5THWAVE - The Business of Coffee and Hospitality

In today’s episode, we're speaking with Lisa Lawson, founder of Scotland’s Dear Green Coffee Roasters.
Lisa started in the coffee industry working alongside Toby Smith in the early days of creating Toby’s Estate in Sydney, and went on to launch Dear Green in Glasgow in 2011, with a mission to bring sustainably sourced coffees to her local community.  Since then, Dear Green has become a cornerstone of the Scottish specialty coffee scene – not only producing the Glasgow Coffee Festival, but also setting the benchmark for what a responsible coffee business should look like.
In this inspiring conversation, Lisa shares her philosophy of embedding sustainability into every aspect of her business. She also offers practical advice for greener operations – from measuring and reducing carbon emissions, to investing in renewable energy and working towards zero-to-landfill waste goals.

Credits music: "Dust of a Star" by Daisy Chute in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective. Tune into the 5THWAVE Playlist on Spotify for more music from the show
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In today’s episode, we’re exploring the rise of coffee shop concepts within boutique retail spaces, and speaking with Marcus Sanders, Vice President of Global Food and Beverage at luxury fashion brand Coach.

While best known for its designer handbags, Coach launched The Coach Coffee Shop in 2024 as a way to expand the brand beyond traditional retail. The concept has since grown to more than 20 locations globally and is set for rapid expansion.

In this conversation, we unpack the strategic thinking behind retail cafés, driven by shifting consumer behaviour and a growing demand for experiences, not just products. Marcus also shares how coffee can act as a powerful engagement engine, creating deeper brand connections and serving as an accessible entry point for a new generation of luxury consumers.

Credits music: "XO" by Millie Bushell in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective. Tune into the 5THWAVE Playlist on Spotify for more music from the show
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In today’s episode, we're speaking with Trish Rothgeb, founder of Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters in San Francisco.

With over 30 years in the coffee industry, Trish was a true pioneer of the West Coast specialty coffee movement in the early 2000s and is widely credited with popularising the term “Third Wave Coffee.”

In this conversation, we explore the evolution of specialty coffee culture and the major shifts in consumer behaviour over the last two decades. Trish also shares why she believes the next meaningful shift must focus on equity across the global supply chain, and why lasting change will only come when economic models work sustainably for producers, not just pleasing consumers.
Subscribe to Trish's Substack and read her article on Third Wave Coffee here
Tune in to Picture Day on YouTube for more coffee adventures with Trish Rothgeb and Jay Lljewski

Credits music: "I'm Fine" by Bobbi Stella in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective. Tune into the 5THWAVE Playlist on Spotify for more music from the show
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Subscribe to 5THWAVE on Instagram @5thWaveCoffee and tell us what topics you'd like to hear

In today’s episode we’re exploring how climate change and deforestation are impacting global coffee production, with Dr. Aaron Davis, Senior Research Leader for Crops & Global Change at The Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew.

Aaron has spent more than three decades researching coffee species and is a leading voice on climate resilience and future-proofing global coffee production. 

In this thought-provoking conversation, Aaron unpacks coffee farming’s complex relationship with deforestation and assesses its impact on forest ecosystems. He also highlights the rise of alternative coffee species, and why transparency and unlocking genetic diversity are key to our industry’s long-term survival.

Credits music: "Natures Hands" by Flo Perlin association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective. Tune into the 5THWAVE Playlist on Spotify for more music from the show
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Subscribe to 5THWAVE on Instagram @5thWaveCoffee and tell us what topics you'd like to hear

In today’s episode, we're speaking Gabriel Shohet, Co-founder of of UK coffee trailblazer Black Sheep Coffee.

Founded in 2013 with friend and business partner Eirik Holth, Black Sheep had a bold vision: to champion specialty-grade robusta at a time when the industry was almost entirely focused on arabica. Since then, the brand has achieved remarkable success, scaling to over 130 outlets across five markets and capturing the attention of a new generation of coffee drinkers along the way. 
In this conversation, Gabriel reflects on Black Sheep’s philosophy of challenging the status quo and choosing not to blindly follow industry trends. He also shares insight into the brand’s US expansion strategy – targeting Sunbelt states like Texas and Florida over more well-trodden markets such as New York and LA – to show the model resonates with a broader, more inclusive American audience.

Credits music: "Shock Me" by Gina Zo in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective. Tune into the 5THWAVE Playlist on Spotify for more music from the show
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Subscribe to 5THWAVE on Instagram @5thWaveCoffee and tell us what topics you'd like to hear