Coffee People Podcast

Gio Barreto is the Co-Founder of Running Latte in Bergenfield, NJ. We chatted at CoffeeFest NYC 2026 about the new business he opened with his sisters. The full episode dropped April 1st, 2026. Watch and subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @coffeepeoplepodcasts ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more context, subscribe to the Coffee People podcast newsletter at: https://www.coffeepeoplepodcast.com/. ⁠⁠⁠ BUY: The reliable coffee brew...

Tori Mininni is in the beginning phases of opening their first coffee shop on the Jersey Shore. Tentatively named Flourish, Tori aims to open a space that lets the customers express their personalities. Follow https://www.instagram.com/torimininni/ to follow their journey. The full episode dropped March 30, 2026, and was recorded at Coffeefest NYC in March 2026. Watch and subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @cof...

Evan Santiago is the Founder of Hybrid Kitchen + Butter Bakery. We chat about the value of pocket notebooks, coffee, and he offers the advice entrepreneurs need to hear in order to "follow their dreams." The full episode dropped March 25, 2026, and was recorded at Coffeefest NYC in March 2026. Find online at: Watch and subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @coffeepeoplepodcasts ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more context, su...

Jean Brillman is the Co-Founder of White Horse Coffee Roasters in Jenkintown, PA. She was our very first guest at our Coffeefest NYC 2026 pop-up podcasting session, and game to chat about her path into entrepreneurship, advice for someone opening a coffee shop, and how a love for the equestrian community turned her into a coffee-preneur. The full episode dropped March 25, 2026, and was recorded at...

Emily Smith reimagined her career, and then apparently manifested it into existence! As the Customer Relations Expert for our friends at Hacea Coffee Source she focuses on providing support, sales, and providing IRL and online educational coffee content. This interview was released on March 18, 2026 and recorded at Buckman Coffee Factory (Portland) for the Coffee People Podcast. Watch and subscrib...

Mat Cohen is the founder of Coffee Connections in Chicago, IL. Coffee Connections is a barista training and cafe job skills non-profit. He joined Coffee People to chat about how his non-profit is about people, and they just happen to get to drink a lot of great coffee. The full episode dropped March 11, 2026. Watch and subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠ @coffeepeoplepodcasts ⁠⁠⁠ for more context, subscribe to the C...

Josh Taves is the Founder of Dialed Coffee Services based in Grand Rapids Michigan. We chat about his barista-forward espresso technician and services company whose goal is not only to fix equipment but to make the coffee taste better. We also chat about entrepreneurship, stress testing your business, and why he started a company so he could work less. The full episode dropped March 4, 2026. Watch...

We recap the recent episode featuring Alex Pyne. He is a barista at Blue Bottle Coffee and the President of the Blue Bottle Independent Union (BBIU). We chat about how he came to be an organizer, the steps taken to become a union, why he and his colleagues have pursued this route, and whether or not he thinks a first contract will be agreed upon. The full episode dropped February 25, 2026. Watch a...

Alex Pyne is a barista at Blue Bottle Coffee and the President of the Blue Bottle Independent Union (BBIU). We chat about how he came to be an organizer, the steps taken to become a union, why he and his colleagues have pursued this route, and whether or not he thinks a first contract will be agreed upon. The full episode dropped February 25, 2026. Watch and subscribe to ⁠ @coffeepeoplepodcasts ⁠...

We recap our recent episode with Jing Lin. She is the Founder of Coffee Confessionals. Coffee Confessionals is a Hollywood, CA cafe that focuses on more than the coffee and food they serve. They also encourage customer engagement. Their motto is Spill The Beans! Conversations starter cards dot the tables, and the space is used to host interactive events, including panels, comedy nights, and open m...

Jing Lin is the Founder of Coffee Confessionals, a Hollywood, CA cafe that focuses on more than the coffee and food they serve. They also encourage customer engagement. Their motto is Spill The Beans! Conversations starter cards dot the tables, and the space is used to host interactive events, including panels, comedy nights, and open mics. https://coffeeconfessionals.com/pages/upcoming-events The...

Will Reif is the Founder and President of ⁠ @RoastarBags ⁠ in Wausau, WI. He joined the Coffee People podcast to share his journey into coffee thru entrepreneurship, a lot of advice for leading a business, and what value digital printing has offered to coffee packaging. Meet the Roastar Team IRL at: March 8-10, Coffee Fest NYC - Booth 2716 April 8-10, World of Coffee Expo (San Diego) - Booth 2443...

This is a RECAP of our Bonus Coffee People Coffee With episode featuring Emily Lavalier. She is the Owner and Artist behind ⁠EmLavArt⁠ , and trip leader at ⁠Hammer Residences⁠ , where she and a team guide adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities on fun-filled vacation adventures. Images provided by: ⁠EmLavArt.com⁠ The full episode dropped February 4, 2026. Watch and subscribe to ⁠ @...

Will Reif is the Founder and President of  @RoastarBags  in Wausau, WI. He joined the Coffee People podcast to share his journey into coffee thru entrepreneurship, a lot of advice for leading a business, and what value digital printing has offered to coffee packaging. Meet the Roastar Team IRL at: March 8-10, Coffee Fest NYC - Booth 2716 April 8-10, World of Coffee Expo (San Diego) - Booth 2443 Co...

This is a Bonus Coffee People Coffee With episode featuring Emily Lavalier. She is the Owner and Artist behind EmLavArt , and trip leader at Hammer Residences , where she and a team guide adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities on fun-filled vacation adventures. Images provided by: EmLavArt.com The full episode dropped February 4, 2026. Watch and subscribe to  @coffeepeoplepodcasts...

We recap our recent episode featuring Arda Barlas. He is an owner at Boxx Coffee LA, a specialty coffee roaster and cafe in the Downtown LA Arts district (DTLA). He joined the Coffee People podcast to share his journey into coffee thru entrepreneurship, why he joined an already established business, and how to keep the Boxx Coffee vision consistent with locations on two different continents. Image...

Arda Barlas is an owner at Boxx Coffee LA, a specialty coffee roaster and cafe in the Downtown LA Arts district (DTLA). He joined the Coffee People podcast to share his journey into coffee thru entrepreneurship, why he joined an already established business, and how to keep the Boxx Coffee vision consistent with locations on two different continents. Images provided by: Boxx Coffee LAThe full epis...

A recap of the key takeways from our recent chat with Sam Larobardiere, the Co-Founder and owner/operator of Theory Coffee Roasters and coffee-guy partner in Podium Coffee Club. He joined the Coffee People podcast to share his journey into coffee and entrepreneurship, as well as pass along a bit of advice for future generations of coffee entrepreneurs. The full episode dropped January 21, 2026. Wa...

Sam Larobardiere is the Co-Founder and owner/operator of Theory Coffee Roasters and partner in Podium Coffee Club. He joined the Coffee People podcast to share his journey into coffee and entrepreneurship, as well as pass along a bit of advice for future generations of coffee entrepreneurs. The full episode dropped January 21, 2026. Watch and subscribe to @coffeepeoplepodcasts , or for more contex...

The post-show recap of the recent episode featuring the Founder of Coffee Watch Etelle Higonnet. Coffee Watch is a coffee industry watchdog. Their mission: "Coffee Watch is a nonprofit watchdog organization dedicated to the proposition that we should make the world a better place with each cup of coffee. We fight to reform the global coffee industry. Our resolve is unyielding. The coffee indu...

Etelle Higonnet founded Coffee Watch, a coffee industry watchdog. She joins Coffee People to share her journey into coffee. "Coffee Watch is a nonprofit watchdog organization dedicated to the proposition that we should make the world a better place with each cup of coffee. We fight to reform the global coffee industry. Our resolve is unyielding. The coffee industry must change. The dark and b...

At Coffee People, we're looking forward to another year of collaboration with our Presenting Sponsors, Roastar, Inc. Head to https://www.roastar.com/ to learn more about the coffee packaging company that offers custom bags, tin cans, labels, and beyond. The way custom-printed packaging was meant to be. You can help in a few simple ways. • Subscribe to the newsletter at: https://www.coffeepeopl...

It is the end of Season 15. The end of our fifth year, and the end of 2025. This effort in coffee podcasting, writing, and community building has been an adventure. I’m constantly surprised by the myriad ways people work through the challenges of entrepreneurship and embrace hospitality for the connection and support it can offer a community. I’m proud to be a staging ground for the sharing of sto...

Kyle Layton is the cafe GM, Head Roaster, and Co-Owner of Prismatic Coffee in Salem, OR. He joined the podcast for a second time* to share a cup of fancy coffee with us, and talk more about hospitality. *The first show had some technical difficulties. It is available on www.coffeepeoplepodcast.com and on our YouTube channel. We appreciate you being forgiving of the audio! We're releasing it so...

Thanks for watching the Coffee People Podcast. Like all small businesses and entrepreneurs, we're still learning, modifying, and continuing to improve—at least trying to! Head to www.coffeepeoplepodcast.com for links from the show, context to our conversation, and much more. We'll be sharing updates on our event calendar soon. Stay tuned to haceacoffee.com for updates on the 2026 roasting...