5THWAVE - The Business of Coffee and Hospitality

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.Tracklist1. Two Fish – Nicole Zuraitis 2. Christmas Time – Erin Bowman3. Rise – The Elidas4. For Me – Norman Alexander5. Can I see You Tomorrow – Natalie Oliveri6. Fool – Alessia Piermarini7. CLOUDS – Pien8. Calling It – HOLNE9. Wild Wind – PHILDEL10. Streets of London – Charlotte Campbell11. One Year – Kirsten Izer12. 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 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

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 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

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 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

Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood, a coffee entrepreneur and co-author of "Water for Coffee," joins Christopher H. Hendon, a chemistry professor, to explore the intricate relationship between water and coffee flavor. They dive into how mineral composition and temperature can dramatically alter a brew's taste. The conversation uncovers common misconceptions about brewing methods and showcases the scientific insights fueling innovations in coffee filtration. Their collaboration reveals a commitment to bridging chemistry with the art of coffee-making.

Today we're returning to our interviews recorded live at The European Coffee Symposium in Berlin last month.In this episode, we’re exploring the impact of the incoming European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) directive. We’re joined by Kajsa-Lisa Ljudén and Jonny England, Head of Sustainability and Head of Coffee respectively at Löfbergs, and Pim Pilose, Success Manager at technology platform Era of We. In this important conversation, we’ll explore how coffee businesses can prepare to meet EUDR requirements by supporting farmers and supply chain partners to achieve compliance. We’ll also discuss the broader implications for sustainability in coffee and how technology and digital platforms can enable companies to track and demonstrate compliance effectively.Credits music: Can I See You Tomorrow by Natalie Oliveri 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

Today we’re sharing the second interview from our 5THWAVE Live sessions recorded at the European Coffee Symposium in Berlin. In this episode, we’re joined by Chris Salierno, Chief Marketing Officer at La Marzocco. La Marzocco is a powerhouse in the espresso machine industry, celebrated for its exceptional quality, innovative technology and dedication to fostering a global coffee community. In this conversation, Chris shares how La Marzocco continues to grow as a global, community-led brand - one that’s built on a foundation of culture, authenticity, and deep connections with its customers. We’ll also explore La Marzocco’s core values of Integrity, Curiosity, Impact, Courage, and Celebration - and how these principles drive the brand forward.Credits music: Fool by Alessia Piermarini 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

Earlier this month, the European Coffee Symposium returned for its 15th edition, hosted in the vibrant city of Berlin. This prestigious event brought together leaders from across Europe’s coffee and hospitality industry for four days of networking, one-on-one meetings, and thought leadership – all culminating in the launch of the brand-new Coffee + Hospitality Expo!As part of the conference programme, we were delighted to host 5THWAVE LIVE: a series of exclusive podcast interviews with some of Europe’s most inspiring business leaders, recorded in front of a live audience at the event.Today, we’re thrilled to share the first of those conversations in full. Our guest is David Baumgartner, Founder and CEO of health-focused food-to-go chain dean&david. Founded in Germany in 2007, dean&david has since expanded to over 160 locations across Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, and Switzerland.In this interview, David shares his passion for promoting nutritious food and reflects on the challenges of scaling a health-focused brand in a market traditionally dominated by bread and pastries. He also discusses the importance of innovation, perseverance, and how building a strong team has been key to his success.Credits music: Green Goddess by Florence Noon 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