5THWAVE - The Business of Coffee and Hospitality

In today’s episode we continue our series on the rise of specialty coffee in France and speak with Hippolyte Courty, Founder of L' Arbre à Café.Established in 2009, L’Arbre à Café is a Paris-based specialty coffee roaster and operator, and a pioneering force in the French specialty coffee scene. With a background in wine and fine gastronomy, Hippolyte has helped to redefine French coffee culture, bringing a next level of craftsmanship and sustainability to the industry.Catch up on part one here.Credits music: Trip the Light by BlueBelle in association 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

In today’s episode, we’re launching a new deep-dive series in collaboration with 5THWAVE magazine exploring the rise of specialty coffee in France.Once known for its traditional dark espressos and modest coffee standards, France is undergoing a transformation. All across the country, interest in specialty coffee is exploding, with a growing number of consumers seeking quality and a new wave of artisan roasters emerging to meet demand.Over the coming months, we’ll speak with industry leaders shaping this movement to examine its evolution, current challenges and future opportunities.We begin with Christophe Servell, Founder of Terres de Café, a pioneering Paris-based roaster and café group with 12 locations across France, two in South Korea and further plans for international expansion this year.Credits music: "French Wine" by Laura Gabriela in association 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

In today’s episode, we speak with Tom Molnar, Co-founder and CEO of GAIL’s Artisan Bakery – a highly influential UK-based bakery and coffee chain.Tom partnered with the eponymous Gail in London in the early 2000s, transforming her wholesale bakery business for chefs into a thriving neighbourhood chain. Today, GAIL’s is a much-loved UK bakery-cafe group with over 150 bakeries nationwide.In this insightful conversation, Tom shares the parallels between coffee and bread-making and how coffee became a natural extension of the business. He also reflects on the importance of maintaining an artisan mindset, building a community of bakers and baristas, and why staying true to the craft matters more than chasing trends.Credits music: "Soho" by Eirra in association 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

As consumer interest in specialty coffee continues to rise, so too does demand beyond the café. Today’s customers expect high-quality coffee to be available wherever they are – whether commuting, travelling or shopping.In this episode, we explore the businesses redefining coffee service outside the traditional bricks-and-mortar model. From mobile coffee trucks to travel kiosks and small-format retail spaces, these operators are creating compact, high-impact coffee experiences, meeting consumer demand for specialty coffee wherever they are.We’ll hear from Ant Duckworth, CEO & Founder, Dear Coco, Patrick Byrnes, Head of Operations, FCB Coffee, and Beatriz Ferreira, Co-founder, Swerl Coffee Roasters, to unpack shifting consumer habits and the opportunities emerging in small-format coffee service.Credits music: "If I Fall" by Christie Huff in association 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

In this episode, we're joined by Nicolas O’Connell – an influential coffee and business expert and a former Partner at La Colombe Coffee Roasters.Nicolas joined La Colombe in the mid-1990s as a barista and quickly rose through the ranks, playing a key role in launching the brand’s pioneering wholesale programme. Though he’s often worked behind the scenes, Nicolas' business acumen and strategic vision were instrumental in transforming La Colombe into the international powerhouse it became. In this candid conversation, Nicolas shares his insights on how La Colombe maintained its brand authenticity while growing across multiple sales channels. He also highlights the key strategies and partnerships that helped to forge a strong company culture and achieve long-term success. Credits music: "Natures Hands" by Flo Perlin in association 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

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 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

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 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

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 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

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 WAVE15Credits music: "Soulmate" by Catherine Taylor Dawson in association 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

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 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