Episodes

  • Why Young People Aren’t Drinking Specialty Coffee (Next-Gen) | HANY EZZAT!

    Why Young People Aren’t Drinking Specialty Coffee (Next-Gen) | HANY EZZAT!
    Apr 8 2026
    Hany Ezzat is the Founder of Ni Wares–creating science backed cups for coffee competitions and elevated everyday use. He also just won the Next-Gen Talent Award at MICE2026. We caught up with him at the expo to talk about what the win meant to him, as well as his recent (and controversial) use of the xBloom in a filter competition, why he thinks young people aren't as engaged in specialty coffee, and the importance of multisensory design. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:55 Who is Hany Ezzat? 03:40 Starting Ni Wares 06:05 Designing competition cups 08:50 The science of taste perception 11:45 Multisensory coffee experiences 14:20 Using xBloom in competition 17:05 Innovation vs tradition in coffee 19:40 Why young people disengage from specialty 22:10 The future of coffee tools 24:40 Advice for competitors & creators 26:45 Final thoughts 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! Hany Ezzat: https://www.instagram.com/barista_hany/ Ni Wares: https://ni-wares.com/ Want more coffee content? IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share
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    27 mins
  • How To Scale A Business Without Losing Soul | Nolan Hirte of PROUD MARY COFFEE!

    How To Scale A Business Without Losing Soul | Nolan Hirte of PROUD MARY COFFEE!
    Apr 7 2026
    If anyone truly lives for coffee, it’s Nolan Hirte. Founder of the wildly successful Proud Mary Coffee, Nolan’s passion for coffee bleeds out into every aspect of his business, making Proud Mary an iconic name across Australia and the U.S. We spoke to him at MICE26 about Proud Mary’s journey scaling to the U.S, as well as mood-based coffee labelling, barriers for young people entering the industry, and the Honduran producer who won the Cup of Excellence using a recipe from ChatGPT! CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro & Nolan Hirte 02:08 Coffee Journey & Passion 04:09 Creating a Coffee Experience 06:20 Why Storytelling Matters 08:05 Making Specialty Coffee Accessible 10:26 Sponsor: Marco MilkPal 11:07 Expensive Coffee Debate 12:44 Attracting New Coffee Drinkers 15:00 Simplifying Coffee Communication 18:22 Hospitality & Customer Experience 21:31 Building Team Culture 29:36 Future of Coffee & Technology 37:33 New Ideas & Coffee Experiences 41:53 Industry Shoutout & Outro 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! Nolan Hirte: https://www.instagram.com/nolan.hirte/ Proud Mary Coffee: https://www.instagram.com/proudmarycoffee/ Want more coffee content? IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share
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    46 mins
  • Neon Milk and Electric Lime - Inside Dak’s Unique Coffee Menu | DAK COFFEE!

    Neon Milk and Electric Lime - Inside Dak’s Unique Coffee Menu | DAK COFFEE!
    Apr 1 2026
    From Canada to Amsterdam; Dak’s Founders Veronique and Louis give us the low-down on starting a business abroad. Operating as a coffee-only retail concept, Dak's physical shop acts more as a tasting space rather than a traditional cafe. They play with in experimental processing methods - think hibiscus cultured wash - and lean in to evocative and flavour driven branding. Tune in for a fantastic conversation with the founders who are doing it differently! 00:00 Intro 01:12 About DAK Coffee 03:48 Coffee Range Explained 06:05 Experimental Coffees 10:56 Choosing Coffees for Customers 14:22 Working With Producers 18:57 Explaining Processing 19:54 Coffee Market Update 21:12 What Is Coffee? 22:20 Testing New Coffees 27:05 Fermentation Basics 31:40 Team Perspective 35:15 Where to Buy DAK 36:00 Outro 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! Dak Coffee: https://www.dakcoffeeroasters.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dakcoffeeroasters/ Want more coffee content? IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share
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    37 mins
  • #13 Best Cafe in the World After 6 Months?! | BETA COFFEE w CHRIS MAYBURY!

    #13 Best Cafe in the World After 6 Months?! | BETA COFFEE w CHRIS MAYBURY!
    Mar 30 2026
    Chris Maybury’s cafe ranked #13 in the World! So how did he do it?? Beta Coffee is one of the more experimental coffee shops out there at the moment, pushing the envelope with automation and pre-batched espresso. We spoke to Chris at MICE2026 about Beta Coffee: The role of automation, his recent system challenges, and the importance of mindful and authentic service. 00:00 Intro & guest 00:46 The experimental café concept 03:02 Ranked #13 in the world 04:37 Pre-batched espresso explained 09:00 Results, challenges & taste test 14:51 Automation, speed & cost savings 21:58 Lessons, mistakes & hospitality 29:01 Costs, financials & future plans 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! Chris Maybury: https://www.instagram.com/mayburyc/ Beta Coffee: https://www.instagram.com/beta_coffee/ Want more coffee content? IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share
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    43 mins
  • Making Ethical Coffee Buying Easy | COFFEE BREAK!

    Making Ethical Coffee Buying Easy | COFFEE BREAK!
    Mar 25 2026
    What does ethical coffee buying look like in practice? This week’s Coffee Break aims to turn the complex concepts into actionable steps: What questions should you ask importers? How can you use living income reference prices? And what’s the go on marketing ethically sourced coffee without greenwashing? CHAPTERS ! 00:00 Introduction to Ethical Coffee 00:01:56 Meet Colleen Anunu & Her Work 00:02:44 Direct Trade vs Fairtrade Explained 00:05:24 Why Transparency in Coffee Pricing Matters 00:08:17 Certifications, Trust, and Verifying Claims 00:10:09 Tools for Understanding Coffee Prices 00:13:11 The History and Ethics of Coffee Trade 00:16:35 Coffee Market Update (Condesa) 00:18:41 Communicating Sustainability Without Greenwashing 00:21:11 Making Specialty Coffee More Accessible 00:23:51 Rethinking Coffee Menus & Customer Education 00:24:35 Final Thoughts 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
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    25 mins
  • We Keep Getting Ethical Coffee Buying Wrong | with FAIRTRADE’S Colleen Anunu!

    We Keep Getting Ethical Coffee Buying Wrong | with FAIRTRADE’S Colleen Anunu!
    Mar 24 2026
    Ethical coffee buying, explained. Fairtrade International veteran Colleen Anunu joins us to explain what ethical coffee buying actually means in the 2020s. *Hint - it’s more than just paying higher prices. Whether you’re buying green beans or a takeaway flat white, it’s important to understand the complexities of coffee trade. We unpack the unbalanced risk distribution in the supply chain, threats facing smallholder farms, and the unpaid family labour that is often overlooked in coffee production. 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! Fairtrade International: https://www.instagram.com/fairtradeofficial/ Website: https://www.fairtrade.net/en/about/about-fairtrade-international.html Want more coffee content? IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share
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    1 hr and 19 mins
  • Expensive vs Cheap Instant Coffee with a World Barista Judge | COFFEE BREAK!

    Expensive vs Cheap Instant Coffee with a World Barista Judge | COFFEE BREAK!
    Mar 18 2026
    Despite being one of the most widely consumed coffees in the world, instant coffee still carries a bad reputation. And sure, some commercial options can taste like the bottom of an ashtray, but there are genuinely excellent instant coffees out there. We blind taste-tested seven instant coffees, ranging from low-grade to specialty. Join sensory expert and WBC judge Ben Bicknell as he guides us through a cupping session and reveals what instant coffee can (and can’t) deliver. Coffee Break is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from on the fly barista tips, honest and unfiltered cafe reviews , hospitality stories and gate kept coffee secrets. Want more coffee content? IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share
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    38 mins
  • The Most Consumed Coffee in the World - INSTANT COFFEE! | HUGH KELLY from ONA COFFEE!

    The Most Consumed Coffee in the World - INSTANT COFFEE! | HUGH KELLY from ONA COFFEE!
    Mar 16 2026
    Can instant coffee be just as good, (if not better) than espresso? Hugh Kelly seems to think so! The three time Australian Barista Champion and longtime Head of Coffee at Ona joined us to discuss the ways instant coffee can be used to uplift the industry as a whole - making coffee more accessible, consistent, and dare I say tasty…! Plus stay tuned for Hugh’s expert tips on how to make a banging cup of instant. 00:00 Trailer 01:00 The Big Question: Is Coffee Becoming Too Complicated? 01:56 Introducing Hugh Kelly (ONA Coffee) 02:16 Espresso vs Filter - What Coffee Pros Actually Drink 06:20 Instant Coffee: The Most Consumed Coffee in the World 12:21 How Instant Coffee Is Actually Made 15:52 The Real Limits of Instant Coffee 25:30 Blind Tasting: 7 Instant Coffees 30:51 Can Instant Replace Espresso in Milk Drinks? 33:36 The Café Industry Problem: Too Many Coffee Shops 43:00 The Future of Coffee Convenience 52:00 Final Thoughts - Making Coffee Easier 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! Hugh Kelly: https://www.instagram.com/hugh_t_kelly/ Ona Coffee: https://www.instagram.com/onacoffee/ Want more coffee content? IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share
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    53 mins