Podcast
Coffee Knowledge Hub
Hosted by Andrew Tolley · EN
Do you work in the coffee industry or want to work in the coffee industry? This podcast is about the business of coffee, for people who want to improve their coffee businesses, start a coffee business, or be better at their jobs.
Learn from industry leaders and experts from across the globe. Learn from the mistakes many have made before.
Hosted by Andrew Tolley and Tibor Varady, whose experiences traverse cafe startup, management, training, retail, roasting, and leading diverse teams. We have a combined industry experience of over 30 years. We have been successful competitors, we are both past Chairs of the Barista Guild of Europe (as it was then).
We are excited to help you navigate the dynamic world of coffee businesses.
16episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Bloom: coffee as an agent of change with Tigger Chaturabul and Mikael Jasin
Nov 1000:32:48Tap to summarizeA biography, lessons in mastery, deep insights into the world of coffee and competitions - this interview with the author of Bloom, Tigger Chaturabul and her subject, World Barista Champion 2024 - Mikael Jasin, has something for everyone. Bloom is a compelling story, and we highly recommend it because it will inspire you to achieve your goals, giving you practical advice on how to do it. You will also be inspired knowing that you can reach amazing heights while being authentic to yourself, and vulnerable. Bloom celebrates how a niche craft like coffee-making can be a lens for bigger conversations about purpose, impact,and intentional living.In this episode we discuss how the book came to be, and Mikael shares some advice that will give you a small taste of what you will find in the highly readable pages of Bloom. Video for this episode will be posted on another channel soon. You can learn more about the book here:Contributor for international retail: https://contributor.coffee/products/bloom Tokopedia for Indonesia: https://t.ly/PqFM6Wholesale enquiries:Asia: info@afterhoursbooks.comUK: s.dunienville@goldhawkinternational.comInternational: tigger@contributor.coffee
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Ep. 28 Special Guests Cafe: 1 year later
Oct 2400:50:19Tap to summarizeIn this conversation, Paul Ross reflects on the first year of operating Special Guests Cafe, discussing the emotional highs and lows of opening day, the challenges of navigating a competitive market, and the importance of building a strong team culture. He shares insights on financial management, the impact of recognition and awards, and the necessity of educating customers about coffee. Paul emphasizes the value of hiring experts and managing cash flow while also highlighting the importance of self-compassion in the face of business challenges. Looking ahead, he is optimisitic about growth and the potential for Special Guests Cafe.Chapters00:00 Reflecting on the First Year of Special Guests Cafe04:01 Navigating the Challenges of a Competitive Market08:30 The Importance of Team Dynamics and Personal Involvement13:02 Financial Insights: Projections vs. Reality16:27 Staying Ahead in a Competitive Landscape19:20 Designing a Coffee Bar: Lessons Learned21:16 Recognition and Awards: Balancing Expectations22:37 The Coffee Experience: Flat Whites vs. Specialty Brews27:34 Building a Knowledgeable Team for High-End Coffee32:50 Integrating Roasting and Cafe Operations34:54 Navigating the Coffee Business Landscape36:42 The Balancing Act of Business and Personal Life38:42 Growth Strategies and Future Aspirations41:53 Reflections on Stress and Decision-Making44:19 Building Relationships and Seeking Advice46:52 The Reality of the Coffee Industry47:20 Reflections from Andrew and Tibor
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Ep 27. Elevating coffee and the people behind it
Oct 1001:07:30Tap to summarizeToday, we're exploring an extraordinary coffee journey that spans two continents and bridges farm to cup in the most direct way possible.Our guests are the sister duo behind a unique family venture: Veruschka and Cliff, founders of Elevate Coffee in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and Vanessa and Yann, who run Muyu Coffee here in Ticino, Switzerland. Together, they've built something rare in the coffee world—a fully integrated supply chain driven by values, not just profit.Bolivia produces less than 0.5% of the world's coffee. It's landlocked, mountainous, and faces high production costs that make competing on price nearly impossible. But what Bolivian coffee lacks in volume, it makes up for in quality. Elevate works directly with these producers. They are buying coffee and exporting it to their sister company, as well as roasting and serving it in their hometown of Cochabamba. It's a model built on passion, family, and a commitment to elevating—pun intended—the voices and work of Bolivian coffee farmers, leveraging direct and close relationships at every link in the value chain. This is a unique business model, but there are universal messages for others interested in starting coffee businesses. Fundamentally clarity, vision and values that are authentic to you, are most important in starting and running your own business. Write your own story, don't copy the story of others. This is our first podcast where we are interviewing 3 people and across 2 continents. But it is also the first business I am aware of that has this specific model of ownership and structure. So, we are going to learn more about the business, how and why it was founded, what are the pros and cons of working directly with producers and selling their coffee across 2 distinct markets, how do you promote the value of the coffee in these different markets and what are the opportunities for the future. Muyu coffeeElevate coffee
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Opportunity in Adversity: Navigating Coffee Farming Challenges with Alejandro Gil Rivera
Jul 16, 2025Tap to summarizeJoin us for an inspiring conversation with Alejandro Gil Rivera, who inherited a coffee farm under challenging circumstances. With no prior experience, Alejandro has embarked on a journey to transform his farm into a thriving business. Discover how he leverages his project management skills to innovate and adapt, tackling issues like climate change, price volatility, and the complexities of the coffee market. Alejandro's story is a testament to resilience and the power of learning, offering valuable lessons for anyone facing adversity. Tune in to explore the intersection of tradition and technology in modern coffee farming.Follow AlejandroCoffee knowledge hubBella Vista coffee farmLinked INStay in touch:Coffee Knowledge HubCoffee Knowledge Hub InstagramLinked In
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The coffee futures fund with Akshat Khandelwal
Apr 22, 2025Summary readyAkshat is the founder of Coffee Futures Fund, a new initiative supporting early-stage coffee shop owners with capital, mentorship, and a trusted peer network.Akshat has a background in brand storytelling and business strategy, he brings over a decade of experience as an operator, investor, and advisor to global growth-stage companies. He has supported founders in raising over $20 million in capital, building scalable systems, and aligning purpose with growth. He’s also the founder of the Coffee Owners Roundtable, a global peer community he launched during the pandemic to give coffee shop owners a space to connect, collaborate, and learn from each other.The Coffee Futures Fund mission is to flip the industry’s survival rate, and help more coffee founders thrive, together. In this interview we dig into how the fund is being set-up, the criteria for applying, the benefits of being selected and some of the challenges. Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Coffee Futures Fund05:54 The Genesis of Coffee Futures Fund11:53 Understanding the Fund Structure18:14 Investment and Revenue Sharing Model23:50 Selection Criteria for Coffee Shops29:50 Long-term Vision and Impact of the Fund41:35 Understanding Revenue Sharing and Its Implications43:46 Evaluating the Cost vs. Investment Perspective45:52 The Importance of Revenue Growth for Sustainability49:00 Flexibility in Investment Amounts and Revenue Shares52:04 Mentorship Structure and Its Impact on Business Growth56:56 Aligning Interests: The Investor and Cafe Relationship01:00:04 The Role of Environment in Business Performance01:03:02 Final Thoughts on the Coffee Futures Fund Model
SummaryTibor and Andrew solo episode 2
Jan 24, 2025Tap to summarizeTibor and Andrew finish 2024, season 1 of the CKH podcast, reflecting on trends in the South East Asian coffee industry and why we should be paying close attention to what they are doing in other parts of the world. We also discuss trends for 2025, C-price, latte art patterns and more. Watch the video on Spotify or on the coffee knowledge hub
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