IT’S JUST COFFEE!

Equator Coffees has done something quite remarkable in the coffee space. 32 years in, and they remain steadfast in their values: Female-owned, B corp certified and LGBTQ+ focused. Ben sat down with Co-Founder Helen Russell to discuss the practicalities of creating and maintaining a value-led business… including non-negotiable staff benefits, transparency with customers, and Helen’s personal advice, ‘hire for kindness, teach coffee later!’. Helen also addresses the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles and the importance of supporting women-owned cooperatives. 

00:00 Welcome & Introducing Helen Russell

01:23 The Story of Equator Coffees03:01 Building a Values-Led Coffee Business

08:59 Why Transparency Matters

15:36 Creating a Strong Company Culture

19:31 Balancing Values & Profitability

23:10 Turning Values Into Action

28:41 COVID, Grocery & Adapting the Business

35:14 Hospitality & Making Customers Feel Cared For

40:43 Women in Coffee Leadership

47:13 Creating an Equitable Workplace

51:03 Advice for Purpose-Driven Businesses

54:14 Hot Take: Coffee Should Cost More

55:23 Final Thoughts & Shout Outs

Equator Coffees: https://www.instagram.com/equatorcoffees/ 

Helen Russell: https://www.instagram.com/equatorhelen/ 

If you're new here (welcome), our show dives into some of the best coffee conversations on the internet, but we will always remind ourselves at the end of the day - It's Just Coffee!

Want more coffee content? 

IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=4e8cead0-6644-4c4a-b419-28c825b1b236

Want to get in touch? Hit us up at [email protected] for any questions or comments.

Proudly sponsored by:

Marco Beverage Systems: https://www.instagram.com/marcobeveragesystems/ 

Apax Lab: https://apaxlab.com/ Condesa Co.Lab: https://condesacolab.com.au/ 

Riverina Fresh: https://www.riverinafresh.com.au/

Thanks for listening! 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben’s back from San Francisco, Bangkok, Dubai, Thailand and chats about what he’s seeing: producing countries keeping the good stuff, new specialty hotspots, and why Australia might not get first pick of great coffee forever. Bottom line, the coffee industry is changing, and quickly. Tune in and get up to date!

Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from on the fly barista tips, honest and unfiltered cafe reviews (eek), hospitality stories and gate kept coffee secrets.

Want more coffee content? 

IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=4e8cead0-6644-4c4a-b419-28c825b1b236

Want to get in touch? Hit us up at [email protected] for any questions or comments.

Proudly sponsored by:

Marco Beverage Systems: https://www.instagram.com/marcobeveragesystems/ 

Apax Lab: https://apaxlab.com/ Condesa Co.Lab: https://condesacolab.com.au/ 

 Riverina Fresh: https://www.riverinafresh.com.au/

Thanks for listening!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’ve heard the term “Third-Wave Coffee”... but did you know it was coined by our guest today, Trish Rothgeb! She’s the Founder of Wrecking Ball Coffee in San Fran, and has been working in the industry for 4 decades. Together we unpack the pivotal moments of coffee history that have shaped the industry today (for better or for worse). Plus we explore the ways in which late third-wave coffee is failing us, and what we can do about it - with an emphasis on education and connection. 

00:00 Introduction & Trish Rothgeb’s Coffee Legacy
01:20 The Origin of “Third Wave Coffee”
03:05 First, Second & Third Wave Explained
09:10 Community and the Evolution of Specialty Coffee
17:30 Building Community at Wrecking Ball Coffee
24:10 Meet People Where They Are
28:00 Roasting as Craft and Flavour Design
35:00 How to Become a Great Coffee Roaster
39:15 Mentorship and Sharing Knowledge
45:45 Hot Take: Why Coffee Quality Can Be Measured
50:50 Shout-Outs and Final Reflections

If you're new here (welcome), our show dives into some of the best coffee conversations on the internet, but we will always remind ourselves at the end of the day - It's Just Coffee!

Find Trish here: https://www.instagram.com/trishrothgeb/ 

Wrecking Ball Coffee: https://www.instagram.com/wreckingballcoffee?/ 

Want more coffee content? 

IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=4e8cead0-6644-4c4a-b419-28c825b1b236

Want to get in touch? Hit us up at [email protected] for any questions or comments.

Proudly sponsored by:

Marco Beverage Systems: https://www.instagram.com/marcobeveragesystems/ 

Apax Lab: https://apaxlab.com/ Condesa Co.Lab: https://condesacolab.com.au/ 

 Riverina Fresh: https://www.riverinafresh.com.au/

Thanks for listening!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kenneth Barigye is the Managing Director of Mountain Harvest Coffee, a business focused on supporting smallerholder farms across Uganda. 

In this episode he explores why there can’t be a “single” global coffee price due to the differentiating cost of production across markets, and advocates for a reframing of green-buying. He also shares his personal insight into the farming communities of Uganda, noting the 85-year-old farmer who has never tasted coffee, and how macadamias, rabbits, and beehives could just be the solution to save specialty coffee farms.

If you're new here (welcome), our show dives into some of the best coffee conversations on the internet, but we will always remind ourselves at the end of the day - It's Just Coffee!

Find Kenneth here: https://www.instagram.com/kennethbarigye/

Mountain Harvest: https://mountainharvest.com/ 

00:00 - Intro
01:48 - Uganda’s Coffee Industry Explained
05:08 - The Aging Farmer Problem
07:17 - Why Young People Are Leaving Coffee Farming
09:16 - Supporting Coffee Farmers Better
12:03 - Why Global Coffee Pricing Fails
18:14 - What Great Coffee Buyers Do
24:29 - Building Better Producer Relationships
27:19 - Biggest Green Buyer Mistakes
32:24 - Smarter Coffee Buying & Planning
39:15 - The Future Of Coffee Supply Chains
41:54 - Coffee Market Update
44:09 - Kenneth’s Hot Take On Coffee Pricing
46:30 - Is Specialty Coffee Broken?
50:46 - Industry Shout Outs
52:08 - Final Thoughts & Outro

Want more coffee content? 

IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=4e8cead0-6644-4c4a-b419-28c825b1b236

Want to get in touch? Hit us up at [email protected] for any questions or comments.

Proudly sponsored by:

Marco Beverage Systems: https://www.instagram.com/marcobeveragesystems/ 

Apax Lab: https://apaxlab.com/ Condesa Co.Lab: https://condesacolab.com.au/ 

 Riverina Fresh: https://www.riverinafresh.com.au/

Thanks for listening!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thailand is redefining specialty coffee through short supply chains, hyper-competitive café culture, inventive signature drinks, and farmers who cup their own coffee.

To get the down-low on the emerging scene, Ben sat down with Noon Nutrada K, the former President of SCA Thailand. Together they explore why so much of specialty coffee feels stuck in its ways… and how Thailand is carving out a different path -(think tom yum inspired Geishas and durian “dirty” coffees). Tune in for a taste of the Thai specialty scene! 

If you're new here (welcome), our show dives into some of the best coffee conversations on the internet, but we will always remind ourselves at the end of the day - It's Just Coffee!

Find Noon here: https://www.instagram.com/noonaround/ 

Want more coffee content? 

IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=4e8cead0-6644-4c4a-b419-28c825b1b236

Want to get in touch? Hit us up at [email protected] for any questions or comments.

Proudly sponsored by:

Marco Beverage Systems: https://www.instagram.com/marcobeveragesystems/ 

Apax Lab: https://apaxlab.com/ Condesa Co.Lab: https://condesacolab.com.au/ 

 Riverina Fresh: https://www.riverinafresh.com.au/

Thanks for listening! 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices