The Immersion

Grinders Coffee

Welcome to The Immersion Podcast — A new audio series by Grinders Coffee Roasters, brewed especially for café owners, baristas, hospitality pros and the coffee‑obsessed among us! From the Roastery Floor to Your Feed: The Immersion Goes Next-Level For four years, The Immersion program has been the go-to for Grinders Coffee partners looking to up their café craft. Starting as a hands-on experience at our Melbourne roastery, we took customers behind the scenes, deep diving into cutting-edge training and collaboration with experts. Now, we’re bringing it to you on demand, with insights from industry leaders, innovators, and real-life café operators. Real Talk, Real Tools, Real Café Wins Hosted by Grinders Coffee Brand Ambassador, Jono Goldthorpe, each episode is a short, practical conversation covering marketing and pricing, customer experience and new tech. Everything cafes need to grow their revenue, build community and stay relevant in a fast-changing market. Pour a Cup. Plug In. Immerse – The Immersion: A Podcast by Grinders Coffee.

Episodes

  1. 21h ago

    Automation in the Modern Café: People, Training & Workflow First‌, The Immersion Podcast by Grinders Coffee Roasters - Ep#3 - Hosted by Jono Goldthorp

    Host Jono Goldthorpe is joined by Jamie Thompson, Key Account Manager at SilverChef, to explore one of the most significant operational trends shaping cafés today: automation and workflow optimisation. With more than 20 years of experience across specialty coffee, hospitality, café operations, coffee roasting, equipment, and sales, Jamie brings a unique perspective on how cafés can leverage automation to improve consistency, efficiency, profitability, and customer experience. In this third episode of our limited-time four-part series, The Immersion Podcast, we unpack: • What automation actually means in a café environment and why it’s about improving processes, not replacing people. • How automation can help cafés improve consistency, reduce waste, streamline training, and speed up service during busy periods. • Practical ways to identify operational bottlenecks, optimise workflow, and determine which areas of your coffee station should be automated first. • Simple metrics café owners should track to measure ROI, reduce product waste, and improve labour efficiency. • Common mistakes to avoid when introducing automation and why staff buy-in is critical for successful implementation. You'll leave with practical ideas for improving café performance, creating a more consistent customer experience, reducing unnecessary operational costs, and building systems that support long-term growth. Whether you're reviewing your current workflow, managing labour challenges, looking to increase efficiency during peak periods, or considering investing in new equipment, this episode is packed with actionable insights you can apply immediately. A quick note - while Grinders work with SilverChef, Jamie Thomson, Coffee Key Account Manager from SilverChef participated in this episode as a guest. The episode is not sponsored by SilverChef and no payment was received by either party in connection with its production.

  2. Jul 5

    The rise of signature drinks & experience-led menus — The Immersion Podcast by Grinders Coffee Roasters Ep#2 — Hosted by Jono Goldthorpe with Barista

    Host Jono Goldthorpe is joined by Sophie Murchie, Barista Development Manager at Alternative Dairy Co., to explore one of the biggest opportunities shaping café culture today: the rise of signature drinks, cold beverages, and experience-led menus. Sophie has more than 15 years of experience in specialty coffee and hospitality, with a background spanning café operations, coffee education, sales, and account management across Australia's coffee industry. Drawing on her work, Sophie shares practical insights into what's driving changing consumer preferences, the influence of Gen Z on beverage trends, and why cafés need a complete beverage strategy that extends beyond traditional hot coffee. In this second episode of our limited time four-part series - The Immersion Podcast, we unpack: • Why cold drinks and indulgent signature beverages are becoming essential menu items, not optional extras. • How Gen Z consumers are reshaping café expectations through social media, customisation, and their appetite for shareable drinks. • A simple framework for creating signature beverages that align with your venue, brand and operational workflow. • How cafés can leverage existing ingredients, pre-batching, and staff involvement to deliver consistency without sacrificing speed of service. • Practical ways to market signature drinks through menu design, visual merchandising, storytelling, and social media content. You'll leave with actionable ideas for building a more dynamic beverage menu, creating drinks customers are willing to pay a premium for, and positioning your café to capture new occasions throughout the day. Whether you're looking to increase average transaction value, drive social engagement, or stand out from competitors, this episode is packed with insights you can put into practice immediately.

  3. Apr 19

    Trend Map 2026: The Data Behind the Shifts in Café Culture - The Immersion Podcast by Grinders Coffee Roasters - Ep#1

    Host Jono Goldthorpe is joined by category insights expert, Brendan Atkins (CCEP) to unpack the data behind the biggest shifts shaping café culture in 2026 — Which we will deep dive in the episodes that follow, with venue operators, hospitality leaders, and industry experts. Brendan Atkins is a Sydney‑based Market Insights Manager at Coca‑Cola Europacific Partners, Macquarie Uni grad, and former Quantium analyst. He brings a consumer-and-category lens to what cafés are feeling on the floor, with a front‑row view of shifting occasions, channel behaviour and the choices people are making — and why. In this episode, we map: • How the “morning rush” is evolving into rolling dayparts — including what the data hints about the rising power of afternoon coffee moments. • Why coffee remains a non‑negotiable ritual under cost pressure. • Why cold beverages and signature drinks are no longer seasonal sideshows — and what that means for menu design, theatre, and margin. • The small experience cues that keep people coming back (and the quick wins cafés can implement fast) You’ll leave with a clearer view of where café culture is heading — and a sharper sense of what’s worth doubling down on before we zoom in with operators and experts across the season. Next episode, we’re unpacking brand — not your logo, but the feeling your café leaves behind — and how to turn that into foot traffic and repeat visits. With Keiran Spiteri (Yolk Group) and Mirko (Social Fixation), we break down the small rituals, team culture cues, and social content that actually brings people in — and brings them back. Website: https://www.grinderscoffee.com.au Follow Grinders Coffee: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grinderscoffee/ LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/company/grinders-coffee TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grinderscoffeeroasters YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@grinderscoffeeroasters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grinderscoffeeaus Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Uf618jXiyRtmV3mdOBGgT Further reading: https://www.beanscenemag.com.au/grinders-coffee-on-the-power-of-immersion/ https://www.grinderscoffee.com.au/resetting-the-rules-shaping-whats-next-at-the-immersion/ https://www.linkedin.com/posts/grinders-coffee_grinders-coffee-immersion-2025-activity-7363768073968869377-HFC1

  • 3 Episodes

About

Welcome to The Immersion Podcast — A new audio series by Grinders Coffee Roasters, brewed especially for café owners, baristas, hospitality pros and the coffee‑obsessed among us! From the Roastery Floor to Your Feed: The Immersion Goes Next-Level For four years, The Immersion program has been the go-to for Grinders Coffee partners looking to up their café craft. Starting as a hands-on experience at our Melbourne roastery, we took customers behind the scenes, deep diving into cutting-edge training and collaboration with experts. Now, we’re bringing it to you on demand, with insights from industry leaders, innovators, and real-life café operators. Real Talk, Real Tools, Real Café Wins Hosted by Grinders Coffee Brand Ambassador, Jono Goldthorpe, each episode is a short, practical conversation covering marketing and pricing, customer experience and new tech. Everything cafes need to grow their revenue, build community and stay relevant in a fast-changing market. Pour a Cup. Plug In. Immerse – The Immersion: A Podcast by Grinders Coffee.

Information

  • Creator
    Grinders Coffee
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    3