5THWAVE - The Business of Coffee and Hospitality

In today’s episode we’re bringing you an interview with a true hospitality legend and genuine artisan, Tony Papas. Tony is a multi-faceted entrepreneur, with a global career spanning Michelin-starred restaurants, a boutique bakery, specialty coffee and most recently, developing an olive farm in Southern Italy.

In this conversation, Tony discusses his early background in hospitality before joining New Zealand-based specialty roaster Allpress Espresso and launching the business in London and Europe.

Tony also shares his business instinct of knowing when to jump in and when to step away and the importance of good communication and fostering a cohesive team culture by bringing every member of the team along on the adventure.

Credits music: "Don't Delete Me" by Lisa Crawley in collaboration with The Coffee Music Project

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In today's episode we're diving into the topic of market research and exploring how operators can gain a deeper understanding of their consumers.

In conversations with Dr. Ernest Baskin, Associate Professor, St. Joseph’s University of Philadelphia, Blonnie Whist, Insight Director, Lumina Intelligence, and JP Then, Co-founder of Crosstown and Founder of online ordering system Slerp, we unpack the latest behavioural trends in hospitality and find out how gathering regular consumer data and insight can help operators better understand their trading environment and maximise sales.

Credits music: "Do You Know" by Steve Ray Ladson in collaboration with The Coffee Music Project

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To kick off 2023 we’re bringing you an interview with a true industry legend – the one and only George Howell, a name synonymous with coffee excellence.

Since the 1980s George has played an integral role in the development of specialty coffee in Western markets – pioneering the third-wave coffee movement and championing single origin coffees and direct trade. 

In this conversation George shares details of his early coffee career and experiences,  including the ‘unlikely’ sale of his small Boston-based coffee chain to Starbucks. He also discusses balancing business with his true passion for coffee discovery and his desire to share and highlight the highest-quality coffees from around the world.

Credits music: "Unreliable" by Dudley Music in collaboration with The Coffee Music Project

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With the festive season well under way we thought now was the perfect time to indulge our minds in the exciting topic of coffee and alcohol and find out how these two beverages coexist seamlessly across different hospitality settings.

In conversations with Professor Jonathan Morris, Research Professor at Hertfordshire University, Michelle Cannone, Global Brand Director, Away from Home  and Mattia Pastori, Brand Ambassador at Lavazza, we explore alcohol's historical connection with coffee, the synergies between the two beverages and the tradition and global influence of the Italian Caffe Bar.

Credits music: "Make Me" by Jackson Sage in collaboration with The Coffee Music Project

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On the podcast this week, we're exploring the remarkable growth of cafés in Saudi Arabia and why coffee is fast-becoming big business in the Middle East powerhouse.

In conversations with Abdullah Al Harazi, Technical Training Manager, Barn's, Sara Alali, Founder, THAT Boutique Café, and Fadi Hamoud, COO and Ali Alkhabbaz, Head of Coffee, Nejoud Restaurant Management Company, we discuss Saudi's historical coffee culture, the trends that are shaping the market today, and the growth opportunities for homegrown and international coffee businesses.

Credits music: "All I know" by Norman Alexander in collaboration with The Coffee Music Project

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In today’s episode, we’re bringing you a feature length interview with Nick Stone, CEO and Founder of Bluestone Lane - an Australian inspired, boutique hospitality chain with 62 locations in major cities across the US.

In this fascinating conversation, Nick shares his extraordinary insight, key business learnings and wisdom gained from his multifaceted career. He also discusses the importance of developing a distinct and well-communicated value proposition and how human connection and community are central to the essence of Bluestone Lane.

Credits music: "Beat the Blue" by KIA in collaboration with The Coffee Music Project

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On the podcast today we're exploring the business case for drive-thru coffee and the potential for this highly-profitable format to expand across new market segments and geographies.

In conversation with Kevin Hydes, Chief Commercial Officer, Tim Hortons, UK&I, Brett Bolwell, CEO, Barista Technology, and coffee historian Amanda Whitt, we explore the historical rise of drive-thru coffee in the US, the gravitation towards convenience post-Covid, and the format's growing popularity in the UK, Australia and beyond.

Credits music: "The Great Outdoors" by Richard James aka HOLNE in collaboration with The Coffee Music Project

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This week we’re chatting with Ralf Rüller, Founder, CEO and creative force behind The Barn - a curated specialty coffee business with a roastery and 10 coffee shops in Berlin, plus three international stores, spanning Mallorca, Dubai, and most recently Seoul in Korea.

In this conversation Ralf shares his entrepreneurial journey from a career in banking and a stint in acting school in London before stepping into the world of coffee and founding his own business. He also discusses his ambitions for international expansion, and how his total obsession with quality has always been at the core of his business philosophy.

Credits music: "Little Pieces" by Pablo Mir-Mir in collaboration with The Coffee Music Project

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On the podcast this week we're examining the impact of soaring energy prices and how café operators are navigating this unprecedented crisis.

We first speak with Murielle Gagnebin, Senior Associate of EU Energy Policy at Agora Energiewende, to understand how the energy crisis arose and how long policymakers expect it will last. We also speak with Henry Ayers, Co-Founder, The Gentlemen Baristas and Konstantinos Konstantinopoulos, CEO, Coffee Island about the pressures operators are facing and how they are managing the steep increase in costs across their businesses.

Credits music: "Life Lives Inside" by Flo Perlin and Pilgrim’s Dream in collaboration with The Coffee Music Project

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On the podcast this week we’re bringing you a feature length interview with Roland Horne, Founder & CEO of WatchHouse – a boutique specialty coffee business with 10 locations across London, and five new UK sites already in design plus a flagship store scheduled to open in Manhattan in 2023.

In this conversation, Roland discusses his entrepreneurial vision and growth ambitions for the business and shares how his risk-on mindset and desire to leave a meaningful legacy has helped to rapidly propel WatchHouse.

Credits music: "Don't Give Up" by Yolanda Mutesasira in collaboration with The Coffee Music Project

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Subscribe to 5THWAVE on Instagram @5thWaveCoffee and tell us what topics you'd like to hear