In this episode of the Coffee is Me podcast, Valerian interviews Mabel and Ming from Moonwake Coffee. They discuss their first sip of coffee, their professions, and why they decided to start a coffee company.    They also talk about the meaning behind the name Moonwake and their sales channels, including direct-to-consumer, farmers markets, and wholesale. They highlight the importance of building relationships with customers and the benefits of being part of the coffee enthusiast...

In this conversation, Mariana Moreno from Tueste Café in Mexico shares insights into the Mexican specialty coffee scene and the growth of specialty coffee in the country. Mariana discusses the challenges and opportunities of being a woman in the coffee industry and the unique aspects of their coffee company, which includes a coffee school and a coffee shop. She also talks about their approach to sourcing coffee cherries then processing them themselves using their own processing style. Mariana...

In this episode, Austin and Colin from Mom and M Coffee share their journey from San Francisco to Cincinnati and the challenges they faced in opening their coffee shop. They discuss their decision to start roasting their own coffee and the process of choosing a roaster. They also talk about the benefits of owning their real estate and the foreign concepts they introduced in Cincinnati. Finally, they explain their coffee offerings and how they make decisions for their portfolio. In this...

In the bustling world of specialty coffee, where the beans tell stories and the aromas transport you to distant lands, one brand has been quietly brewing a storm, not just in a cup, but in the entrepreneurial world as well. Welcome to the universe of Hydrangea Coffee, a small specialty coffee brand that has managed to blend the rich notes of passion, quality, and smart business into a delectable brew of success. A Sip into Billy’s JourneyBilly, the brain behind Hydrangea Coffee, didn’t always...

In this episode, Sameer takes us back to the origins of Voyager Coffee, a concept born out of a desire to revitalize their city, San Jose. As natives of the area, Sameer and his partner Lauren noticed a trend of friends and acquaintances leaving for more exciting urban centers. Determined to inject vibrancy into their hometown, they envisioned Voyager Coffee as a catalyst for community-building and a hub of creativity. With a humble beginning as a coffee cart, Sameer and Lauren's dream...

In this episode, we chat with Erich Joiner, founder of goodboybob coffee in Los Angeles, California. GBB has gained a reputation for sourcing the world's best coffees, including top lots from Cup of Excellence. Initially catering to his friends and colleagues in the film industry, Erich's passion for specialty coffee was sparked by the unique flavors and aromas he encountered. We explore how he manages to sell these high-end coffees and how GBB's hard-to-find location in Santa Monica adds to...

How and why did Hiver start Chromatic coffee? His origin story is really inspiring. So many people say “this is what I want to do,” but what are you ready to give up? Would you give up your comforts, free time, and risk your financial security? Difference in doing business in the central EU and USA. What kind of personality you have to be in order to become an entrepreneur? In this episode we will discuss two very different worlds of entrepreneurship. When it comes to roasting and packaging,...

Talking with former student of mine Sebastian Ramirez about his tips for new coffee shop entrepreneurs.  Cafetal Coffee is a Specialty Coffee shop located near ASU in Tempe, Arizona. offering coffee from their family farm in Colombia and serving Latin infused breakfast and lunch!  Sebastian was very generous and shared a lot of useful tips for everybody who is thinking to open a cafe or a coffee shop.  00:00 Introducing Sebastian Ramirez Cafetal Coffee 00:48 Sebastian's First Coffee...

Come explore the specialty coffee scene in India with us and Rahul Reddy. Rahul is the founder of Subko Coffee Roasters, a revolutionary coffee concept that sources the best lots from local farmers for the local consumers.  This is the first episode recorded with video, so if you want to see our faces, join us on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa5A34qegnupOj_gt04Jzhw In this episode we cover the topics of cupping and calibration, the specialty coffee scene in Mumbai and the...

In this episode we talk with Eddie Alaniz about his brand Coffee Conspiracy.  Eddie's brand is a lockdown businesses. While most cafes had to be closed, Eddie offered single origin cold brew to the beach crowd in Santa Cruz. Despite his humble beginnings, Eddie did not stop with his cold brew cart. His next move was to start to roast his own coffee and sell it via an online store.  How did he do it? What is the most important aspect of a successful coffee business? The interview was...

In December, we held the Roasting Lab PRO Course, where future coffee entrepreneurs study efficient ways of roasting, developing products, packaging and branding, understanding sales channels, not to mention having an awesome time exchanging ideas and meeting like-minded people from all over the world. I run this course every 3 months; it is limited to 6 students, and the next one is coming up in March. One of my favorite parts of the course is our guests, who come to share their coffee...

In this episode, Daniel Streetman explains how you can start a coffee roasting business with minimal investment. After Daniel was laid off during the pandemic, he and his wife Ella looked deep into their wallet and figured out that the most they could spend on their new company was $2500.   I love to brag about how I started Green Plantation with only $8000, but I would never even attempt to start a coffee roasting business with $2500, especially not in San Francisco. In this episode...

In this show, I interview Gleason Jones from Opelika, Alabama and founder of Minimalist Coffee. Minimalist Coffee is the brand new venture of this 25-year-old entrepreneurial gentleman, addressing the need for a good, freshly roasted coffee with associated charity contributions in the local community.  Gleason dared to violate my rule for the size of the coffee roaster. How's that working for him? Can he make a sustainable business with a 2 kg roaster? Gleason owns a former school bus...

For this episode we asked you, our listeners, to send us questions - and to plug your business. You sent thought provoking questions which challenged us -- Valerian and Marcus to think outside the box, share their experiences, and call upon their combined experience to come up with possible answers.  We have tasted and drank a lot of coffee, and listener Katie asks us to name the single best cup of coffee each of us has ever had, in our entire lives. Did we choose one of the award...

Anya and Matt are prime examples of the American dream: they had a dream and they invested all their time, money, and energy to make it a reality. The result has enriched  the L.A. coffee culture and brought a unidog to the bottom of the cup. As a European living in the USA, I have always admired the entrepreneurial spirit of my American friends, and I love the unidog. If you do not know what a unidolg is, don't worry, we talk about it in the podcast. In this episode, we talked about the...