5THWAVE - The Business of Coffee and Hospitality

In today’s episode, we catch up with Jack Simpson of Axil Coffee Roasters in Melbourne and the reigning World Barista Champion.

After taking the Australian Barista Championship title three years in a row, Jack claimed the world crown in Milan in November, 2025.

In this conversation, Jack reflects on the experience of winning on the biggest coffee stage in the world, the pressure and opportunities that followed, and what comes next. We also discuss sustainability in coffee, and why, for Jack, it’s ultimately about relationships, respect and long-term support for coffee producers, to ensure fairness and economic viability across the supply chain.

Credits music: "Nothing is Forever" by Georgia Mooney 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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Today, we’re bringing you two standout conversations recorded live on the 5THWAVE stage at The Amsterdam Coffee Festival 2026.

First up, we're joined by Menno Simons, Founder of Bocca Coffee and a pioneer of the Dutch specialty coffee scene. In this thought-provoking conversation, Menno reflects on 25 years of Bocca, the evolution and longevity of specialty coffee, and why even the most established brands must continue to adapt and innovate.

We then speak with Paul Sharo, Founder of Man Met Bril Koffie – the Rotterdam-based coffee hotel and roastery. In this conversation we discuss how career pathways in coffee are always evolving, and why the industry can be a platform for entrepreneurship as much as employment.

Credits music: "Here's To" by Pien 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 bringing you highlights from a series of live conversations recorded at Le Paris Café Festival earlier this year, exploring the future of France’s burgeoning specialty coffee market.

In the first conversation we speak Sandra Bouckenooghe, La Marzocco France, Christophe Servell, Terres De Café and Julie Duval at Oatly France, to  discuss the evolution of the French coffee market and the shift towards more structured business models.

We then take a deep dive into the beverage innovations reshaping coffee shop menus in France with Hippolyte Courty, L'Arbre à Café, Ryan Milstein,La Main Noire and Alice Vasseur, Brûlerie des Gobelins and Cafes Richards.

Next, we explore how automation is transforming coffee operations with Tom Clark, Coutume Café, Dominique Lasseur​, SEB Professional, Adrien Poncet, BRITA, Nicolas Poirot-Crouvezier, Simonelli Group and Marco De Sousa Rosa​, MaxiCoffee

To close the episode we look at the rise of the home coffee segment with David Flynn, Belleville Brulerie Paris, Monica Lee, La Marzocco France, Charles Dézé, De'Longhi France, Frédéric Smedile, Café Mokxa, Laurent Canavese, Café Lauca

Credits music: "Paris" by Bandits On The Run 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 diving into the fast-moving world of beverage innovation.

Everyone wants to know what the next big beverage trend will be – the next iced matcha, mushroom latte or ube cold foam moment. But true beverage innovation is more than chasing trends. It’s about understanding what consumers value, recognising emerging opportunities, and delivering products in ways that feel relevant, distinctive and authentic to your brand.

So in this episode, we’re asking – how can operators build an innovative beverage programme? Which flavours, formats and signature drinks are genuinely resonating with consumers today? And where will the next wave of inspiration come from?

We're joined by Josh Tarlo, Director of Growth, Origin Coffee, Chi Sum Ngai, Co-Founder, Coffee Project New York, and David Deeley, Marketing Director for Foodservice Europe, Kerry.

Credits music: "Mary Jane" by Arif Raihan 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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This year’s London Coffee Festival is fast approaching – once again bringing together thousands of coffee professionals and enthusiasts for four days of conversation, innovation, and endless tastings in the heart of one of the world’s most dynamic coffee cities.

Since launching in 2011, the festival has become far more than a celebration of coffee culture. It’s a key moment for the industry to connect, spotlight innovation, and stay ahead of the trends shaping coffee’s future.

In this episode we catch up with both new and familiar faces from the festival community to hear what’s capturing their attention this year, how they approach an event of this scale, and why London Coffee Festival remains such an important fixture on the global coffee stage.

We're joined by Ian Bryson, Managing Director, Lincoln & York, Siala Farani-Tomlin, Head of Coffee, Elsewhere Coffee, Sam Warren, Brand Manager, La Savista, Will Hinton, National Sales Manager, BWT water+more, and Corin Camenisch, Global Marketing & Brand Strategy Lead, SumUp.

And if you’re visiting London Coffee Festival this year, be sure to stop by our stand (M12, Upper Ground Floor), say hello and pick up your free copy of 5THWAVE Magazine. This year we’ll be collaborating with The London Coffee Guide to give visitors the chance to get behind the mic and share their extra hot coffee takes!

 
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In today’s episode, we're speaking with Lisa Lawson, founder of Scotland’s Dear Green Coffee Roasters.

Lisa started in the coffee industry working alongside Toby Smith in the early days of creating Toby’s Estate in Sydney, and went on to launch Dear Green in Glasgow in 2011, with a mission to bring sustainably sourced coffees to her local community.  Since then, Dear Green has become a cornerstone of the Scottish specialty coffee scene – not only producing the Glasgow Coffee Festival, but also setting the benchmark for what a responsible coffee business should look like.

In this inspiring conversation, Lisa shares her philosophy of embedding sustainability into every aspect of her business. She also offers practical advice for greener operations – from measuring and reducing carbon emissions, to investing in renewable energy and working towards zero-to-landfill waste goals.

Credits music: "Dust of a Star" by Daisy Chute 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 the rise of coffee shop concepts within boutique retail spaces, and speaking with Marcus Sanders, Vice President of Global Food and Beverage at luxury fashion brand Coach.

While best known for its designer handbags, Coach launched The Coach Coffee Shop in 2024 as a way to expand the brand beyond traditional retail. The concept has since grown to more than 20 locations globally and is set for rapid expansion.

In this conversation, we unpack the strategic thinking behind retail cafés, driven by shifting consumer behaviour and a growing demand for experiences, not just products. Marcus also shares how coffee can act as a powerful engagement engine, creating deeper brand connections and serving as an accessible entry point for a new generation of luxury consumers.

Credits music: "XO" by Millie Bushell 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 Trish Rothgeb, founder of Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters in San Francisco.

With over 30 years in the coffee industry, Trish was a true pioneer of the West Coast specialty coffee movement in the early 2000s and is widely credited with popularising the term “Third Wave Coffee.”

In this conversation, we explore the evolution of specialty coffee culture and the major shifts in consumer behaviour over the last two decades. Trish also shares why she believes the next meaningful shift must focus on equity across the global supply chain, and why lasting change will only come when economic models work sustainably for producers, not just pleasing consumers.

Subscribe to Trish's Substack and read her article on Third Wave Coffee here

Tune in to Picture Day on YouTube for more coffee adventures with Trish Rothgeb and Jay Lljewski

Credits music: "I'm Fine" by Bobbi Stella 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 climate change and deforestation are impacting global coffee production, with Dr. Aaron Davis, Senior Research Leader for Crops & Global Change at The Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew.

Aaron has spent more than three decades researching coffee species and is a leading voice on climate resilience and future-proofing global coffee production. 

In this thought-provoking conversation, Aaron unpacks coffee farming’s complex relationship with deforestation and assesses its impact on forest ecosystems. He also highlights the rise of alternative coffee species, and why transparency and unlocking genetic diversity are key to our industry’s long-term survival.

Credits music: "Natures Hands" by Flo Perlin 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 Gabriel Shohet, Co-founder of of UK coffee trailblazer Black Sheep Coffee.

Founded in 2013 with friend and business partner Eirik Holth, Black Sheep had a bold vision: to champion specialty-grade robusta at a time when the industry was almost entirely focused on arabica. Since then, the brand has achieved remarkable success, scaling to over 130 outlets across five markets and capturing the attention of a new generation of coffee drinkers along the way. 

In this conversation, Gabriel reflects on Black Sheep’s philosophy of challenging the status quo and choosing not to blindly follow industry trends. He also shares insight into the brand’s US expansion strategy – targeting Sunbelt states like Texas and Florida over more well-trodden markets such as New York and LA – to show the model resonates with a broader, more inclusive American audience.

Credits music: "Shock Me" by Gina Zo 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