In today’s episode we continue our series on the rise of specialty coffee in France and speak with Hippolyte Courty, Founder of L' Arbre à Café. Established in 2009, L’Arbre à Café is a Paris-based specialty coffee roaster and operator, and a pioneering force in the French specialty coffee scene. With a background in wine and fine gastronomy, Hippolyte has helped to redefine French coffee culture, bringing a next level of craftsmanship and sustainability to the industry. Catch up on part one her...
Mar 08, 2025•28 min•Ep 151•Transcript available on Metacast In today’s episode, we’re launching a new deep-dive series in collaboration with 5THWAVE magazine exploring the rise of specialty coffee in France. Once known for its traditional dark espressos and modest coffee standards, France is undergoing a transformation. All across the country, interest in specialty coffee is exploding, with a growing number of consumers seeking quality and a new wave of artisan roasters emerging to meet demand. Over the coming months, we’ll speak with industry leaders sh...
Mar 01, 2025•29 min•Ep 150•Transcript available on Metacast In today’s episode, we speak with Tom Molnar, Co-founder and CEO of GAIL’s Artisan Bakery – a highly influential UK-based bakery and coffee chain. Tom partnered with the eponymous Gail in London in the early 2000s, transforming her wholesale bakery business for chefs into a thriving neighbourhood chain. Today, GAIL’s is a much-loved UK bakery-cafe group with over 150 bakeries nationwide. In this insightful conversation, Tom shares the parallels between coffee and bread-making and how coffee beca...
Feb 22, 2025•34 min•Ep 149•Transcript available on Metacast As consumer interest in specialty coffee continues to rise, so too does demand beyond the café. Today’s customers expect high-quality coffee to be available wherever they are – whether commuting, travelling or shopping. In this episode, we explore the businesses redefining coffee service outside the traditional bricks-and-mortar model. From mobile coffee trucks to travel kiosks and small-format retail spaces, these operators are creating compact, high-impact coffee experiences, meeting consumer ...
Feb 15, 2025•36 min•Ep 148•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, we're joined by Nicolas O’Connell – an influential coffee and business expert and a former Partner at La Colombe Coffee Roasters . Nicolas joined La Colombe in the mid-1990s as a barista and quickly rose through the ranks, playing a key role in launching the brand’s pioneering wholesale programme. Though he’s often worked behind the scenes, Nicolas' business acumen and strategic vision were instrumental in transforming La Colombe into the international powerhouse it became. In t...
Feb 08, 2025•43 min•Ep 147•Transcript available on Metacast In today’s episode we speak with Mark Sciberras, Director of The Common E2 and Common Ground Workshop – an East London café and architecture studio specialising in hospitality and residential design. Originally from Melbourne, Mark trained as an architect before moving to London in the mid-2000s. Inspired by the city’s emerging specialty coffee scene, he opened The Common E2 in 2014, creating a space that reflects his design philosophy and passion for community. In this conversation, we explore ...
Feb 01, 2025•21 min•Ep 146•Transcript available on Metacast In our final live session from the event, we’re joined by Konstantinos Konstantinopoulos, CEO of Coffee Island , and Alex Pantziaros, founder of Coffeeco Upcycle , to explore their mission of transforming coffee waste into high-value products. Coffee Island is Greece’s largest coffee chain, with over 450 outlets in Greece and an additional 50 across nine international markets. Coffeeco Upcycle set up in 2018 with a vision to unlock new opportunities for sustainability in coffee. In this conversa...
Jan 29, 2025•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast In today’s episode we’re speaking with a very special guest – Paul Ross, founder of Special Guests Coffee , a boundary-pushing specialty coffee business based in the heart of London. A two-time UK Barista Champion, Paul founded Special Guests in 2022 with a mission to curate rare specialty coffees from around the world and showcase these hidden gems to wider audiences through his coffee venue and online platform. In this conversation, Paul explains how physical coffee shops play a vital role in ...
Jan 25, 2025•36 min•Ep 145•Transcript available on Metacast In today's episode we’re finding out how specialty roasters and distributors are navigating the ever-changing landscape of e-commerce coffee. In an era where the competition is now global, how do brands stand out from the crowd? How can businesses engage with consumers and build loyal audiences online? And what lies ahead for the burgeoning new coffee discovery segment? We'll speak with Menno Simons, Founder, Bocca Coffee , Suneal Pabari, Co-founder, The Roasters Pack and Alice Wainwright, Co-fo...
Jan 18, 2025•38 min•Ep 144•Transcript available on Metacast In today’s episode, we’re speaking with Stuart Forsyth, CEO & Co-founder of distinctive and influential oat milk brand, Minor Figures. Stuart set up Minor Figures in London back in 2015 with a vision to create an accessible alternative milk brand that complements the taste of coffee and champions our industry. Today, Minor Figures is a leading player in the global oat milk category operating across Europe, Australia, the US and Japan. In this conversation, Stuart shares the philosophy behind...
Jan 10, 2025•31 min•Ep 143•Transcript available on Metacast For the second revisit episode of our Holiday break, we’re returning to one of the most inspiring conversations of last year, with Cemal Ezel, Founder of the social enterprise Change Please and Old Spike Roastery . Cemal’s insight into balancing social impact with commercial success is thought-provoking and powerful. In this extended interview, he shares how Change Please uses a unique business model to tackle homelessness – one cup of coffee at a time. Cemal also talks about his recent collabor...
Jan 03, 2025•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast As we take a short break over Christmas and New Year, we’re re-sharing some of our favourite conversations from the past 12 months. First up, we’re revisiting an inspiring conversation with Elisa Marshall and Benjamin Sormonte, Founders of Maman – the French-inspired boutique café and bakery chain that began in New York and has since expanded across the US and into Canada. Since its launch in 2014, Maman has experienced phenomenal growth, now boasting nearly 40 locations across New York, Washing...
Dec 27, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast In today's episode we're continuing our tradition of sharing an alternative Christmas playlist to soundtrack your celebrations over the Christmas period! We love to close each episode with music from up-and-coming artists, in association with The Coffee Music Project . So, today, we’re bringing you a special bonus episode filled with some of the best tracks we’ve featured this year. So grab a glass of mulled wine, settle into your cosiest spot, and enjoy this hand-picked collection of incredible...
Dec 24, 2024•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast In today's episode, we're exploring the growing global trend of co-roasting – a collaborative and community-driven approach that has been gaining traction in recent years. How does co-roasting work? What are the benefits for roasters? And how does this model support the wider coffee community? To find out, we’ll hear from the founders of three exciting shared roasting concepts: Philipp Reichel, Co-founder, Communal Coffee , Andy Wells, Founder, Press Coffee & Co ., and Leonardo Azeredo, Foun...
Dec 20, 2024•37 min•Ep 142•Transcript available on Metacast Today, we’re excited to bring you the next instalment of our 5THWAVE Live sessions, recorded at the European Coffee Symposium in Berlin 2024. We welcome back to the show David Abrahamovitch, CEO and founder of Grind – a boutique hospitality group with 14 locations, a roastery and thriving direct-to-consumer coffee business. In this candid conversation, David shares his strategies for securing capital to fuel Grind’s impressive growth. He also explores how the transition to a multi-channel busine...
Dec 18, 2024•27 min•Ep 141•Transcript available on Metacast Today, we're continuing our deep dive into how water quality can transform the taste and character of coffee. In part one, we explored the fascinating science behind water and coffee brewing. In part two, we’ll find out how water science is being applied in practice to elevate customer experience. We'll speak with Maximillian Lundin, Product Marketing Manager at Bluewater Group , and Sergio Barbarisi, International Key Accounts Manager at BWT water+more, about the latest innovations in water pur...
Dec 13, 2024•26 min•Ep 140•Transcript available on Metacast Over the next two episodes, we’re deep-diving into the fascinating science of how water quality can profoundly transform the flavour and character of your coffee. In part one, we’re donning our lab coats to explore water chemistry and its impact on coffee. We'll speak with Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood , coffee entrepreneur and author, and Christopher H. Hendon, Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oregon. Together, they co-authored the groundbreaking book Water for Coffee and are no...
Dec 10, 2024•32 min•Ep 139•Transcript available on Metacast Today we're returning to our interviews recorded live at The European Coffee Symposium in Berlin last month. In this episode, we’re exploring the impact of the incoming European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) directive. We’re joined by Kajsa-Lisa Ljudén and Jonny England, Head of Sustainability and Head of Coffee respectively at Löfbergs , and Pim Pilose, Success Manager at technology platform Era of We . In this important conversation, we’ll explore how coffee businesses can prepare to meet EU...
Dec 05, 2024•29 min•Ep 138•Transcript available on Metacast Today we’re sharing the second interview from our 5THWAVE Live sessions recorded at the European Coffee Symposium in Berlin. In this episode, we’re joined by Chris Salierno, Chief Marketing Officer at La Marzocco . La Marzocco is a powerhouse in the espresso machine industry, celebrated for its exceptional quality, innovative technology and dedication to fostering a global coffee community. In this conversation, Chris shares how La Marzocco continues to grow as a global, community-led brand - on...
Dec 02, 2024•26 min•Ep 137•Transcript available on Metacast Earlier this month, the European Coffee Symposium returned for its 15th edition, hosted in the vibrant city of Berlin. This prestigious event brought together leaders from across Europe’s coffee and hospitality industry for four days of networking, one-on-one meetings, and thought leadership – all culminating in the launch of the brand-new Coffee + Hospitality Expo ! As part of the conference programme, we were delighted to host 5THWAVE LIVE : a series of exclusive podcast interviews with some o...
Nov 25, 2024•27 min•Ep 136•Transcript available on Metacast Next week marks the 15th anniversary of the European Coffee Symposium (ECS), set in the effortlessly cool city of Berlin, Germany. Alongside ECS, we're thrilled to be launching the Coffee & Hospitality Expo – two landmark events coming together in one of Europe’s most dynamic coffee capitals. This gathering is an opportunity to dive into the latest market insights, create new business connections, and celebrate the exceptional people shaping the European coffee scene. And, to get us excited ...
Nov 09, 2024•34 min•Ep 135•Transcript available on Metacast From coffee roasters and food & beverage providers to packaging and equipment manufacturers, the multi-billion dollar coffee industry is packed with supplier categories. In a crowded marketplace where suppliers are constantly vying for buyers’ attention, the stakes for winning new business are higher than ever. So, as a supplier, how do you stand out from the crowd? How do you impress operators? And what strategies can you employ to turn opportunities into success? To explore these questions...
Nov 01, 2024•30 min•Ep 134•Transcript available on Metacast In today’s episode, we speak with prolific coffee entrepreneur Murray d’Almeida, founder of Retail Food Group and the visionary behind a number of influential hospitality brands across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia. With a career spanning over 50 years, Murray has mentored many industry figures and remains a dynamic source of inspiration and wisdom today. In this conversation, Murray shares his core principles for business success and strategies for building multiple brands acro...
Oct 28, 2024•34 min•Ep 133•Transcript available on Metacast In today’s episode, we’re speaking with Esther Maasdam, Co-founder of Manhattan Coffee Roasters , a renowned specialty coffee business based in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Esther founded Manhattan Coffee with business partner, Ben Morrow, in 2017, with the vision of bringing world-class specialty coffees to European markets. Esther also runs an events consulting business , offering specialty baristas, catering support, and coffee training for events and exhibitions. In this conversation, Esther ...
Oct 18, 2024•36 min•Ep 132•Transcript available on Metacast Next week marks the start of UK Coffee Week – a nationwide celebration and fundraiser led by Project Waterfall, which aims to bring clean water and sanitation to coffee-growing communities. Every year, hundreds of coffee shops, restaurants, and roasters across the UK come together to host exciting events and activities, raising both awareness and vital funds for this important cause. In today’s episode, we’re getting into the spirit of the celebrations by speaking with three incredible supporter...
Oct 11, 2024•25 min•Ep 131•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode we’re diving back into the topic of office coffee and exploring how coffee businesses are adapting to the evolving workplace dynamics. In part one, we examined the office coffee markets in the UK and Europe and in this episode we'll take an in-depth look at the US market. We'll speak with Daniele Foti, Marketing VP, Lavazza North America , Erin Moshier, VP of Growth, Aramark and Tracy Ging, EVP Coffee Services, Canteen to uncover the key trends shaping the future of office coffee...
Oct 08, 2024•34 min•Ep 130•Transcript available on Metacast In today’s episode, we're speaking with Elisa Marshall and Benjamin Sormonte, Founders of Maman , a French-inspired boutique café and bakery chain that began in New York and has since expanded across the US and to Canada. Since its founding in 2014, Maman has grown exponentially, and by the end of this year, they’ll be celebrating a remarkable milestone of 40 stores, including locations in New York, Washington, Florida and Toronto. Next week also marks Maman's 10th anniversary, a decade filled w...
Sep 27, 2024•34 min•Ep 129•Transcript available on Metacast In today’s episode, we welcome back Roland Horne, CEO and founder of WatchHouse , one of the world’s leading boutique specialty coffee businesses. This month, WatchHouse celebrates its 10th anniversary — a milestone for this ambitious and fast-growing brand, which now operates 20 boutique coffee houses across London, Bath, and New York City. Roland has led WatchHouse through multiple funding rounds, including a recent standout £7.2 million ($9 million) campaign, recording the largest-ever hospit...
Sep 20, 2024•32 min•Ep 128•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, we’re speaking with Regina Frey, Founder of Orang Utan Coffee, and Diana Kosmanto, its CEO. Orang Utan Coffee is a unique coffee trader and social enterprise dedicated to supporting rainforest conservation and empowering local coffee farmers in Sumatra. Founded in 2004, Orang Utan Coffee’s model is one of collaboration rather than ownership, partnering closely with farmers to promote sustainable coffee production while protecting the natural habitat of Sumatran orangutans. In ou...
Sep 17, 2024•32 min•Ep 127•Transcript available on Metacast Following on from our last episode on coffee and music, we're bringing you an extra special bonus interview today with one of my favourite musicians - Grammy Winner and friend of the podcast, Nicole Zuraitis. We first met Nicole in 2016 when she won the Coffee Music Project New York Competition with her wonderful track “I Like You A Latte”. Fast-forward 8 years and Nicole is now an award-winning jazz singer-songwriter and pianist who this year scooped up the GRAMMY for Best Jazz Vocal Album. In ...
Sep 10, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
