cafe, a cutting-edge software designed to give coffee workers real-time insights into their brewing process. At its core, the software empowers baristas by providing instantaneous analytics and actionable data on every aspect of the coffee-making process.
Travis Wilson, head of coffee at Berlin-based café La Maison, shares his experience incorporating the software into his store’s three-group La Marzocco Linea PB and La Marzocco KB90. “We started using Cropster Cafe in mid-July last year,” he shares. “My main interest was in improving consistency with our espresso shots, and I’m a big fan of optimizing workflows. I was excited to see how the data obtained using Cropster Cafe could help to improve not just the quality of our coffees but our efficiency, too.”
Ensuring Consistency in Every Cup
Cropster Cafe offers detailed insights into key brewing metrics, such as brew time, temperature stability, and yield parameters linked to specific coffee recipes. This real-time data helps baristas master the dialing-in process and allows them to make immediate adjustments to meet shop standards.
Travis particularly appreciates these features. “Tracking shot consistency in the Consistency Report has helped us gauge how accurate we are on the machine within our defined shot parameters,” he says. “It’s also helped us work with baristas to improve the consistency of our shots.”
Optimizing Workflow and Boosting Efficiency
Another notable feature of Cropster Cafe is its ability to track operations. For example, the capacity to track the ratio of grouphead brews to flushes can help café owners understand how well a machine is being maintained. Further, the software offers a clear overview of all tasks, such as cleaning a grinder, cleaning the grouphead, and more, to ensure that no step in the process is overlooked.
Travis notes that the software has helped his team limit coffee waste and streamline workflow. “Comparing the data from Cropster to our sales data has helped accurately gauge coffee wastage and find ways to mitigate as much of this as possible,” he says. ”Getting accurate machine usage data, particularly during peak times, has also been a game-changer for scheduling and for figuring out ways to increase volume while managing barista workload.”
Diagnosing Machine Issues with Ease
Every barista knows that even the slightest equipment issue can significantly disrupt service. Cropster Cafe provides an extra layer of protection by monitoring machine performance. Baristas can continually check metrics such as temperature stability and brew pulses to diagnose potential issues before they become major problems.
Travis highlights how useful this feature has been for La Maison, saying that the software “is great for spotting equipment issues, like faulty flowmeters, blocked limiters, volumetric issues, etc., so I can help troubleshoot with baristas even when I’m offsite.”
Fostering Professional Growth
While café owners and managers can certainly benefit from Cropster Cafe, the software places significant emphasis on empowering baristas. Baristas can track their own performance, gain insights into their work, and interact with the software daily to continuously refine their craft. This approach not only fosters personal growth but also helps create a more engaged and motivated team.
Gleb Serebrennikov, product marketing manager for Cropster Cafe, elaborates on this aspect of the software. “Cropster Cafe empowers baristas by giving them direct access to real-time insights on brewing consistency, machine performance, and task completion. This helps baristas maintain the highest quality in their daily work while streamlining operations,” he says. “Additionally, the software can support professional development, helping baristas track their progress, continuously refine their skills, and showcase their performance to the managers.”
Notably, this precise tracking of skill growth and productivity can help baristas better advocate for raises and promotions.
Looking to the Future
While Cropster Cafe already offers a wealth of features, the software continues to evolve. One future feature that the Cropster team is developing is real-time inventory management. Baristas will soon be able to monitor stock levels and receive automated alerts when it’s time to reorder coffee, preventing any last-minute shortages. This is yet another way the software is set to optimize coffee-shop operations.
Final Thoughts
In a world where customer expectations for specialty coffee are higher than ever, Cropster Cafe offers a much-needed solution for coffee shops seeking to improve consistency, efficiency, and overall beverage quality. Whether you’re running a single location or managing several, the software’s data-driven insights can ensure smoother, more efficient operations.
Emily Joy Meneses (she/they), a Barista Magazine Online senior correspondent, is a writer and musician based in Los Angeles. Her hobbies include foraging, cortados, vintage synths, and connecting with her Filipino roots through music, art, food, and beverage.
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