The Coffee Think Tank Podcast

Garrett @ Fresh Cup Magazine
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Business
  • Updated Biweekly

A show about emerging trends, ideas, and innovations in the coffee industry. Created by Fresh Cup Magazine (freshcup.com), a coffee publisher.

Episodes

  1. How To Roast Coffee Profitably in 2026 w/ Luke Waite [Pomelo Consulting]

    Mar 13

    How To Roast Coffee Profitably in 2026 w/ Luke Waite [Pomelo Consulting]

    In this episode of Coffee Think Tank, Luke Waite—founder of Pomelo Coffee Consulting and former operations and sales leader at Metric Coffee and Passion House—talks about what it actually takes to run a profitable coffee roastery in 2026. Luke spent years on the inside of some of Chicago's most respected specialty roasters before launching Pomelo, where he helps roasters get a handle on their people, processes, and finances. He also just wrote The Owner's Manual, a practical guide to sustaining a coffee roaster. In this conversation, we get into... Why roaster profitability is eroding and what the warning signs look like on your P&L What Luke considers the financial danger zone for roasters—and what to do if you're in it Why price increases are usually less painful than roasters expect, and how to communicate them well What it means to "build the sales car before you hire the driver"—and why most roasters do it backwards How coffee buyers have changed in the last few years, and what that means for your wholesale approach Luke's "Core 7" framework for building a healthy, stable, and profitable roastery A peek inside The Owner's Manual, Luke's new book on sustaining a coffee roasterChapters 00:00 Introduction & The State of Roaster Profitability 02:05 The Goal of Becoming the First Michelin-Starred Cafe 07:10 What a Michelin-Starred Cafe Would Look Like Today 11:31 The State of Roaster Profitability Heading Into 2026 13:19 How to Know If You're in Financial Trouble 14:13 Luke's Consulting Framework: People, Process, and Profit 18:37 Why Roasters Are Afraid to Raise Prices 25:09 The Power of Relationships in Wholesale Sales 27:31 Advice for Medium and Large Roasters 29:27 Nurturing Wholesale Accounts Beyond the Transaction 31:46 The Owner's Manual: Luke's New Book 36:32 Why Roasters Sell Coffee at a Loss 40:44 Building a Wholesale Sales Program 45:58 How Coffee Buyers Have Changed 46:56 Building the Sales Car Before You Hire the Driver 53:54 Overcoming the Resistance to Sales and Marketing 57:25 Recommended Resources and Inspirations 1:03:55 What Luke Is Working On NextWhere to Find Luke Waite Pomelo Coffee Consulting website: pomelocoffeeconsulting.com The Owner's Manual (book): pomelocoffeeconsulting.com/bookMentioned in the Episode Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time by Jeff Sutherland Lucia Solis (coffee fermentation and producer-side consultant) Metric Coffee (Chicago roaster, former employer) Passion House Coffee (Chicago roaster, former employer) Fresh Cup Roaster Link (wholesale matchmaking program for roasters and buyers)

    1h 7m
  2. How Verve Took Over Capital One Cafe w/ Harris Nash [Verve Coffee Roasters]

    07/15/2025

    How Verve Took Over Capital One Cafe w/ Harris Nash [Verve Coffee Roasters]

    When you think about where specialty coffee belongs, a bank probably isn't the first place that comes to mind. But what if the best coffee in your city happened to be served inside a Capital One branch? That's the audacious vision of Verve Coffee, the Santa Cruz-based coffee roaster that was started in 2007 and now has over a dozen cafe locations across California and Japan. Harris Nash, the company's Senior Wholesale Manager, has spent the last two years helping Verve Coffee take over the more than 50 Capital One Cafe locations across 18 states, converting customers from Peet's to specialty coffee in places like Herald Square in New York and shopping malls in Kansas. Harris brings a unique perspective to this challenge. He's worked nearly every role in the coffee industry—from barista to importer to getting stuck on a Chinese coffee farm during COVID lockdowns. But this Capital One project has pushed him out of his comfort zone even further with training 600 baristas to represent Verve's brand in locations they don't directly control, creating systems to maintain quality across a massive geographic footprint, and proving that specialty coffee can thrive in unexpected places. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why Capital One switched to serve Verve Coffee from Peet's across 50+ locationsThe challenge of training 600 baristas to represent Verve's brand in locations they don't directly controlWhy customer redirects became crucial for converting Peet's customers to specialty coffee drinkersHow Verve developed granular training systems and learning management platforms to maintain quality at scaleWhy Verve partnered with local coffee trainers in each market to facilitate the transitionHow the partnership enabled Verve to support more coffee producers than ever beforeThe technology and operational systems needed to manage coffee quality across 18 statesWhy Harris believes specialty coffee's future lies in making high-quality coffee more approachableHow Verve created the exclusive Daybreaker Blend with a give-back component for Capital One Cafes CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to the Capital One Cafe Project03:11 Harris Nash's Journey in Specialty Coffee05:48 Transitioning from Peet's to Verve Coffee08:58 The Role of Training in Specialty Coffee12:09 Challenges of Brand Transition and Customer Experience15:10 Staff Training and Overcoming Resistance18:02 Infrastructure and Support for New Locations20:53 Maintaining Brand Standards and Quality Control24:03 Collaboration with Capital One and Operational Challenges27:06 Integrating Verve's Identity into Capital One Cafes34:12 Building a Brand Identity39:13 Collaborative Marketing Strategies46:06 Innovating Specialty Coffee51:50 Future of Partnerships and Products56:36 Experiences in China and Coffee Origins WHERE TO FIND HARRIS NASH Follow Harris on Instagram: @harrisnashVerve Coffee website: vervecoffee.comVerve Coffee on Instagram: @vervecoffee MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE Capital One Cafe Dwell DripperPink House AlchemySwift CoffeeFarm Level FoundationREI FoundationTorch CoffeeBlack and White Coffee The Coffee Think Tank podcast is a show about trends, ideas, and innovations in coffee by Fresh Cup, hosted by Garrett Oden. Subscribe to Fresh Cup for more industry insights at .

    1h 5m
  3. The Grocery Expansion Game w/ Raina Roberts [Partners Coffee]

    06/10/2025

    The Grocery Expansion Game w/ Raina Roberts [Partners Coffee]

    With quality coffee more widely available than ever, roasters can no longer rely solely on their beans’ excellence to drive growth. As Raina Roberts, Business Development Director at Partners Coffee in Brooklyn, NY, puts it, “When everyone’s special, no one’s special.” Raina oversees 250+ wholesale accounts and has guided Partners’ expansion beyond the Northeast. She’s seen how grocery buyers now demand more, charge hidden fees, and issue dispute codes that can wreck margins if you’re not prepared. In this Coffee Think Tank episode, we unpack what it really takes to break into grocery, the costs you can’t overlook, how to support rollouts across regions, and how to win wholesale accounts when you’re not local. If you handle B2B growth or expansion at a roaster, this one’s for you. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN How Partners Coffee grew from a Northeast base into Midwest grocery chainsThe real economics and logistics behind specialty coffee in grocery storesWhy a grocery partnership can take a year before products hit shelvesHow to calculate true COGS for grocery to stay profitableHidden fees and dispute deductions that erode marginsBalancing Brooklyn identity with broad-market appealWinning wholesale clients when you aren’t the local roasterDeveloping travel-friendly specialty SKUs like cold-brew pouches and instant coffeeUsing DTC data to prove market potential in new regions CHAPTERS00:00 The changing landscape of coffee biz-dev03:02 Raina’s journey in coffee06:08 What a Business Development Director really does08:51 Distribution and logistics landmines11:57 First big Midwest win: Fresh Thyme Market15:07 Marketing a new region from afar18:02 How grocery sales actually happen21:06 Data management and transparency headaches24:10 Tariffs and price shocks28:07 Pricing strategy under grocery pressure31:12 Understanding and fighting disputes35:43 Region-specific marketing tactics39:05 Serving wholesale customers that aren’t local45:11 Protecting brand integrity while scaling51:07 Product innovation — cold brew, instant, and more55:48 Trends shaping coffee’s next five years WHERE TO FIND RAINA ROBERTS LinkedInPartners Coffee websiteInstagram @partnerscoffee MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE Fresh Thyme MarketWhole Foods MarketWorld MarketRockaway Cold Brew PouchesPartners Instant Coffee The Coffee Think Tank podcast is a show about trends, ideas, and innovations in coffee by Fresh Cup, hosted by Garrett Oden. Subscribe to Fresh Cup for more industry insights at freshcup.com.

    57 min
  4. The Rise and Fall of Intelligentsia’s Instant Espresso Bar w/ Bailey Manson [Intelligentsia]

    05/14/2025

    The Rise and Fall of Intelligentsia’s Instant Espresso Bar w/ Bailey Manson [Intelligentsia]

    In this episode of Coffee Think Tank, Bailey Manson, Director of Innovation at Intelligentsia Coffee, shares the story of the Illumination Bar in Pasadena—a bold experiment that replaced traditional espresso machines with freeze‑dried instant coffee for all espresso‑based drinks. Launched during the pandemic in 2020, this radical service model lasted until January 2025 before evolving again. We discuss how Bailey and his team convinced themselves to pursue such a crazy idea, the tools and workflow required to serve coffee this way, how baristas and customers reacted, and why the bar just replaced the freeze‑dried setup with an innovative—but more classic—espresso workflow. What You’ll Learn How COVID‑19 and a lease renewal created the perfect opportunity for Intelligentsia to test a radical new service model The detailed workflow for making espresso drinks with freeze‑dried instant coffee (and the specialized equipment needed) Why customers often couldn’t tell the difference between freeze‑dried and traditional espresso in milk‑based drinks How Intelligentsia made instant coffee work as a viable alternative to espresso for years The economic and operational challenges of maintaining an instant‑based program Why customer reviews eventually pushed a return to traditional espresso equipment How the Illumination Bar still serves as a testing ground for innovative service modelsChapters 00:00  Introduction to the Illumination Bar 02:59  Bailey's Coffee Journey and Role at Intelligentsia 05:48  The Concept Behind the Illumination Bar 09:01  Challenges and Innovations in Coffee Preparation 11:54  The Unique Workflow and Equipment Used 14:54  Customer Reactions and Market Acceptance 18:03  The Science of Freeze‑Dried Coffee 21:06  Final Thoughts on Innovation in Coffee 29:02  Innovations in Coffee Equipment 31:46  The Unique Experience of the Illumination Bar 34:51  Adapting to Customer Feedback 38:01  The Challenges of Freeze‑Dried Coffee 50:55  The Evolution of Service Models 54:13  Future Trends in Specialty CoffeeWhere to Find Bailey Manson Follow Intelligentsia Coffee on Instagram: @intelligentsiacoffeeMentioned in the Episode Swift Coffee (freeze‑dried coffee producer) Curtis Corinth (water dispenser for instant espresso) La Marzocco KB90 (espresso machine) Wally (automated milk steamer) Flare 58x (manual espresso maker) X‑Bloom (brewing equipment)

    54 min
  5. Frameworks for Using AI in Coffee Shops w/ Melissa Villanueva [Brewpoint Coffee]

    04/23/2025

    Frameworks for Using AI in Coffee Shops w/ Melissa Villanueva [Brewpoint Coffee]

    Artificial intelligence tools are transforming how businesses operate. But in an industry built on human connection and craft, coffee business owners must balance taking advantage of new tools with preserving the soul of their business. That's why I wanted to talk with Melissa Villanueva, someone I consider to be a sharp operator with a keen eye for how to use AI effectively. Over the past decade, Villanueva has grown Brewpoint Coffee from a Craigslist purchase into a thriving company with three cafes and a roastery in the Chicago area. Now, she's navigating how to thoughtfully integrate AI tools without compromising what makes Brewpoint special. What You'll Learn How BrewPoint uses AI as a targeted tool rather than a replacement for creativity Practical applications of AI for coffee shops, from custom coffee recipes to equipment troubleshooting The importance of maintaining authenticity in customer-facing aspects of your business Why AI often works best for enhancing existing processes, not creating new ones How to evaluate which AI tools actually save time versus create more work Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AI in Coffee Business 03:11 Exploring AI Use Cases in Brewpoint 05:54 The Role of AI in Writing and Content Creation 08:47 Customer Engagement and AI Tools 12:11 Operational Efficiency with AI 14:49 Philosophy and Future of AI in Business 28:56 Navigating AI's Ethical Boundaries 30:43 Preserving Human Creativity in Business 34:25 Empowering Teams to Use AI Effectively 39:50 The Role of AI in Policy Creation 42:33 Key Characteristics of Business Success 49:43 Reflecting on AI's Impact on Entrepreneurship 56:15 Future Goals and Strategic Planning Where to Find Our Guest BrewPoint Coffee website @brewpointcoffee on Instagram @melissaavillanueva on Instagram Referenced Resources ChatGPT (OpenAI's AI assistant) Claude (Anthropic's AI assistant) BrewPoint's Nova Cold Brew Concentrate

    54 min
  6. Tech is Changing Sourcing for Roasters w/ Kat Melheim [Algrano]

    04/08/2025

    Tech is Changing Sourcing for Roasters w/ Kat Melheim [Algrano]

    Coffee sourcing is undergoing a quiet, tech-enabled revolution, and there are few people better equipped to talk about than Kat Melheim. Through her roles at Black & White, her time on a Hawaiian coffee farm, and now at Algrano, Kat has been part of a shift toward greater transparency and accessibility, especially in the roasting and green buying realms. The digitization of coffee sourcing isn't just a convenience play - it's fundamentally altering who gets to participate and how value flows through the supply chain. I wanted to understand if we're witnessing a true disruption or just a repackaging of the same old power structures with a tech interface. Kat's perspective, from someone who's operated at multiple points in the value chain, offers some great clarity on what's really happening here, and what roasters who are just coming onto the green buying scene need to know about sourcing digitally. What You'll Learn How coffee roasting's culture of secrecy is evolving toward openness and collaboration The shift from traditional importing to technology-enabled direct sourcing platforms Algrano's digital marketplace model for connecting producers and roasters The business advantages of forward buying for both sides of the supply chain Current market challenges facing traditional coffee importers How small roasters can now establish direct relationships from day one The important distinctions between direct sourcing and direct trade Why origin experiences fundamentally change coffee professionals' perspectives How immersive origin trips create meaningful connections across the coffee industryChapters00:00 Breaking Down Coffee Roasting Secrets 07:00 Modern Coffee Sourcing Evolution 15:15 Defining Direct Trade vs. Direct Sourcing 21:03 Algrano: Simplifying Coffee Trade Logistics 24:10 Digital Marketplaces vs. Traditional Importing 30:22 Current Challenges for Coffee Importers 34:01 How Technology Transforms Producer Relationships 37:33 Overcoming Forward Buying Hesitation 40:09 Algrano's Transparent Business Model 44:06 Building Meaningful Producer Connections 46:01 Kat's Origin Journey: Farm to Roastery 53:34 Creating Immersive Origin Experiences 58:08 How to Connect with Kat and Algrano Where to Find Kat Melheim RoasterKat Instagram RoasterKat YouTube Algrano Coffee People ZineMentioned in the Episode Kona Farm Direct (Hawaiian coffee farm) El Vergel (Colombian coffee producer) Mountain HarvestThe Coffee Think Tank podcast is a show about trends, ideas, and innovations in coffee by Fresh Cup, hosted by Garrett Oden. Subscribe to Fresh Cup for more industry insights at freshcup.com.

    52 min
  7. Surviving Coffee Price Chaos as a ‘Wartime CEO’ w/ Anne Djerai [Metropolis Coffee]

    03/25/2025

    Surviving Coffee Price Chaos as a ‘Wartime CEO’ w/ Anne Djerai [Metropolis Coffee]

    We’re in a change or die moment across the industry, and even more established companies are having to rethink everything to make sure the numbers all add up. The rising c-market price, in particular, is throwing everyone for a loop, but there are other pressures that are forcing leaders to stay on their toes. I asked Anne Djerai, CEO of Metropolis Coffee, to come on the podcast and talk about what it’s like to be what we end up calling a ‘wartime CEO’. We talk about how to respond to changing conditions effectively. We talk about planning for a possible $5 green price, and how that affects their different business lines. What happens when your green coffee broker defaults, how to make hard choices as a business leader, and how the distinctions between commercial and specialty coffee are being chipped away over time. If you’d like to learn what it’s like to lead your coffee business right through the storm effectively, this episode is a must listen. And if you like the podcast, make sure to hit subscribe wherever you’re listening. Thanks to this season’s sponsor, SumUp, a modern point of sale system for cafes. Chapters 00:00 Navigating Change in Specialty Coffee03:00 The Journey to CEO: Challenges and Growth06:11 Market Dynamics: Specialty vs. Commodity Coffee08:47 Responding to Market Pressures and Price Adjustments12:01 Looking Ahead: Trends and Predictions for 202515:05 The Impact of Rising Costs on Business Models25:46 Navigating Coffee Pricing and Market Challenges28:02 Leadership in Wartime: The CEO Experience31:35 Building a Trusting Team During Tough Times33:10 Empathy as a Leadership Tool35:07 The Complexities of the CEO Title36:37 Understanding Broker Defaults and Their Impact39:46 The Role of AI in Coffee Supply Chain44:20 The Churchill Duck: A Symbol of Leadership47:31 Advice for Emerging Leaders Where To Find Anne Metropolis Coffee website Anne Djerai on LinkedIn Metropolis Coffee on Instagram Metropolis Workshop (the co-packing arm of Metropolis Coffee) Mentioned in the Episode Gemini for Google Suite (the AI tool Anne uses for email management and organization) EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) (a management framework by Geno Wickman) Churchill Duck (the rubber duck) The Coffee Think Tank podcast is a show about trends, ideas, and innovations in coffee by Fresh Cup, hosted by Garrett Oden. Subscribe to Fresh Cup for more industry insights at freshcup.com.

    43 min

  8. 03/24/2025

    Designing Profitable Coffee Shop Subscriptions w/ Patrick and Krystal Burns [Palace Coffee]

    Everyone wants recurring, predictable revenue, and the pull of reliable income has been strong enough to turn nearly everything into a subscription program: toothpaste in glass bottles, delivered meal kits, toys for dogs, and of course—coffee beans, or coffee pods, or frozen coffee pods. There are many kinds of coffee subscriptions. But subscription models for coffee shops—like actually visiting a shop in person—haven't really caught on. There's no winning framework for coffee shop subscriptions like there is for subscribing to a roaster online. But the dream of recurring revenue for the in-person cafe experience is alive and well among operators and leaders. That's why I wanted to talk with Patrick and Krystal Burns. For nearly a decade, they've run Palace Coffee in Amarillo, Texas and built out a membership program that goes beyond discounted drinks. They've refined their program a lot over the years, and it's fascinating to learn how they've adjusted pricing, perks, marketing, and operations to keep the program going and profitable. Thanks to this season’s sponsor, ⁠SumUp⁠, a modern point of sale system for cafes. What You'll Learn - How Palace Coffee transformed a traditional "mug club" into a sustainable membership program that generates predictable revenue - The economics behind pricing an in-person coffee subscription and the calculations that make it profitable- Why community events became a powerful differentiator in their subscription model - How to balance discount structures without sacrificing profitability - The recent evolution from an annual membership to a monthly subscription format- The technology and operational systems needed to manage a coffee shop subscription program Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Palace Coffee and Community Focus 05:58 Building Community Through Membership Programs 12:13 Adapting to Change: Lessons from COVID-19 18:00 The Future of Palace Coffee's Membership Program 31:49 Navigating Customer Engagement and Feedback 39:40 Expanding Community Connections 47:21 The Origin Story of Palace Coffee 53:09 Theater as a Reflection of Life Where to Find Our Guests⁠ Palace Coffee website ⁠⁠Palace Coffee on Instagram⁠ Email Patrick -- patrick@palacecoffee.co Mentioned In The Episode ⁠Per Diem⁠ (mobile ordering app w/ subscription management) ⁠Cinemark Movie Club⁠ (inspiration for their subscription model) *The Coffee Think Tank podcast is a show about trends, ideas, and innovations in coffee by Fresh Cup, hosted by Garrett Oden. Subscribe to Fresh Cup for more industry insights at freshcup.com

    1 hr
  • 8 Episodes

About

A show about emerging trends, ideas, and innovations in the coffee industry. Created by Fresh Cup Magazine (freshcup.com), a coffee publisher.

Information

  • Creator
    Garrett @ Fresh Cup Magazine
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Garrett @ Fresh Cup Magazine
  • Show Website
    The Coffee Think Tank Podcast