London Coffee Podcast

In this episode of the London Coffee Podcast, we catch up with Magda and Edwin, founders of Curious Roo, Artisan and the Artisan Coffee School, following their extraordinary seven-month journey from London to Australia with their three children, delivering a bag of coffee across 25 countries and setting a world record along the way.

Returning home with a fresh perspective, they share how stepping away from the business helped them make difficult decisions, including closing their Fulham Broadway café, and refocus Artisan on what matters most: exceptional specialty coffee, genuine passion and spaces they can be proud of. From their global coffee adventure to the next chapter of their businesses and charity work, Magda and Edwin share why staying true to their values matters more than ever.

In this episode of the London Coffee Podcast, we sit down with Joseph Lee, founder of Sontag, to explore his unconventional approach to building a modern coffee shop in London.

Joseph shares how his multicultural background, from Australia and Switzerland to London, shaped his vision for Sontag, and why he believes speed and craft, coffee and matcha, technology and hospitality don’t have to be opposites. We talk about automation, the changing economics of running a coffee shop, the rise of matcha, London’s evolving coffee scene, and Joseph’s ambition to build a business focused on longevity, curiosity and creating memorable everyday experiences.

Nikol Novotná, Head Roaster at WatchHouse, shares her remarkable journey from Bratislava to London, from accidentally becoming a barista to working in the roastery and becoming a Q Grader.
We talk about curiosity, persistence, tasting, roasting, women in coffee, learning from mistakes (and fires!), and why great coffee needs more than science, it needs care, intuition and a human touch.

In this episode of the London Coffee Podcast, we go behind the scenes of the global coffee trade with Hannah Wakefield and Jamie Treby of DRWakefield. We explore how coffee moves from producer to roaster, the realities of sustainability and direct trade, the impact of climate change, geopolitics and market volatility, and what the future might look like for Arabica, Robusta and specialty coffee. A wide-ranging conversation about the people, systems and ideas shaping coffee today.

In this episode of the London Coffee Podcast, we chat with Tommy Ringlöw, Head Barista at Camden Coffee Roastery, about his journey from Sweden and studying music in London to finding his way into coffee.

We talk about the rise of iced coffee and matcha, pre-batched espresso, the art and technique behind latte art, brewing great coffee at home, and the tools that help baristas keep up during a busy service. Tommy also shares his thoughts on staying curious, developing as a barista, building coffee communities, and his slightly unexpected obsession with giraffes.

Daria Bila’s journey to becoming the 2026 UK Barista Champion is about much more than competition. In this episode, she talks about moving from Ukraine to Dublin and then to London, discovering specialty coffee from scratch, and finding a sense of comfort and community in coffee while building a new life. She shares how that journey led her to Formative Coffee, management, and ultimately the UK Barista Championship - which she won on her first attempt. We also look ahead to her preparations for the World Barista Championship in Panama, her connection to Ukraine’s coffee community, and what might come next

In this episode of the London Coffee Podcast, we welcome Xiao Ye and Louis, the founders of Simmos Coffee in Hackney Wick — one of London’s most loved independent coffee shops.

We talk about following gut instinct, finding your place in London’s coffee scene, building a genuine community, creating a sustainable workplace, and why they’re more interested in making one great coffee shop than opening ten. We also dive into their approach to coffee, seasonal drinks, Asian influences, music, creativity, and what it really takes to build a small business from the ground up.
A conversation about coffee, creativity, people — and the dream of building something that can last.
Create a free profile on The London Coffee Guide website, subscribe to @thelondoncoffeeguide on Instagram and follow the latest coffee news, openings, and stories from London’s specialty scene.

Claire Wallace, Head of Coffee Quality at Assembly Coffee and the 2026 UK Barista and in Coffee Good Spirits Champion, joins the London Coffee Podcast to share her journey from studying law to becoming one of the UK's leading coffee professionals. We discuss coffee sourcing, quality control, the challenges of today's coffee market, what it takes to win national championships, and why London remains a global hub for specialty coffee.

Create a free profile on The London Coffee Guide website, subscribe to @thelondoncoffeeguide on Instagram and follow the latest coffee news, openings, and stories from London’s specialty scene.

Izzy Austen joins the London Coffee Podcast to discuss the realities of staffing in specialty coffee, why training the next generation of baristas matters, and how Baristas on Tap is creating flexibility, opportunity, and stronger coffee communities.

Credits music: Small Talk by London artist Hope Winter in association with The Coffee Music Project
Create a free profile on The London Coffee Guide website, subscribe to @thelondoncoffeeguide on Instagram and follow the latest coffee news, openings, and stories from London’s specialty scene.

In this episode of the London Coffee Podcast, we sit down with Andrew Whitworth-Smith, founder of The Cupping Directives and Waypoint. Andrew shares his journey from barista to coffee community builder, the story behind creating a central hub for coffee events, and his mission to make coffee education more accessible. We explore sensory experiences, co-fermentation, sustainability, and the future of specialty coffee.
 
Credits music: Small Talk by London artist Hope Winter in association with The Coffee Music Project
Create a free profile on The London Coffee Guide website, subscribe to @thelondoncoffeeguide on Instagram and follow the latest coffee news, openings, and stories from London’s specialty scene.