5THWAVE - The Business of Coffee and Hospitality

On the podcast this week we're opening the door to the culinary world to find out how successful restaurant operators deliver consistent and high-quality customer service experiences for their guests. We first speak with Alex Susskind, Professor of Food and Beverage Management at Cornell University’s Nolan School to understand the conceptual framework behind creating exceptional customer service. We also speak with two standout restaurant operators, Laura Harper-Hinton, CEO and Co-Founder, Caravan, and Cameron Maher, Group Front of House Manager, Trader House Group, to see how these strategies work in practice and explore the policies and processes that blend technology with people management systems.Credits music: 'Bad Girl' by Satin Beige in collaboration with The Coffee Music Project and SEB CollectiveSign up for our newsletter to receive the latest coffee news at worldcoffeeportal.comSubscribe to 5THWAVE on Instagram @5thWaveCoffee and tell us what topics you'd like to hear

On the podcast this week we're exploring the Head of Coffee role in different hospitality businesses and the crucial function it plays in delivering the perfect coffee experience. In conversations with Ryan Garrick, Head of Coffee, WatchHouse, Christopher Jordan, Group Head of Coffee Caffè Nero, Jennifer Salamone, VP of Operations and Antonia Petaccio, Head of Coffee Training DC, at Tatte Bakery, we unpack the broad set of responsibilities that fall under the Head of Coffee role, from leading the sourcing and roasting to barista training and managing external partners. We also discuss the career progression to become Head of Coffee, share advice for baristas looking to take the next step up and find out what it takes to succeed.Credits music: "Don't" by Marley collaboration with The Coffee Music ProjectSign up for our newsletter to receive the latest coffee news at worldcoffeeportal.comSubscribe to 5THWAVE on Instagram @5thWaveCoffee and tell us what topics you'd like to hear

On the podcast this week we're speaking with three highly-talented and passionate coffee journalists to explore the crucial role media plays in developing the specialty coffee industry.In conversations with Nick Brown, Founding Editor, Daily Coffee News, Michal Molcan, Founder, Standart, and Nicole Ou, Manager Coffee T&I, we discuss the challenges and global opportunities for coffee media businesses, the future of print publishing, and how these titles are diversifying and adapting to a changing landscape. Find out more about Roast Summit 2023 here: https://www.roastmagazine.com/roastsummitCredits music: "Wolf Cry" by Katie Ferrara in collaboration with The Coffee Music ProjectSign up for our newsletter to receive the latest coffee news at worldcoffeeportal.comSubscribe to 5THWAVE on Instagram @5thWaveCoffee and tell us what topics you'd like to hear

Today on the podcast we’re revisiting a conversation with Søren Ledet from last week’s episode exploring the world of coffee and fine dining.Søren is Co-Founder and General Manager of the world-renowned restaurant Geranium - a three-Michelin-starred dining experience in Copengagen, which last year was named the best restaurant in the world by the 50 best awards.In this conversation, Søren offered so many fascinating insights and learnings from his vast experience running a standout hospitality business that we felt we had to release the entire conversation in full.Credits music: Replay by Natalie Shay in collaboration with The Coffee Music ProjectSign up for our newsletter to receive the latest coffee news at worldcoffeeportal.comSubscribe to 5THWAVE on Instagram @5thWaveCoffee and tell us what topics you'd like to hear

On the podcast today we're stepping into the world of fine dining to explore the role of coffee in high-end restaurants and how restauranteurs are elevating their coffee standards. We speak with Søren Ledet, Co-founder and General Manager of Copenhagen's Geranium, to find out how one of the world's finest dining establishments runs its coffee programme and uses storytelling and theatre to deliver a captivating coffee experience.We also speak with Olivier Fellous, General Manager, La Manufacture - a joint venture between Lavazza and chef Alain Ducasse - to discuss the synergies between the coffee and fine dining worlds, and Myles Shapcott, Commercial Director, Origin Coffee Roasters, to explore the growing opportunities for specialty roasting brands to expand into this lucrative market. Credits music: Another Lonely Night by TREVAN in collaboration with The Coffee Music ProjectSign up for our newsletter to receive the latest coffee news at worldcoffeeportal.comSubscribe to 5THWAVE on Instagram @5thWaveCoffee and tell us what topics you'd like to hear

On the podcast today we're heading to Vietnam to explore how this rapidly diversifying market is breaking away from tradition and embracing new coffee drinking opportunities .In conversations with Will Frith, coffee coach and Co-founder, Building Coffee, academic Sarah Grant, and Sahra Nguyen, CEO and Founder, Nguyen Coffee Supply, we discuss the complex history of Vietnamese coffee exports, the burgeoning specialty coffee scene in Ho Chi Minh City, and the growing international appreciation of high-grade Vietnamese Robusta coffee.Credits music: Hurry Slow by Olivia Junholm in collaboration with The Coffee Music ProjectSign up for our newsletter to receive the latest coffee news at worldcoffeeportal.comSubscribe to 5THWAVE on Instagram @5thWaveCoffee and tell us what topics you'd like to hear

In today’s episode we’re bringing you an interview with a true hospitality legend and genuine artisan, Tony Papas. Tony is a multi-faceted entrepreneur, with a global career spanning Michelin-starred restaurants, a boutique bakery, specialty coffee and most recently, developing an olive farm in Southern Italy.In this conversation, Tony discusses his early background in hospitality before joining New Zealand-based specialty roaster Allpress Espresso and launching the business in London and Europe.Tony also shares his business instinct of knowing when to jump in and when to step away and the importance of good communication and fostering a cohesive team culture by bringing every member of the team along on the adventure.Credits music: "Don't Delete Me" by Lisa Crawley in collaboration with The Coffee Music ProjectSign up for our newsletter to receive the latest coffee news at worldcoffeeportal.comSubscribe to 5THWAVE on Instagram @5thWaveCoffee and tell us what topics you'd like to hear

In today's episode we're diving into the topic of market research and exploring how operators can gain a deeper understanding of their consumers.In conversations with Dr. Ernest Baskin, Associate Professor, St. Joseph’s University of Philadelphia, Blonnie Whist, Insight Director, Lumina Intelligence, and JP Then, Co-founder of Crosstown and Founder of online ordering system Slerp, we unpack the latest behavioural trends in hospitality and find out how gathering regular consumer data and insight can help operators better understand their trading environment and maximise sales.Credits music: "Do You Know" by Steve Ray Ladson in collaboration with The Coffee Music ProjectSign up for our newsletter to receive the latest coffee news at worldcoffeeportal.comSubscribe to 5THWAVE on Instagram @5thWaveCoffee and tell us what topics you'd like to hear

To kick off 2023 we’re bringing you an interview with a true industry legend – the one and only George Howell, a name synonymous with coffee excellence.Since the 1980s George has played an integral role in the development of specialty coffee in Western markets – pioneering the third-wave coffee movement and championing single origin coffees and direct trade. In this conversation George shares details of his early coffee career and experiences,  including the ‘unlikely’ sale of his small Boston-based coffee chain to Starbucks. He also discusses balancing business with his true passion for coffee discovery and his desire to share and highlight the highest-quality coffees from around the world.Credits music: "Unreliable" by Dudley Music in collaboration with The Coffee Music ProjectSign up for our newsletter to receive the latest coffee news at worldcoffeeportal.comSubscribe to 5THWAVE on Instagram @5thWaveCoffee and tell us what topics you'd like to hear

With the festive season well under way we thought now was the perfect time to indulge our minds in the exciting topic of coffee and alcohol and find out how these two beverages coexist seamlessly across different hospitality settings.In conversations with Professor Jonathan Morris, Research Professor at Hertfordshire University, Michelle Cannone, Global Brand Director, Away from Home  and Mattia Pastori, Brand Ambassador at Lavazza, we explore alcohol's historical connection with coffee, the synergies between the two beverages and the tradition and global influence of the Italian Caffe Bar.Credits music: "Make Me" by Jackson Sage in collaboration with The Coffee Music ProjectSign up for our newsletter to receive the latest coffee news at worldcoffeeportal.comSubscribe to 5THWAVE on Instagram @5thWaveCoffee and tell us what topics you'd like to hear