5THWAVE - The Business of Coffee and Hospitality

Coffee is facing a defining moment. Climate change, environmental degradation and growing pressure across the value chain are creating unprecedented risks for the future of our industry. 

Addressing these challenges will require collaboration and action from every corner of the coffee community. So in this episode, we’re exploring what sustainability really means for coffee and what needs to change to secure the future of the industry.
We'll hear from Vanúsia Nogueira, International Coffee Organization, Violeta Stevens, Union Hand-Roasted Coffee, Kasper Hülsen and Sebastian Nielsen, Slow Forest, Konrad Brits, Falcon Coffees, Cemal Ezel, Change Please.
While the challenges are significant, there is also a huge opportunity for coffee to lead the way in creating a more sustainable and resilient future for our planet. That’s why we launched the C20 Global Coffee Sustainability Summit – a forum for the sustainable future of coffee. The C20 brings together global coffee leaders, change-makers, scientists and legislators to collaborate across the supply chain and ensure long-term prosperity for all industry stakeholders.  Find out how you can get involved and join the conversation here.

Credits music: "What on Earth" by HOLNE in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective. Tune into the 5THWAVE Playlist on Spotify for more music from the show
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In today’s episode, we're speaking with Helen Russell, Co-Founder and Executive Chair of Californian specialty coffee business Equator Coffees.
With more than 30 years in the coffee industry, Helen has been at the forefront of the US specialty coffee movement and launched Equator Coffees with her business and life partner Brooke McDonnell in 1995. What began as a small garage roastery in the Bay Area has grown into a thriving business with 12 retail locations and a successful wholesale operation.
In this conversation, Helen shares how she and Brooke built a company around the belief that passion and profit can coexist. She also reflects on the importance of community and human connection in coffee, the role of values in building a successful business, and how commercial performance can create opportunities to make a positive impact.
Credits music: "Lighthouse" by Californian artist Haley Fishberger in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective. Tune into the 5THWAVE Playlist on Spotify for more music from the show
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In today’s episode, we’re exploring how coffee businesses can better understand their customers – from purchasing behaviour and evolving preferences to anticipating future trends and demand.

How can coffee operator gather meaningful feedback and information on their customers purchase decisions? How do you turn that information into actionable insight? And for growing businesses, what are the ways to stay close to your guests and retain brand loyalty as you scale?

We’ll speak with Jonathan Rubinstein, Founder, Joe Coffee Company, Kallie Kocourek, Founder and Hospitality Consultant, GSD Collective, and Lucie Mavlian, Commercial Director, Old Spike Roastery.
Credits music: "Something About Dover" by Milli-Rose in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective. Tune into the 5THWAVE Playlist on Spotify for more music from the show
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Subscribe to 5THWAVE on Instagram @5thWaveCoffee and tell us what topics you'd like to hear

In today’s episode, we’re bringing you some highlights from the live conversations recorded at The Amsterdam Coffee Festival earlier this year – exploring the innovation and consumer trends shaping the European coffee market and beyond.

First up we unpack how Gen Z and younger consumers are reshaping expectations and driving demand for wellness, authenticity and in-store experience. With Ilya Aksamentov, The Miners, Bryan Serwatka, Minor Figures, and Kendra Kroon & Amijé van der Laan, SHOT Lifestyle & Coffee.

Next, we take a look at the latest beverage innovations redefining cafe experience and explore how non-coffee drinks like matcha, chai and functional ingredients are becoming major growth drivers. With Isabella Miglinci, AIYA Europe, Lucia Parlanti, Tea Stories, Tristan Meulenbelt, Oatly, and Salma Tabiat, Nomadschai.

We'll also be exploring bakery trends to find out how cafes are evolving into all day hospitality concepts and why quality food is becoming as important as great coffee. With Nils Klinkspoor of Corri Bakery, Marion Waterkeyn, Gerard Bakery, and Mitchel Charles, Farine.

To close the episode, we take a look at the role of community in modern coffee brands, and why loyalty is driven by belonging, not just product quality. With Veronique Lagarde, DAK Coffee Roasters, Murray Robertson, Amsterdam Coffee Run, and coffee influencer, Sam Lasaroms, koffietje.nl
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In today’s episode, we speak with Afshin Roshanian, co-founder of Romania’s Slow Coffee Festival.

Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, Slow Coffee Festival has become one of Eastern Europe’s flagship specialty coffee events, bringing together the people behind the region’s thriving coffee community. 
In this conversation, we explore the extraordinary rise of Romania as Europe’s fastest-growing coffee market. We also discuss how Slow Coffee Festival has evolved from a consumer-focused event into an international business platform, and the role that community plays in driving the industry’s growth.

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