21 years ago Hacienda La Esmeralda became synonymous with Geisha coffee. Rachel tells the remarkable story of what led to Esmeralda's historic "Triple Crown" victory at the Best of Panama competition. For the first time, a single farm won first place for its Natural, Washed, and varietal coffees, building on the Peterson family's legacy in specialty coffee production.

From a challenging start to a world-renowned Gesha Forest, Max Perez of Finca La Hermosa shares his story of passion, perseverance, and pioneering innovation in Guatemalan coffee.

"What if we do this ourselves?" Adam Overton and Rachel Samuel, the visionary founders of Gesha Village, walk us through their journey from documentary filmmakers to pioneering coffee producers. Their passion and insight come through in this episode of The Cupping Table. Their journey captures the beauty, quality, and community of the remote Ethiopian forrest that became Gesha Village.

What's next for Kona coffee? Jean Orlowski, the founder of Hala Tree, walks us through his journey from french family farm to global commodity trading to "retiring" to Hawaii; Where he met his hardest challenge yet: Kona coffee farmer. His passion and insight come through loud and clear in this episode.

In this episode of The Cupping Table podcast, David Paparelli sat down in London with Nic Lauten and Fred Nsengiyumva of the Kula Project—a nonprofit organization working on the ground in Rwanda to bring coffee farmers out of poverty. The conversation offered a rare behind-the-scenes look at the realities of running a washing station, managing farmer relationships, and building a business that is both impactful and sustainable.

Join us for an in-depth conversation with Maria Olano, Senior Coffee Trader for the FNC in Colombia. This episode explores the role of the FNC in shaping the future of Colombian coffee, from sustainability and research to fostering stronger connections between growers and roasters. Maria shares her insights on the evolving coffee market, the impact of innovation, and the upcoming 10th edition of the Colombia Land of Diversity Auction; Showcasing the best of Colombian coffee to the world. Tune in for a closer look at how Colombian coffee continues to set the standard globally.

In this special episode of The Cupping Table, we bring you an exclusive conversation from the Dubai Coffee Auction live at WOC, where M-Cultivo CEO David Paparelli sat down with four of the world’s most innovative coffee producers:

• Daniela Rodriguez from Los Rodriguez from Bolivia
• Mokhtar Alkhanshali from Alkhanshali Estate from Yemen
• Jorge Castro from Inmaculada Coffee Farms from Colombia
• Kraig Lee from Kona Farm Direct from Hawaii

From the cups that changed their lives to the science and controversy of fermentation, the role of auctions, and the future of high-end coffee, this discussion dives deep into what it takes to produce some of the most exceptional coffees in the world

Three-time Turkish Barista Champion Serkan Sagsoz shares his journey from coffee enthusiast to entrepreneur in Dubai. In this episode of The Cupping Table, hosted by David Paparelli, Serkan discusses his passion for Liberica coffee, the challenges of building a specialty coffee business, and his vision for Julith Coffee. Discover how he is redefining coffee experiences and pushing the boundaries of quality in Dubai’s competitive market.

Join David Paparelli as he sits down with Andrew Yu, co-founder of Panda Bear Express, to explore the complexities of sourcing high-end specialty coffee. From navigating global markets to building long-term producer relationships, Andrew shares insights into what makes a coffee truly exceptional. Tune in for a deep dive into the evolving specialty coffee industry, the role of auctions, and the future of high-quality coffee sourcing.

What happens when a consultant stumbles upon a Colombian coffee farm and never looks back? Don Tulio (Sharam) went from finance to farming, building Colombian Exotics—a vertically integrated coffee company spanning high-altitude farms to global markets.In this episode, recorded at World of Coffee Dubai, he shares how a single visit transformed his life, why he puts jazz music on for his coffee, and his mission to make specialty coffee more accessible. From battling weather challenges to breaking into China’s coffee scene, Don Tulio is redefining what it means to be a modern coffee producer.Tune in for a story of passion, persistence, and a vision for the future of coffee.