Marco Micola from Rapha Roast Coffee Co. has been in business since 2019 as a coffee roaster located first in South Bend and today in Shipshewana, Indiana, US. While he could generate a few great wholesale deals and build up a business that could operate without losing money, the fierce competition was a major obstacle to his growth. Over the years he has experimeneted with many different approaches, but didn’t achieve any results. Being 66 years old, he was looking for a reliable system to further grow his business, so he could hand it over to someone else in a few years and recoup the money, time and effort he put into building his coffee roasting business. But he had actually given up. Resignation.
Hearing about Grow Your Roastery, he thought he’d give it a last shot and listen to what these folks have that is so unique. Within a few minutes his lights were turned on again. A few months later, Rapha Roast Coffee Co. is pioneering the Remote Barista solution in his market since August 2024. The world has changed upside down for Marco. Everything starts to make sense again. His clients love it and are willing to pay premium prices, growth is coming and he has a plan for his retirement.
Part 1: The beginnings
Tune in and watch the complete case study recording or have a look at the short value snippets we prepared for you below. This is the first part of a 4 part series, where Marco let’s you take part in his first steps on his Remote Barista Journey. Enjoy and reach out if you got inspired!
Complete Interview
The Summary
How the Remote Barista System Transformed Rapha Roast Coffee Co.
Introduction
Marco Micola, owner of Rapha Roast Coffee Co., shares his journey of adopting the Remote Barista solution from Grow Your Roastery, which marked a turning point for his business. After facing years of stagnation and fierce competition, Marco found new hope with this innovative approach. In this testimonial, he describes how the Remote Barista system helped him boost customer satisfaction, increase revenue, and set the groundwork for his retirement.
Hitting a Wall with Traditional Approaches
After running Rapha Roast Coffee Co. since 2019, Marco built a small but stable business. However, despite experimenting with various strategies to grow his wholesale accounts, he saw little success in breaking into a more competitive, high-value market. His business was surviving, but not thriving. By 2024, Marco had nearly given up on finding a way to truly grow his business and secure a future for the company.
Why Grow Your Roastery Caught His Attention
When Marco heard about Grow Your Roastery’s Remote Barista solution, he was intrigued by the promise of controlling coffee quality for wholesale clients remotely, something he’d never seen before. After an initial conversation with the team, he quickly realized this was the missing piece in his business strategy. Marco highlights that the system allows him to ensure high-quality coffee for his clients, even if they don’t have barista-level skills on their own staff. This gave him a powerful edge over competitors.
Implementing the Remote Barista Program
Seamless Onboarding
Marco describes the onboarding process as smooth and supportive. Grow Your Roastery provided all the necessary training and materials to get him started. He notes that the team was hands-on, ensuring every step was clear and manageable, even for someone like him who wasn’t tech-savvy.
“They walked me through everything, step by step. I was able to start implementing it almost immediately,” Marco explains.
Early Client Reactions
One of the standout moments in the video is Marco’s excitement about how his clients reacted. Initially, he worried that the concept of remote barista services might be hard to sell, but his clients quickly saw the value. He shares how offering a consistent, premium coffee experience transformed his relationships with wholesale clients. Some were willing to pay more because the quality they were now able to deliver set them apart from their competitors.
A Renewed Vision for Growth and Retirement
Marco’s testimonial shows that the Remote Barista system didn’t just improve his business—it reignited his passion for the coffee industry. With better client satisfaction and increasing revenue, Marco is now planning for the future. Instead of wondering how long he could keep the business afloat, he now has a viable path toward eventual retirement, with plans to hand over the business in a few years.
Closing Remarks
Marco encourages other coffee roasters to explore the Remote Barista solution, especially if they’re struggling with consistency in their wholesale accounts. He emphasizes that the investment pays off, not only in terms of financial growth but also in peace of mind.
“I was ready to give up. Now, I feel like I’ve got a roadmap for the next few years,” he concludes.
Key Takeaways from Marco’s Testimonial
- Improved Client Satisfaction: Wholesale clients appreciated the consistency and quality, leading to better retention and higher sales.
- Premium Pricing: Clients were willing to pay more for guaranteed quality, allowing Marco to charge higher rates.
- Future-Proof Business: With the Remote Barista solution in place, Marco now has a clear plan to grow his business and eventually retire on his terms.