5THWAVE - The Business of Coffee and Hospitality

In today’s episode, we're speaking with Elisa Marshall and Benjamin Sormonte, Founders of Maman, a French-inspired boutique café and bakery chain that began in New York and has since expanded across the US and to Canada.

Since its founding in 2014, Maman has grown exponentially, and by the end of this year, they’ll be celebrating a remarkable milestone of 40 stores, including locations in New York, Washington, Florida and Toronto. Next week also marks Maman's 10th anniversary, a decade filled with delicious food, welcoming spaces, and vibrant community.

In this inspiring conversation, Elisa and Ben share the secrets behind Maman's rapid growth and how they’ve built such an impressive brand in a short space of time. They also discuss the importance of bringing their team along on the journey, fostering a sense of ownership and ensuring everyone feels like a true partner in the business.

Credits music: "For Me" by Norman Alexander in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective

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In today’s episode, we welcome back Roland Horne, CEO and founder of WatchHouse, one of the world’s leading boutique specialty coffee businesses.

This month, WatchHouse celebrates its 10th anniversary — a milestone for this ambitious and fast-growing brand, which now operates 20 boutique coffee houses across London, Bath, and New York City.

Roland has led WatchHouse through multiple funding rounds, including a recent standout £7.2 million ($9 million) campaign, recording the largest-ever hospitality equity-only raise on a crowdfunding platform.

In this conversation, Roland reflects on what makes a funding campaign a success, emphasising the importance of momentum and authenticity. He also discusses his personal drive to leave a lasting legacy, while building a best-in-class international coffee brand.

Credits music: "Mad" by May Roze in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective

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In this episode, we’re speaking with Regina Frey, Founder of Orang Utan Coffee, and Diana Kosmanto, its CEO. Orang Utan Coffee is a unique coffee trader and social enterprise dedicated to supporting rainforest conservation and empowering local coffee farmers in Sumatra.

Founded in 2004, Orang Utan Coffee’s model is one of collaboration rather than ownership, partnering closely with farmers to promote sustainable coffee production while protecting the natural habitat of Sumatran orangutans.

In our conversation, Regina and Diana share their experiences working with the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme and educating local communities on the importance of habitat and rainforest conservation. They also discuss the challenges of building trust with farmers and the importance of long-term partnerships to ensure stable incomes and sustainable practices.

Credits music: "The Goodbye Scene" by Kinsave Ft. Oumy N'diaye & Steve Cara in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective

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Following on from our last episode on coffee and music, we're bringing you an extra special bonus interview today with one of my favourite musicians - Grammy Winner and friend of the podcast, Nicole Zuraitis.

We first met Nicole in 2016 when she won the Coffee Music Project New York Competition with her wonderful track “I Like You A Latte”. Fast-forward 8 years and Nicole is now an award-winning jazz singer-songwriter and pianist who this year scooped up the GRAMMY for Best Jazz Vocal Album.

In this conversation, we catch up with Nicole to see what she’s been up to since her historic win and the connection she sees between the music and coffee worlds.

Credits music: "Two Fish" by Nicole Zuraitis in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective

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In today's episode, we're exploring the connection between coffee and music and how the right soundtrack can contribute to the success of a hospitality venue.

How do you identify the perfect playlist? How do different genres, moods, and tempos shape the right customer experience throughout the entire week? And what are the latest trends in hospitality music?

To answer these questions, we'll speak with Paul Ettinger, Business Development and Music Director, Caffè Nero, along with two experts from music curation companies - Magnus Linn, Music Consultant, Startle Music and Rey Day, Music and Communications Manager Playlister.

Credits music: "The Coffee Song (I Like You A Latte)" by Nicole Zuraitis in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective

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During our short summer break here we’re re-sharing one of our favourites conversations from the past year. We’ll return to Dan Martensen, the man behind the overnight sensation, It's Bagels - a New-York inspired bagel and coffee shop in London’s Primrose Hill.

Dan opened the doors to Its Bagels in September 2023 and within days they had queues of customers lining up to get their hands on one of Dan’s delicious bagels. So, how did he do it?

In this conversation Dan shares the secrets behind the daunting task of generating PR for a new brand. He also discusses his community-centric approach to business and the art of balancing tradition and modernity.

Credits music: "Mother" by Daisy Chute in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective

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Today we’re excited to bring you the full length interview with Kate O’Brien, Executive Director of the Costa Foundation. We first spoke to Kate for our episode on using coffee for social good, but her insights were so valuable that we wanted to share the entire conversation with you today.

Kate has a wealth of experience across the charity sector and in this extended edit, shares some compelling details and examples from the Costa Foundation’s community impact.

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Following on from our last episode on leveraging coffee for good, we’re bringing you the full interview with Cemal Ezel, Founder of the social enterprise Change Please and Old Spike Roastery. 

Cemal’s insights on both social impact and commercial success were so compelling that we wanted to share the full conversation with you today. In this extended edit, Cemal discusses Change Please’s unique business model and holistic approach to tackling homelessness. He also discusses his recent collaboration with Nespresso and shares exciting plans for global expansion

Credits music: "Calling It" by Richard James aka HOLNE in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective

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In today’s episode, we’re exploring how businesses can leverage coffee as a force for good, benefiting both our coffee communities and the world beyond.

We’ll speak with three leaders from remarkable social organisations to learn about their transformative work and the tangible impact they're making on people's lives.

Cemal Ezel, Founder and CEO Change Please, reveals how his innovative business model provides housing and barista training for individuals experiencing homelessness, empowering them to build brighter futures.

Kate O’Brien, Executive Director of the Costa Foundation shares the charity's mission to support education in coffee-growing communities by funding schools for children where they are needed the most.

Mia Hartwell, Head of Food at the environmental action group Hubbub discusses how the organisation collaborates with communities and hospitality businesses to drive positive environmental change.

Credits music: "Something New" by Naomi Banks 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 Jeanine Niyonzima-Aroian, Owner of JNP Coffee and Board Director of the Specialty Coffee Association, to get an overview of the Burundi coffee market – a vibrant, yet relatively unknown origin.

Founded in 2012, JNP Coffee produces, promotes and trades African specialty coffee and is committed to transforming lives of people in Burundi through economic empowerment. 

In this conversation Jeanine discusses the crucial role coffee plays in Burundi’s economy and her mission to raise this market’s awareness.  She also emphasises the importance of education, youth involvement, and local processing in adding value to the country’s coffee production.

Credits music: "Take it Off" By Samantha Franks 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