The London Coffee Festival Podcast

Recorded live at The London Coffee Festival 2026, Ant Duckworth, Founder of Dear Coco, and Leon Zadeh, Founder of Saint Espresso, share the realities of building coffee brands in today's challenging market.

From Ant's leap from corporate life to coffee entrepreneurship, to Leon's journey growing Saint Espresso into one of London's most respected specialty coffee businesses, the pair discuss scaling sustainably, self-funded growth versus investment, leadership, resilience and the importance of staying curious.

At the heart of the conversation is a shared belief that great coffee businesses are built around people.

Recorded live at The London Coffee Festival 2026 and brought to you by The London Coffee Festival. 🎙️☕

What happens when two of London's most respected coffee operators sit down for a candid conversation? A masterclass in hospitality, leadership, culture, and building coffee businesses that stand the test of time.

Recorded live at The London Coffee Festival 2026, James Hennebry, Co-Founder of Rosslyn Coffee, joins Max Dubiel, Co-Founder of Redemption Roasters, for an honest and insightful discussion about scaling specialty coffee without losing what makes it special.

From Rosslyn's journey from a single coffee shop to ten thriving locations across the City of London, James reflects on the challenges of growing organically, maintaining exceptional standards, and protecting company culture as the business expands. Max shares his own experiences building Redemption Roasters and explains how hiring, staff development and retention have become central to long-term success.

Together, they explore what hospitality businesses can learn from great leadership, why culture is often a company's greatest competitive advantage, and how finding the right people matters far more than finding perfect CVs.

The conversation also dives into product development, seasonal drinks, specialty coffee trends, operational simplicity, bakery ambitions, and the delicate balance between staying relevant and staying true to your brand.

A thoughtful, funny and deeply honest conversation about coffee, community, culture, and the people behind some of London's most influential specialty coffee brands.

Recorded live at The London Coffee Festival 2026 and brought to you by The London Coffee Festival. 🎙️☕

What happens when two coffee industry mates sit down at The London Coffee Festival for a chat? A lot of coffee talk, a few confessions, and absolutely no shortage of laughs.

Recorded live at The London Coffee Festival 2026, Stu, Co-Founder of Scenery, is joined by Jamie, Head of Wholesale & Sales at Plot Roasting, for a wide-ranging conversation covering everything from how they found their way into specialty coffee to building roasteries, and occasionally questioning what they're actually doing.

The pair reflect on Scenery's early days roasting at Plot, the community spirit that makes specialty coffee so unique, and the reality of growing a business in one of the world's most competitive coffee scenes.

Along the way you'll hear stories involving broken printers, cricket careers, cycling obsessions, imposter syndrome, coffee epiphanies, pumpkin spice lattes, and why some of the best friendships in coffee are built over a shared flat white.

A funny, honest and insightful conversation about coffee, community and the people who make the industry what it is.

Recorded live at The London Coffee Festival 2026 and brought to you by The London Coffee Festival. 🎙️☕

Recorded live on Thursday 26 February 2026, this was the very first event in

Featuring Harry George, Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood, Jodie Williams and Muriel Morgan Walckiers, the conversation highlights the power of listening, creating welcoming spaces, and embedding inclusion into everyday business practices.

For more information visit: https://www.londoncoffeefestival.com/journal-1/lcf-conversation-inclusivity-coffee-night-honest-dialogue-community-energy

In this final Founder Stays On episode before the London Coffee Festival 2026, Katherine Swift, Founder of OMGTea, talks with Max Dubiel, Founder of Redemption Roasters - the world’s first prison‑based specialty coffee company. Max shares how Redemption grew from roasting behind prison walls to becoming a leading social‑impact brand reducing reoffending through barista training and meaningful employment.

They also explore the rise of matcha, the future of coffee from low‑caffeine trends to cold formats ethical sourcing, and how wellness is reshaping what consumers want. Katherine shares the OMGTea journey and why provenance and quality matter more than ever.

An inspiring conversation at the intersection of coffee, matcha, and social purpose.

Please note: this episode includes background noise due to being recorded in a coffee shop, which may intermittently interfere with audio.

This podcast is brought to you by the London Coffee Festival - discover more at https://www.londoncoffeefestival.com/ and catch up on the rest of the podcast episodes.

Our thanks to Hermanos Colombian Coffee Roasters Muro Aldgate for hosting the recording.

In this episode, Katherine Swift, founder of OMGTea, and Brendan Olley, co‑founder of Shed, discuss the purpose‑driven origins of their businesses and the realities of building authentic brands in the wellness and specialty coffee worlds.

Katherine shares how OMGTea was born from her mother’s cancer diagnosis and her discovery of matcha’s powerful health benefits, while Brendan reflects on the growth of Shed from a creative co‑working community into a multi‑site coffee and studio brand.

Together, they explore the rise of matcha, the pressures of founder life, sustainable growth, and staying true to their values.

A warm, insightful conversation about passion, purpose, and building businesses with heart.

If you’re a coffee lover, café owner, or a creative thinking about starting something of your own, this episode offers grounded insight, real‑world experience, and plenty of inspiration from two founders who’ve lived it.

This podcast is brought to you by the London Coffee Festival — discover more at https://www.londoncoffeefestival.com/

Recorded at Hermanos Colombian Coffee Roasters - Muro Aldgate location.

In this episode, Santiago Gamboa, Co-Founder of Hermanos Coffee Roasters and Christopher Fields, Co-Founder of Shed sit down for an honest conversation about what it really takes to build and sustain an independent coffee business in London.

Recorded inside a Hermanos Muro in Aldgate East, they reflect on the nerves of opening a first shop, the shock of opening a second, the realities of roasting in tiny spaces, and how COVID reshaped neighbourhood trade.

They talk openly about working closely with the people you trust, staying consistent as you grow, and the tough moments — including when closing a site becomes the smartest decision you can make.

They also share what's next: strengthening existing shops, expanding wholesale, exploring franchising, and building long‑term brand resilience.

If you’re a coffee lover, café owner, or a creative thinking about starting something of your own, this episode offers grounded insight, real‑world experience, and plenty of inspiration from two founders who’ve lived it.

This podcast is brought to you by the London Coffee Festival — discover more at https://www.londoncoffeefestival.com/

Santiago Gamboa, Co‑Founder of Hermanos Coffee Roasters, & Kirby Sinclair of The Roasting Party
From roasting in living rooms to building award‑winning specialty coffee brands, Santiago and Kirby share raw, honest stories about community, resilience, and shaping the future of coffee.

Recorded at BloomsYard, Level 2, 100 Liverpool St, London EC2M 2AT.

🎧 Listen now and subscribe for more stories from the people shaping specialty coffee.

Next Episode: Bharti Radix x Kirby Sinclair
Ever dreamt of opening a coffee shop? Bharti Radix (BloomsYard) and Kirby Sinclair (The Roasting Party) reveal what it really takes - from building a brand and leading a team to surviving the toughest times in hospitality.

Recorded at BloomsYard, Level 2, 100 Liverpool St, London EC2M 2AT, this candid conversation is packed with insights for coffee lovers and entrepreneurs alike.

🎧 Listen now and subscribe for more stories from the people shaping specialty coffee.

Next Episode: Bharti Radix x Kirby Sinclair

Recorded at BloomsYard, Level 2, 100 Liverpool St, London EC2M 2AT, this candid conversation is packed with insights for coffee lovers and entrepreneurs alike.

🎧 Listen now and subscribe for more stories from the people shaping specialty coffee.