In today’s episode we speak with Mark Sciberras, Director of The Common E2 and Common Ground Workshop – an East London café and architecture studio specialising in hospitality and residential design.

Originally from Melbourne, Mark trained as an architect before moving to London in the mid-2000s. Inspired by the city’s emerging specialty coffee scene, he opened The Common E2 in 2014, creating a space that reflects his design philosophy and passion for community.

In this conversation, we explore the synergies between coffee and architecture and how great design can shape the way we interact with spaces, build communities, and create a sense of belonging. Mark also shares his thoughts on the impact of gentrification on East London’s coffee scene and why he advocates for slow, organic growth rather than rapid expansion.

Credits music: "Aurora" by Matt Kent in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective

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In our final live session from the event, we’re joined by Konstantinos Konstantinopoulos, CEO of Coffee Island, and Alex Pantziaros, founder of Coffeeco Upcycle, to explore their mission of transforming coffee waste into high-value products.

Coffee Island is Greece’s largest coffee chain, with over 450 outlets in Greece and an additional 50 across nine international markets.

Coffeeco Upcycle set up in 2018 with a vision to unlock new opportunities for sustainability in coffee.

In this conversation, Konstantinos and Alex discuss the innovative process of turning coffee waste into exciting new products, as well as the environmental and social benefits that upcycling offers the entire coffee industry.

Credits music: "Nafarios" by Arch Duke in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective

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In today’s episode we’re speaking with a very special guest – Paul Ross, founder of Special Guests Coffee, a boundary-pushing specialty coffee business based in the heart of London. 

A two-time UK Barista Champion, Paul founded Special Guests in 2022 with a mission to curate rare specialty coffees from around the world and showcase these hidden gems to wider audiences through his coffee venue and online platform.

In this conversation, Paul explains how physical coffee shops play a vital role in fostering community and building a cohesive ecosystem for his business. He also emphasises the importance of carving out a distinct identity by blending personal experience with insights from coffee industry peers.

Credits music: "Miraculous Wonders" by Akeira Jade in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective

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In today's episode we’re finding out how specialty roasters and distributors are navigating the ever-changing landscape of e-commerce coffee. 

In an era where the competition is now global, how do brands stand out from the crowd? How can businesses engage with consumers and build loyal audiences online? And what lies ahead for the burgeoning new coffee discovery segment?

We'll speak with Menno Simons, Founder, Bocca Coffee, Suneal Pabari, Co-founder, The Roasters Pack and Alice Wainwright, Co-founder, Rise Coffee Box.

Get 15% off your first three boxes at Rise Coffee Box with the discount code WAVE15

Credits music: "Soulmate" by Catherine Taylor Dawson in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective

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In today’s episode, we’re speaking with Stuart Forsyth, CEO & Co-founder of distinctive and influential oat milk brand, Minor Figures.

Stuart set up Minor Figures in London back in 2015 with a vision to create an accessible alternative milk brand that complements the taste of coffee and champions our industry. Today, Minor Figures is a leading player in the global oat milk category operating across Europe, Australia, the US and Japan.

In this conversation, Stuart shares the philosophy behind Minor Figures and how he built a business centred on self-discovery through organic growth. He also explains why coffee is a powerful cultural nexus and the perfect conduit for creativity and human connection. 

Credits music: Last Chance by Emily Sutherland and ELNO in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective

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For the second revisit episode of our Holiday break, we’re returning to one of the most inspiring conversations of last year, with Cemal Ezel, Founder of the social enterprise Change Please and Old Spike Roastery.

Cemal’s insight into balancing social impact with commercial success is thought-provoking and powerful. In this extended interview, he shares how Change Please uses a unique business model to tackle homelessness – one cup of coffee at a time.

Cemal also talks about his recent collaboration with Nespresso and reveals exciting plans for global expansion, showcasing how purpose-driven businesses can create real, meaningful change.

As we take a short break over Christmas and New Year, we’re re-sharing some of our favourite conversations from the past 12 months.

First up, we’re revisiting an inspiring conversation with Elisa Marshall and Benjamin Sormonte, Founders of Maman – the French-inspired boutique café and bakery chain that began in New York and has since expanded across the US and into Canada.

Since its launch in 2014, Maman has experienced phenomenal growth, now boasting nearly 40 locations across New York, Washington, Florida, and Toronto.

In this conversation, Ben and Elisa reveal the secrets behind their rapid success and share how they’ve built such an impressive and beloved brand in under a decade. The couple also discuss the importance of fostering a sense of ownership within their team, ensuring everyone feels like a valued partner on their growth journey.

In today's episode we're continuing our tradition of sharing an alternative Christmas playlist to soundtrack your celebrations over the Christmas period!

We love to close each episode with music from up-and-coming artists, in association with The Coffee Music Project. So, today, we’re bringing you a special bonus episode filled with some of the best tracks we’ve featured this year.

So grab a glass of mulled wine, settle into your cosiest spot, and enjoy this hand-picked collection of incredible music. A huge thank you to all the talented artists who’ve shared their music with us throughout the year.

Tracklist

1. Two Fish – Nicole Zuraitis
2. Christmas Time – Erin Bowman
3. Rise – The Elidas
4. For Me – Norman Alexander
5. Can I see You Tomorrow – Natalie Oliveri
6. Fool – Alessia Piermarini
7. CLOUDS – Pien
8. Calling It – HOLNE
9. Wild Wind – PHILDEL
10. Streets of London – Charlotte Campbell
11. One Year – Kirsten Izer
12. Hold On To Us – The Dunwells, Hollie Rogers, Daisy Chute

In today's episode, we're exploring the growing global trend of co-roasting – a collaborative and community-driven approach that has been gaining traction in recent years. 

How does co-roasting work? What are the benefits for roasters? And how does this model support the wider coffee community?

To find out, we’ll hear from the founders of three exciting shared roasting concepts: Philipp Reichel, Co-founder, Communal Coffee, Andy Wells, Founder, Press Coffee & Co., and Leonardo Azeredo, Founder Co-Roasting Community. 

Credits music: Christmas Time by Erin Bowman in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective

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Today, we’re excited to bring you the next instalment of our 5THWAVE Live sessions, recorded at the European Coffee Symposium in Berlin 2024. 

We welcome back to the show David Abrahamovitch, CEO and founder of Grind – a boutique hospitality group with 14 locations, a roastery and thriving direct-to-consumer coffee business.

In this candid conversation, David shares his strategies for securing capital to fuel Grind’s impressive growth. He also explores how the transition to a multi-channel business model has been instrumental in shaping the brand’s ongoing success.

Credits music: What on Earth by HOLNE in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective

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Today, we're continuing our deep dive into how water quality can transform the taste and character of coffee. In part one, we explored the fascinating science behind water and coffee brewing. In part two, we’ll find out how water science is being applied in practice to elevate customer experience. 

We'll speak with Maximillian Lundin, Product Marketing Manager at Bluewater Group, and Sergio Barbarisi, International Key Accounts Manager at BWT water+more, about the latest innovations in water purification technologies and their role in shaping sustainable and more flavourful coffee .

Credits music: Consent by Rosie Smith in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective

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