5THWAVE - The Business of Coffee and Hospitality

In today’s episode we’re chatting with coffee guru Peter Giuliano - an incredibly influential figure in the coffee industry and a true global visionary. With a career spanning more than 30 years. Peter was the Co-owner of North Carolina-based roaster Counter Culture Coffee where he helped build their pioneering direct sourcing and transparency model. Peter now serves as Executive Director at The C...

On the podcast today we’re kicking off a feature on talent management to understand how the hospitality industry can protect its key asset - people. In part one we focus on people strategy and find out how leading hospitality businesses foster a positive work culture. In conversations with Jonathan Crookall, Chief People Officer, Costa Coffee , Brooke Gray, Director of People, Equator Coffees and...

On the podcast today we're catching up with newly-crowned World Barista Champion Boram Um. Born in Brazil to South Korean parents, Boram is the founder of boutique specialty coffee business Um Coffee Co. and is the first Brazilian winner in the competition’s history.  In this conversation, Boram discusses his mission to educate Brazilian consumers about the joys of home-grown specialty coffee and...

On the podcast today, we're catching up with industry legend Peter Dore-Smith - the man behind Fitzrovia's iconic coffee shop, Kaffeine , and one of the early pioneers of the London specialty coffee movement. In this insightful conversation, Peter tells the story of how he started Kaffeine, shares his people-centric approach to hiring, and why delivering genuine hospitality within his local commun...

In the final part of our series on the Indian coffee market, we’re travelling to origin to explore what's happening in India’s vast and dynamic coffee farm sector. To get to know this sector better, we speak with Ashok Kuriyan and Rohan Kuriyan, Managing Director and Manager of Corporate Affairs at Balanoor Plantations - a renowned producer of specialty coffee in Karnataka, India. In this conversa...

In today's episode we're continuing our exploration of the Indian coffee market and turning the spotlight on the country's rapidly growing love for specialty coffee. In conversations with Namrata Asthana and Matt Chitharanjan, Founders, Blue Tokai, Mike Khan, Area Export Manager, La Marzocco , and Rahul Reddy, Founder, Subko Specialty Coffee Roasters , we find out how specialty coffee is being ada...

In a new three-part series, we're exploring the exciting growth potential for coffee businesses in India - from international chains and the rise of specialty coffee to the increasing recognition of Indian grown coffees. To kick things off, we're speaking with Deepa Krishnan, Chief Marketing Officer of international powerhouse Tata Starbucks - a joint venture between Starbucks and India's Tata Con...

In today's episode we're continuing our exploration of the fast-developing coffee at-home market and how businesses can harness growth opportunities in this lucrative segment. In part two, we focus on retail coffee and chat with Will Corby, Director of Coffee and Social Impact at Pact Coffee , Jon Allen,  Creative Director, Onyx Coffee Lab and Jonny England, Director of Coffee, Löfbergs UK&I t...

On the podcast today we're kicking off a two-part series exploring the remarkable growth of the at-home specialty coffee market and the rise of the home barista. In part one, we focus on at-home coffee equipment and speak with Dave Gubbin, President, Sage Appliances EMEA and John Holmquist, Commercial and Residential Sales Manager, Seattle Coffee Gear to uncover the growing demand for high-end hom...

On the podcast today, we're speaking with three successful independent London operators to uncover the secrets to a thriving neighbourhood cafe and the role coffee shops play within the local community. In conversations with Peter Dore-Smith, Founder Kaffeine , Kim Hargreaves, Founder and Managing Director, Boki Coffee , and Dani Reid and Agnes Potter, Co-founders, Potter & Reid , we discuss h...

On the podcast today we're exploring the rise of digital loyalty apps and how these tools are revolutionising the way operators engage with their customers. We first speak with two leading coffee shop app developers, Miles Bailey and Tim Silbermann, Founders of RWRD and Ali Al Ebrahim, Founder and CEO, COFE App , to understand the vast benefits these technologies can generate for operators. We the...

The London Coffee Festival returns from 20 to 23 April 2023 and with it comes a four day celebration of London’s vibrant coffee scene and the incredible people and communities that help the coffee industry continue to thrive. Now entering its 12th year, The London Coffee Festival has grown to a formidable event, featuring 200+ exhibitors and welcoming over 30,000 trade and consumer visitors throug...

On the podcast this week we're opening the door to the culinary world to find out how successful restaurant operators deliver consistent and high-quality customer service experiences for their guests. We first speak with Alex Susskind, Professor of Food and Beverage Management at Cornell University’s Nolan School to understand the conceptual framework behind creating exceptional customer service....

On the podcast this week we're exploring the Head of Coffee role in different hospitality businesses and the crucial function it plays in delivering the perfect coffee experience. In conversations with Ryan Garrick, Head of Coffee, WatchHouse , Christopher Jordan, Group Head of Coffee Caffè Nero , Jennifer Salamone, VP of Operations and Antonia Petaccio, Head of Coffee Training DC, at Tatte Bakery...

On the podcast this week we're speaking with three highly-talented and passionate coffee journalists to explore the crucial role media plays in developing the specialty coffee industry. In conversations with Nick Brown, Founding Editor, Daily Coffee News , Michal Molcan, Founder, Standart , and Nicole Ou, Manager Coffee T&I , we discuss the challenges and global opportunities for coffee media...

Today on the podcast we’re revisiting a conversation with Søren Ledet from last week’s episode exploring the world of coffee and fine dining. Søren is Co-Founder and General Manager of the world-renowned restaurant Geranium - a three-Michelin-starred dining experience in Copengagen, which last year was named the best restaurant in the world by the 50 best awards. In this conversation, Søren offere...

On the podcast today we're stepping into the world of fine dining to explore the role of coffee in high-end restaurants and how restauranteurs are elevating their coffee standards.  We speak with Søren Ledet, Co-founder and General Manager of Copenhagen's Geranium , to find out how one of the world's finest dining establishments runs its coffee programme and uses storytelling and theatre to delive...

On the podcast today we're heading to Vietnam to explore how this rapidly diversifying market is breaking away from tradition and embracing new coffee drinking opportunities . In conversations with Will Frith , coffee coach and Co-founder, Building Coffee, academic Sarah Grant , and Sahra Nguyen, CEO and Founder, Nguyen Coffee Supply , we discuss the complex history of Vietnamese coffee exports, t...

In today’s episode we’re bringing you an interview with a true hospitality legend and genuine artisan, Tony Papas. Tony is a multi-faceted entrepreneur, with a global career spanning Michelin-starred restaurants, a boutique bakery, specialty coffee and most recently, developing an olive farm in Southern Italy. In this conversation, Tony discusses his early background in hospitality before joining...

In today's episode we're diving into the topic of market research and exploring how operators can gain a deeper understanding of their consumers. In conversations with Dr. Ernest Baskin , Associate Professor, St. Joseph’s University of Philadelphia, Blonnie Whist, Insight Director, Lumina Intelligence , and JP Then, Co-founder of Crosstown and Founder of online ordering system Slerp , we unpack th...

To kick off 2023 we’re bringing you an interview with a true industry legend – the one and only George Howell, a name synonymous with coffee excellence. Since the 1980s George has played an integral role in the development of specialty coffee in Western markets – pioneering the third-wave coffee movement and championing single origin coffees and direct trade.  In this conversation George shares de...

With the festive season well under way we thought now was the perfect time to indulge our minds in the exciting topic of coffee and alcohol and find out how these two beverages coexist seamlessly across different hospitality settings. In conversations with Professor Jonathan Morris , Research Professor at Hertfordshire University, Michelle Cannone, Global Brand Director, Away from Home  and Mattia...

On the podcast this week, we're exploring the remarkable growth of cafés in Saudi Arabia and why coffee is fast-becoming big business in the Middle East powerhouse. In conversations with Abdullah Al Harazi, Technical Training Manager, Barn's , Sara Alali , Founder, THAT Boutique Café, and Fadi Hamoud, COO and Ali Alkhabbaz, Head of Coffee, Nejoud Restaurant Management Company , we discuss Saudi's...

In today’s episode, we’re bringing you a feature length interview with Nick Stone, CEO and Founder of Bluestone Lane - an Australian inspired, boutique hospitality chain with 62 locations in major cities across the US. In this fascinating conversation, Nick shares his extraordinary insight, key business learnings and wisdom gained from his multifaceted career. He also discusses the importance of d...

On the podcast today we're exploring the business case for drive-thru coffee and the potential for this highly-profitable format to expand across new market segments and geographies. In conversation with Kevin Hydes, Chief Commercial Officer, Tim Hortons, UK&I , Brett Bolwell, CEO, Barista Technology , and coffee historian Amanda Whitt, we explore the historical rise of drive-thru coffee in th...