Buy the Drip - Coffee and Business

In this episode, we sit down with Luke Waite a coffee consultant who’s been through it all. From brewing in a back-alley café chasing Michelin-star standards, to running operations at top roasters, to helping cafés and roasteries figure out the brutal truth of profitability Luke shares the stories, struggles, and strategies behind building a coffee business that lasts. Like, comment, and subscribe...

Morgan Eckroth coffee journey started at sixteen with a simple mocha in Corvallis, Oregon and has taken them all the way to becoming the 2022 U.S. Barista Champion and placing second in the World Barista Championship . With 8.7 million followers across social media, Morgan has built a global community through what they calls “digital hospitality” creating moments of connection both online and behi...

Tyler Hagan didn’t get into coffee to go viral. He followed curiosity, stayed consistent, and turned storytelling into influence. What started as a personal passion of brewing, experimenting, and sharing his journey online became something bigger. Now Tyler has built a reputation as one of specialty coffee’s go-to content creators, trusted for his storytelling and perspective. In this episode we e...

Most people don’t start roasting coffee at 18 and end up building one of the biggest green coffee import companies in Canada. But Jeff Fleming did. In this episode Jeff breaks down how he went from barista, to roaster, to running Apex Coffee Importers without outside funding, without a roadmap, and without cutting corners. Here’s what we get into: • What specialty coffee looked like in the ‘90s an...

What does it take to turn a family farm into one of the most legendary names in specialty coffee? In this episode, Cole sits down with Wilford Lamastus of Lamastus Family Estates fourth-generation producer and the force behind Panama’s iconic Elida Estate. From surviving the coffee crisis of the '90s to putting Geisha on the global map, this is a masterclass in resilience, innovation, and lega...

What do you get when two adventurers get tired of bad trail coffee? A new coffee category...called No Normal Coffee Alexander and Philipp created a first-of-its-kind coffee paste in a tube... designed for explorers, built through grit. In this episode, they share how a love for the outdoors turned into a physical product, how they hacked R&D, launched with crowdfunding, and built a brand that’...

What happens when a design student accidentally becomes a barista and ends up changing the global coffee game? In this episode, we sit down with 2012 World Barista Champion from Guatemala, to unpack his wild journey: from his first training shift to going rogue on the WBC stage with Intelligentsia coffee and making James Hoffmann laugh in the process. But this isn’t just about competition... We ge...

we sit down with Laila Ghambari , a barista-turned-champion-turned-consultant whose journey through coffee competitions, family business, and specialty retail offers a masterclass in what it takes to build a sustainable coffee career and cafe. Laila shares how growing up in her dad’s Seattle cafe laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to coffee and how she transformed that passion into a hi...

We sit down with one of the most influential figures in specialty coffee with Rachel Peterson of Hacienda La Esmeralda .Known globally for introducing Geisha to the world, Rachel shares the full story behind how their farm transformed the coffee industry, winning Best of Panama three times in one year a historic first! We talk about:How Geisha was first discovered and introducedThe rise of Best of...

Christine Rollings has built coffee businesses in the Philippines and Turkey, traveled the world, and turned her love for coffee into a beautifully self-published children’s book My ABCs of Coffee . It also happens to be the first book Cole has read in the last two years. Don’t worry...it’s perfect for all reading levels. In this episode, Christine shares her entrepreneurial journey from navigatin...

Meet Mike and Jamie....two firefighters turned founders of Canadian Heritage Roasting Company . What started as cowboy coffee brewed on the fireline became a mission-driven coffee company now found in over 1,400 stores across North America. In this episode of Buy The Drip , they share their story of building a bold brand rooted in a love for the outdoors, wildlife conservation, and great-tasting c...

Join Cole on this episode of Buy The Drip as he chats with Jordan Saglio, the man behind Movement Coffee Roasters. What began as an unexpected adventure living the van life with his wife and daughter — led Jordan into the world of coffee roasting. From building a roastery in Stowe, Vermont, to competing in Panama's Brewers Cup, Jordan shares how his journey unfolded. Tune in for an inspiring c...

This week on Buy The Drip , we’re joined by Jill Hoff Canada’s first female Barista Champion and Director of Coffee & Education at Monogram Coffee .Jill’s story is one of grit, growth, and relentless curiosity. From her early days on bar to leading one of Canada’s most respected coffee programs, she’s built a powerful career in specialty coffee and she’s done it while lifting others along the...

Max Boegler , co-founder of Sovda , went from discovering coffee while living in China to launching one of the most talked-about coffee tech companies in the world. In this episode, Max shares how Sovda is building tools like The Pearl to help producers and roasters improve quality, consistency, and efficiency without losing sight of the values that define specialty coffee. We cover a lot in this...

In this episode of Buy The Drip, we sit down with John Gordon ! Barista champion, roaster, engineer, and consultant to talk about his unexpected path from the security industry into the heart of specialty coffee. John shares his early days learning hospitality from the ground up in Melbourne, the pivotal moment that sparked his coffee passion, and how a fear of public speaking led him to barista c...

Dave sits down with Cole Torode to unpack the exciting relaunch of Forward Coffee —now based exclusively in Panama . Cole shares the story behind Forward 2.0 , a bold new business model built around quality, freshness, and strong producer relationships . We dive deep into: 🔹 The decision to focus solely on Panama as a sourcing origin 🔹 Why freshly milled coffee is a game-changer for flavor and c...

Coffee, Innovation & Entrepreneurship w/ Kirk Pearson ☕In this episode of Buy The Drip, we sit down with Kirk Pearson, founder of Project Zero Coffee , to talk about his journey in coffee—from washing dishes at a café to building a brand focused on quality, sustainability, and innovation. We dive into:The role of milk and alternative milk in specialty coffeeThe challenges of sustainability in...

What does it take to leave a stable career in finance to chase a passion for coffee? In this episode of Buy The Drip , hosts Cole and Dave sit down with Jay Kim , founder of UFO Drippers , to unpack his bold transition into the specialty coffee world. Jay shares how his love for coffee grew through personal tasting sessions and a desire to connect with others. He takes us behind the scenes of laun...

What does 2025 have in store for the coffee industry? In this episode, Dave shares his bold predictions for the future of specialty coffee while Cole offers his perspective and insights. From the rise of grab-and-go coffee shops to the transformative role of AI in quality control, Dave outlines his vision for the year ahead. Will home brewing become the new norm? Will coffee blends reclaim their p...

What does 2025 have in store for the coffee industry? In this episode, Cole shares his bold predictions for the future of specialty coffee while Dave offers a dose of skepticism. Known for relying on intuition over hard facts, Cole’s forecasts spark curiosity (and some good-natured teasing) as they explore what might be next for coffee. From the rise of decaf to Canada’s shot at a World Coffee Cha...

Join us as we reflect on an unforgettable year in the coffee industry. In this episode, Dave and Cole dive into 2024’s biggest coffee industry moments, packed with insights, predictions, and plenty of laughs. We also share highlights from our journey coaching world-class baristas at the World Barista Championship, the release of The Flower Story documentary, and exciting milestones for Buy The Dri...

Listen to Paul Ross, founder of Special Guests Coffee in London, as he shares how he’s transforming competition-level coffees into something everyone can experience—all while staying grounded in hospitality and community. Paul takes us through:-His journey from university student to café owner.-The art and logistics of managing a menu with 16 unique coffees.-The philosophy behind building a café t...

In this milestone episode of Buy the Drip , we’re celebrating reaching 5,000 YouTube subscribers ! Join us as we dive into an engaging Q&A session, where we answer questions from our amazing audience. We discuss everything from our journey as brothers and the story behind the podcast name, to our personal coffee preferences and future plans for Rosso Coffee Roasters . Along the way, we share l...

In Episode 34 of Buy The Drip , we’re joined by Tim Williams , Director of the World AeroPress Championship and founder of Fieldwork Coffee in Melbourne, Australia. From his humble beginnings in coffee at a bratwurst stall in Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market to managing iconic specialty coffee spaces like Penny University and Intelligentsia Venice , Tim shares a fascinating journey through the co...

We start by diving into the release of our new documentary, The Flower Story , which chronicles Miki’s journey and highlights the incredible baristas we had the honor of coaching. Miki reflects on the emotional moments the documentary brought back and what it means to share his story with the world. In this episode, Miki unpacks the deeper messages behind his award-winning presentation, revealing...