5THWAVE - The Business of Coffee and Hospitality

On the podcast today we’re shifting our focus outside of coffee to steep ourselves in the world of tea. The tea industry is enormous, with a long and rich history. In fact, tea is the most consumed hot beverage globally. Yet in many coffee shops around the world, the consumer experience for tea falls short. What does an outstanding tea offer look like? What are the financial rewards for getting te...

On the podcast this week, we’re continuing our exploration of hiring strategies in the wake of the current hospitality staffing crisis. In part one , we covered how small independent operators are navigating this issue and today we’re turning our attention to larger scaled hospitality chains. In conversations with Danielle Caserta, Chief People Officer at Bluestone Lane , and Thomas Nørøxe, CEO, J...

The hospitality industry is experiencing one of the biggest staffing shortages in living memory. We covered the scale of the issue in a July 2021 episode and today, we’re returning to the topic to explore the solutions independent operators are trialling to attract and retain staff in the current climate. In this episode, we speak to small business owners from the UK and Europe and a tech-based re...

Fresh from Le Paris Café Festival last week, today we’re putting the spotlight on the French capital and diving into the past, present and future of the rapidly changing specialty coffee scene across France. In conversations with influential coffee operators, major roasters and suppliers, we explore the shift in consumer demand for high-quality coffee and the impact Covid-19 has had on French drin...

In the third episode of our mini-series on environmental sustainability across the coffee industry, we’re shifting the focus to carbon reduction in coffee roasteries. In conversations with a leading academic, an electric roaster manufacturer, and coffee roasters, large and small, we unpack where carbon is generated once green coffee leaves the farm and how coffee roasters can make their operations...

Today on the podcast we’re speaking with leading investors and experienced entrepreneurs to lift the lid on the world of mergers, acquisitions, and investment in the coffee space.   What does a great hospitality business look like from the perspective of an investor? In what circumstances should you merge your business with another? What type of investor should you be looking for and who should yo...

In the second part of our mini-series exploring eco-sustainability across the coffee industry, we turn the spotlight on carbon generation in the coffee shop. In conversations with a café consultant and leading operators from Los Angeles, London and Singapore, we uncover exactly where and when carbon is being generated in coffee shops, what contributes the highest emissions in the store, and ask wh...

Today we’re bringing you a very special episode in anticipation of the 10th anniversary of the La Marzocco True Artisan Café at the London Coffee Festival taking place later this month. Industry legend Paul Kelly, General Manager of La Marzocco UK & Ireland , joins Jeffrey Young in the studio to explore the specialty coffee trends that have changed the face of coffee culture over the last deca...

Kicking off a new series on the podcast exploring ecological sustainability across the coffee supply chain, we’re examining the environmental impact of coffee farming at origin. Finding solutions to the complicated problems caused by the climate crisis is vital to the future viability of coffee, and the planet. Throughout series, we’ll uncover how the coffee industry is responding to these challen...

Today we’re exploring the importance of the general manager in café operations and unpacking how this pivotal role can mean the difference between hospitality businesses operating at a loss or at a profit.  In conversations with experienced operators and a leading management academic, we ask what general managers need from owner operators to thrive and deliver financial success and how to engage a...

On the podcast this week, we’re embracing the spirit of summer and diving into the world of wine to explore its parallels with coffee. The wine industry is often considered ahead of the curve compared to coffee, but is that always the case? In conversations with leading wine and coffee experts, we explore the history and influence of these two worlds to offer a deeper understanding of the wine mar...

On the podcast today we examine the staffing crisis affecting hospitality businesses globally and the impact Covid-19 and Brexit has had on the hiring landscape.  In conversations with trade representatives and leading operators from London and New York, we explore the long-term challenges of developing meaningful careers within the hospitality space and solutions for attracting and retaining the...

As the world’s largest coffee chain turns 50, we explore Starbucks’ enduring influence on the business of coffee. In a collaboration with 5THWAVE magazine , we bring you insights from six global coffee professionals as they reflect on Starbucks' cultural legacy. In a series of conversations with Jeffrey Young, we hear from coffee historian, Professor Jonathan Morris , Kent Bakke, Board Member, La...

On the podcast today, we examine the interplay between food and coffee in hospitality businesses. The upside to adding food to a coffee proposition is clear but delivering excellent coffee and food simultaneously is never easy, and success often depends on the scale and scope of your business. Exploring this week's theme, we speak with four leading operators, of all shapes and sizes, who share ins...

This week we put cold coffee under the spotlight to illuminate the latest trends in this fast-growing category. We’ll explore how the cold coffee revolution has taken off in North America, and the opportunities for growth in markets worldwide.  In this episode we’re joined by a brewing equipment supplier and coffee expert from Asia Pacific, and two senior figures from leading cold coffee brands in...

In today’s episode we’re exploring the world of espresso machine technology and the future of automation, and asking the question – will super-automatic coffee machines ever replace the barista? To help answer this, we speak to leading manufacturers of traditional and super-automatic machines as well as a US Barista Champion to unpack how this technology is advancing, what that means for café owne...

Today we are bringing you a very special episode, a full-length interview with enigmatic and influential entrepreneur James Hoffmann. In this conversation, James discusses his ambitions, business sensibilities, and the mindset that has helped build his remarkable career. James Hoffmann is world-renowned in the coffee industry. A former World Barista Champion, co-founder of Square Mile Coffee Roast...

Today we’re exploring the careers of three highly impressive individuals in the business of coffee to learn their stories and the secrets behind their success.  We speak with James Hoffmann, Gregory Zamfotis, and Toby Smith to delve into their different entrepreneurial approaches and discover the motivations and guiding principles that have underpinned their successful careers. Our conversation wi...

On the podcast this week we are turning the spotlight to China and exploring how the traditionally tea-drinking country is rapidly growing into one of the most dynamic and opportune coffee markets in the world. From billion-dollar valuations for start-up coffee companies to a breathtaking number of new café openings, the Chinese coffee market is a machine you cannot ignore. In this episode, we’ll...

On the podcast this week we speak to three leading lights in the Sydney coffee community to explore how Covid-19 has impacted the influential Australian coffee market and how it has begun to recover. With cafés already open and thriving across Sydney and other parts of Australia, we get a glimpse into what the coffee landscape might look like once global vaccination efforts begin to take effect, a...

When Covid-19 hit over 12 months ago, the global hospitality industry was confronted with its biggest crisis in many generations. Now, as we look towards the end of the pandemic and businesses worldwide return to some form of normality, café owners may be asking themselves, “should we be cautious or optimistic”? We believe there is much to be positive about. In this episode, we are speaking to cof...

Running a coffee business has never been easy, but it's certainly more manageable if you have the right business partner. The question is – who should you choose and how should you work together? In this episode, we are exploring three successful coffee business partnerships that have stood the test of time to glean some of the secrets of their success. Amber Jacobsen, Co-founder of Partners Coffe...

Jeffrey Young speaks with Laila Ghambari, Director of Cafes at Stumptown Coffee Roasters , to get a glimpse into how the pioneering specialty coffee business manages its cafes and learn how she has been steering the ship through the turbulent waters of the pandemic. We originally spoke to Laila for our episode on Fostering team culture , but she offered such thought-provoking insights on leadershi...

Jeffrey Young is joined by David Griswold, Founder and CEO of Sustainable Harvest Coffee Importers – the world’s first B Corp certified coffee company - to explore what the 5th Wave of coffee means in practice and its significance to coffee farmers at origin.  David is a leading figure in the world of specialty coffee and a pioneer in sustainable, ethical trade. In this conversation, David and Jef...

Jeffrey Young speaks with Angus Thirlwell, CEO & Co-founder of Hotel Chocolat – a brand that forges a unique space for itself in the retail chocolate market. In this episode, Angus shares the secrets that helped him scale his business and discusses the parallel trends between chocolate and coffee. Angus is a master brand builder and a pioneering figure in the world of chocolate. During our con...