The Cupping Table - By M-Cultivo

What's next for Kona coffee? Jean Orlowski, the founder of Hala Tree, walks us through his journey from french family farm to global commodity trading to "retiring" to Hawaii; Where he met his hardest challenge yet: Kona coffee farmer. His passion and insight come through loud and clear in this episode.

In this episode of The Cupping Table podcast, David Paparelli sat down in London with Nic Lauten and Fred Nsengiyumva of the Kula Project—a nonprofit organization working on the ground in Rwanda to bring coffee farmers out of poverty. The conversation offered a rare behind-the-scenes look at the realities of running a washing station, managing farmer relationships, and building a business that is...

Join us for an in-depth conversation with Maria Olano, Senior Coffee Trader for the FNC in Colombia. This episode explores the role of the FNC in shaping the future of Colombian coffee, from sustainability and research to fostering stronger connections between growers and roasters. Maria shares her insights on the evolving coffee market, the impact of innovation, and the upcoming 10th edition of t...

In this special episode of The Cupping Table, we bring you an exclusive conversation from the Dubai Coffee Auction live at WOC, where M-Cultivo CEO David Paparelli sat down with four of the world’s most innovative coffee producers: Daniela Rodriguez from Los Rodriguez from Bolivia Mokhtar Alkhanshali from Alkhanshali Estate from Yemen Jorge Castro from Inmaculada Coffee Farms from Colombia Kraig L...

Three-time Turkish Barista Champion Serkan Sagsoz shares his journey from coffee enthusiast to entrepreneur in Dubai. In this episode of The Cupping Table, hosted by David Paparelli, Serkan discusses his passion for Liberica coffee, the challenges of building a specialty coffee business, and his vision for Julith Coffee. Discover how he is redefining coffee experiences and pushing the boundaries o...

Join David Paparelli as he sits down with Andrew Yu, co-founder of Panda Bear Express, to explore the complexities of sourcing high-end specialty coffee. From navigating global markets to building long-term producer relationships, Andrew shares insights into what makes a coffee truly exceptional. Tune in for a deep dive into the evolving specialty coffee industry, the role of auctions, and the fut...

What happens when a consultant stumbles upon a Colombian coffee farm and never looks back? Don Tulio (Sharam) went from finance to farming, building Colombian Exotics—a vertically integrated coffee company spanning high-altitude farms to global markets. In this episode, recorded at World of Coffee Dubai, he shares how a single visit transformed his life, why he puts jazz music on for his coffee, a...

Kona coffee has long been admired, but is it truly reaching its full potential on the global stage? Join us as we speak with Kraig Lee, founder of Kona Farm Direct, about his mission to showcase Kona’s place among the world’s most sought-after coffees. With over 30 years of experience, Kraig has pushed the boundaries of what Kona coffee can be—experimenting with SL34, pioneering innovative ferment...

Join us at the cupping table with Bernard Uhe, a standout producer from Ecuador, as he tells us how he and his family are helping put the country’s specialty coffee on the global map. With award-winning farms like Finca La Noria and El Dorado, Uhe shares his journey of crafting exceptional coffees and showcasing Ecuador’s unique potential. Learn about the passion and dedication driving the rise of...

Join us in a conversation with Gabriel Agrelli from Daterra Coffee, as we explore how Daterra has been reshaping the global perception of Brazilian coffee for over 30 years. While Brazil is often associated with large-scale coffee production, Daterra has proven that high volume and exceptional quality can go hand in hand. Through scientific research, sustainability, and groundbreaking processing t...

Bolivia’s coffee industry was once in decline, but thanks to pioneers like Daniela Rodriguez and the Los Rodriguez farms, it’s experiencing a remarkable revival. In this episode of The Cupping Table, we explore how the Rodriguez family is transforming Bolivian coffee through innovation, education, and sustainability. From rebuilding farms to pioneering new processing techniques, their work is rede...

Bolivia’s coffee industry was once in decline, but thanks to pioneers like Daniela Rodriguez and the Los Rodriguez farms, it’s experiencing a remarkable revival. In this episode of The Cupping Table, we explore how the Rodriguez family is transforming Bolivian coffee through innovation, education, and sustainability. From rebuilding farms to pioneering new processing techniques, their work is rede...

In the ever-evolving world of specialty coffee, few producers have approached cultivation and processing with as much scientific rigor as Dr. Mauricio Shattah. A medical doctor turned coffee producer, Shattah has transformed Finca La Negrita into a hub of innovation, applying advanced fermentation techniques, meticulous quality control, and a deep commitment to sustainability. His journey exemplif...

Mokhtar Alkhanshali is a pioneering Yemeni-American coffee producer, roaster and entrepreneur best known for transforming Yemen’s coffee industry. He developed Yemen’s first super specialty coffee supply chain, reconnecting the birthplace of coffee to modern standards of excellence—an extraordinary journey chronicled in Dave Eggers’ NYT best-selling book, The Monk of Mokha.

Jorge Castro, the mind behind Inmaculada Coffee, joins M-Cultivo to discuss how he blends industrial engineering with coffee farming, the role of data-driven precision in quality, and how Inmaculada is setting new industry standards with exotic varieties and innovative fermentation.

Arturo Aguirre, fourth-generation producer of El Injerto, Guatemala’s most awarded coffee farm, joins David to share his journey. With eight Cup of Excellence wins, he reveals how tradition, innovation, and smart strategy have made El Injerto a global benchmark for quality coffee. Don’t miss this deep dive into one of the most iconic names in specialty coffee!

Willem Boot, the visionary who changed specialty coffee, joins David to discuss discovering Geisha in Panama, venturing into Ethiopia to find its origins, and building award winning farms - Finca Sophia and Finca La Mula.