Next week marks the 15th anniversary of the European Coffee Symposium (ECS), set in the effortlessly cool city of Berlin, Germany. Alongside ECS, we're thrilled to be launching the Coffee & Hospitality Expo – two landmark events coming together in one of Europe’s most dynamic coffee capitals.

This gathering is an opportunity to dive into the latest market insights, create new business connections, and celebrate the exceptional people shaping the European coffee scene.

And, to get us excited for our trip to Berlin, today we’re exploring the city’s thriving specialty coffee scene and how it has evolved over the past decade. We’ll hear from some of Berlin’s standout specialty operators – Ralf Rueller, Founder, The Barn, Sophie Hardy, Co-founder, Annelies and Distrikt Coffee and Kresten Thøgersen, Founder, Father Carpenter.

Check out our guide to the city's best coffee hotspots on the COHO website.

Credits music: "30 and Alone" by Lexie in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective

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From coffee roasters and food & beverage providers to packaging and equipment manufacturers, the multi-billion dollar coffee industry is packed with supplier categories. In a crowded marketplace where suppliers are constantly vying for buyers’ attention, the stakes for winning new business are higher than ever.

So, as a supplier, how do you stand out from the crowd? How do you impress operators? And what strategies can you employ to turn opportunities into success?

To explore these questions, we’ll be speaking with Aiden Keegan, CEO, Esquires Coffee, to understand what buyers are really looking for from suppliers. We’ll also hear from Ian Bryson, Managing Director, Lincoln & York, for a seasoned supplier’s perspective on building successful partnerships.

Both Aiden and Ian will also be participating in this year’s one-to-one meeting programme at the European Coffee Symposium in Berlin – an event designed to drive new connections and business development across the coffee industry.

Credits music: "Older" by Molly in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective

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In today’s episode, we speak with prolific coffee entrepreneur Murray d’Almeida, founder of Retail Food Group and the visionary behind a number of influential hospitality brands across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia.

With a career spanning over 50 years, Murray has mentored many industry figures and remains a dynamic source of inspiration and wisdom today. In this conversation, Murray shares his core principles for business success and strategies for building multiple brands across diverse markets. Murray also highlights the importance of mastering the basics and establishing a solid structure – emphasising that when the fundamentals are strong, business performance naturally follows.

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In today’s episode, we’re speaking with Esther Maasdam, Co-founder of Manhattan Coffee Roasters, a renowned specialty coffee business based in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Esther founded Manhattan Coffee with business partner, Ben Morrow, in 2017, with the vision of bringing world-class specialty coffees to European markets. Esther also runs an events consulting business, offering specialty baristas, catering support, and coffee training for events and exhibitions.

In this conversation, Esther reflects on how she learned to step into the role of a salesperson, actively pursuing new business while staying true to her craft. She underlines the importance of measured growth, expanding her business without compromising the core values and authenticity that drives her vision.

Credits music: "Clouds" by PIEN in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective

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Next week marks the start of UK Coffee Week – a nationwide celebration and fundraiser led by Project Waterfall, which aims to bring clean water and sanitation to coffee-growing communities.

Every year, hundreds of coffee shops, restaurants, and roasters across the UK come together to host exciting events and activities, raising both awareness and vital funds for this important cause.

In today’s episode, we’re getting into the spirit of the celebrations by speaking with three incredible supporters to explore the positive impact the coffee industry can make when working together, and what they’re looking forward to this year.

We'll hear from Rob Colicci, Director, Colicci, Emily Shepherd, Brand Manager, Alpro UK&I and Matthew Van Elkan, Owner, Maude Coffee Roasters alongside Rebecca Hodgson, Director Project Waterfall.

UK Coffee Week runs from 14 to 20 October 2024! Discover the events happening near you: ukcoffeeweek.com

Learn how to Create an Autumnal Tablescape with Colicci: colicci.co.uk/events

Credits music: Wake Me Up by Faith Child in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective

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In this episode we’re diving back into the topic of office coffee and exploring how coffee businesses are adapting to the evolving workplace dynamics. In part one, we examined the office coffee markets in the UK and Europe and in this episode we'll take an in-depth look at the US market.

We'll speak with Daniele Foti, Marketing VP, Lavazza North America, Erin Moshier, VP of Growth, Aramark and Tracy Ging, EVP Coffee Services, Canteen to uncover the key trends shaping the future of office coffee in the US and how employers are meeting the needs of today’s hybrid workforce.

Credits music: "One Year" by Kirsten Izer in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective

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In today’s episode, we're speaking with Elisa Marshall and Benjamin Sormonte, Founders of Maman, a French-inspired boutique café and bakery chain that began in New York and has since expanded across the US and to Canada.

Since its founding in 2014, Maman has grown exponentially, and by the end of this year, they’ll be celebrating a remarkable milestone of 40 stores, including locations in New York, Washington, Florida and Toronto. Next week also marks Maman's 10th anniversary, a decade filled with delicious food, welcoming spaces, and vibrant community.

In this inspiring conversation, Elisa and Ben share the secrets behind Maman's rapid growth and how they’ve built such an impressive brand in a short space of time. They also discuss the importance of bringing their team along on the journey, fostering a sense of ownership and ensuring everyone feels like a true partner in the business.

Credits music: "For Me" by Norman Alexander in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective

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In today’s episode, we welcome back Roland Horne, CEO and founder of WatchHouse, one of the world’s leading boutique specialty coffee businesses.

This month, WatchHouse celebrates its 10th anniversary — a milestone for this ambitious and fast-growing brand, which now operates 20 boutique coffee houses across London, Bath, and New York City.

Roland has led WatchHouse through multiple funding rounds, including a recent standout £7.2 million ($9 million) campaign, recording the largest-ever hospitality equity-only raise on a crowdfunding platform.

In this conversation, Roland reflects on what makes a funding campaign a success, emphasising the importance of momentum and authenticity. He also discusses his personal drive to leave a lasting legacy, while building a best-in-class international coffee brand.

Credits music: "Mad" by May Roze in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective

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In this episode, we’re speaking with Regina Frey, Founder of Orang Utan Coffee, and Diana Kosmanto, its CEO. Orang Utan Coffee is a unique coffee trader and social enterprise dedicated to supporting rainforest conservation and empowering local coffee farmers in Sumatra.

Founded in 2004, Orang Utan Coffee’s model is one of collaboration rather than ownership, partnering closely with farmers to promote sustainable coffee production while protecting the natural habitat of Sumatran orangutans.

In our conversation, Regina and Diana share their experiences working with the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme and educating local communities on the importance of habitat and rainforest conservation. They also discuss the challenges of building trust with farmers and the importance of long-term partnerships to ensure stable incomes and sustainable practices.

Credits music: "The Goodbye Scene" by Kinsave Ft. Oumy N'diaye & Steve Cara in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective

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Following on from our last episode on coffee and music, we're bringing you an extra special bonus interview today with one of my favourite musicians - Grammy Winner and friend of the podcast, Nicole Zuraitis.

We first met Nicole in 2016 when she won the Coffee Music Project New York Competition with her wonderful track “I Like You A Latte”. Fast-forward 8 years and Nicole is now an award-winning jazz singer-songwriter and pianist who this year scooped up the GRAMMY for Best Jazz Vocal Album.

In this conversation, we catch up with Nicole to see what she’s been up to since her historic win and the connection she sees between the music and coffee worlds.

Credits music: "Two Fish" by Nicole Zuraitis in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective

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In today's episode, we're exploring the connection between coffee and music and how the right soundtrack can contribute to the success of a hospitality venue.

How do you identify the perfect playlist? How do different genres, moods, and tempos shape the right customer experience throughout the entire week? And what are the latest trends in hospitality music?

To answer these questions, we'll speak with Paul Ettinger, Business Development and Music Director, Caffè Nero, along with two experts from music curation companies - Magnus Linn, Music Consultant, Startle Music and Rey Day, Music and Communications Manager Playlister.

Credits music: "The Coffee Song (I Like You A Latte)" by Nicole Zuraitis in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective

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