Episodes

  • The Top 5 Most Innovative Cafes in Melbourne | CAFE TOUR!

    The Top 5 Most Innovative Cafes in Melbourne | CAFE TOUR!
    May 4 2026
    From −85°C cups to the 15 second latte… We’ve found 5 cafes in Melbourne who are doing coffee differently! Join us as we cafe-hop between Aunty Pegs, Regulars, INBTWN, Axil Coffee, and Project Zero: Taste testing signature drinks, chatting to baristas, and taking a peek behind the bar to find out what makes these venues stand out from the crowd. Tune in to get the scoop on the most innovative spots in Melb!CHAPTERS!00:00 - INTRO00:40 - Project Zero Pre-Batched Espresso03:20 - Fresh vs Pre-Batched Taste Test06:30 - Coffee Controversy Online09:50 - Project Zero Signature Drinks11:00 - Regulars -85°C Frozen Coffee15:50 - Frozen Coffee Taste Test18:30 - Axil World Champion Coffee21:00 - $30 Coffee Explained25:10 - Proud Mary / Aunty Pegs Black Coffee Bar28:00 - Freezing Coffee Explained33:50 - IINBTWN Coffee Cocktails44:00 - Experimental Coffee Drinks52:20 - Best Drinks & Most Innovative55:20 - 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! Explore Our Picks: Aunty Pegs: https://www.instagram.com/auntypegsbypmc/ Regulars: https://www.instagram.com/regularsmelb/ Project Zero: https://www.instagram.com/projectzero.coffee/ INBTWN: https://www.instagram.com/inbtwn.melb/ 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
    Show More Show Less
    56 mins
  • The Power of HR in Coffee | w Eric J. Grimm

    The Power of HR in Coffee | w Eric J. Grimm
    Apr 29 2026
    Eric J. Grimm has spent years specialising in Human Resources in the coffee industry. He was kind enough to join us on the podcast and share his extensive knowledge and experience. Eric explains how HR can support both employees and employers: He provides the playbook for difficult workplace conversations, and details the 3 things every business needs in their HR starter pack. Forget beans and equipment, make HR your business's superpower! 00:00 – Intro & Why HR Matters 00:01:40 – Eric’s Story 00:05:00 – Employees vs Owners 00:09:15 – HR Basics 00:13:40 – Compliance & Costs 00:19:00 – Hiring & Turnover 00:30:00 – Difficult Conversations 00:41:50 – Market Update 00:42:25 – Culture & Takeaways Massive thanks to Eric for joining the show! Find him at– The Coffee Human Resource: https://www.humanresource.coffee/ Eric J Grimm: https://www.instagram.com/ericjgrimm/ 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! Want more coffee content? IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 2 mins
  • The Cafe with Intentionally Slow Service | w Gibrán Huerta of LONG PLAY!

    The Cafe with Intentionally Slow Service | w Gibrán Huerta of LONG PLAY!
    Apr 27 2026
    Gibrán Huerta, otherwise known as ‘G’, is the owner of Long Play, a cafe and record bar located in San Diego. We spoke with him about his unique approach to hospitality: He doesn’t serve espresso and there’s no wifi. Just vibes, music, and slow-paced service. G is a pioneer of this new style, encouraging customers to disconnect from the outside world and be present in their cafe experience. We weigh up Long Play against the fast-paced cafes of today, diving into the opportunities and challenges that arise when you decide to go against the grain and do things differently. 00:00 Post-World Coffee Recap 01:00 Japan, Mexico & Hospitality Roots 05:05 Inside Long Play (Cafe + Record Bar) 09:32 Space, Design & No-Signage Philosophy 12:28 Coffee, Tea & “Weird” Menu Choices 16:47 Pricing, Time & The Experience Economy 18:05 The Challenge: Getting People to Slow Down 20:27 Making the Business Sustainable 23:27 Creating Value in Specialty Coffee 29:17 How to Build a Slow Bar 33:56 Hot Take: You Don’t Need Espresso 37:06 Where to Find Long Play Thanks so much to G for joining the show and sharing your incredible insights! Long Play: https://www.instagram.com/longplay.hifi/ Gibrán Huerta: https://www.instagram.com/narbig/ 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! Want more coffee content? IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share
    Show More Show Less
    39 mins
  • What Coffee Was Really Like in the 2000s | COFFEE BREAK!

    What Coffee Was Really Like in the 2000s | COFFEE BREAK!
    Apr 22 2026
    The Y2K vs 2026 Barista | COFFEE BREAK! Working as a barista in the early 2000s looked different to barista jobs of today. From an influx of specialty coffee, to new equipment, automation, workflow changes and ever increasing expectations for great customer service, the 2026 barista is playing a completely different game. We discuss the evolving coffee industry, and what has changed for baristas since Y2K! 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
    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
  • Finally, a Young Barista’s Point of View | EMILY MAKES COFFEE!

    Finally, a Young Barista’s Point of View | EMILY MAKES COFFEE!
    Apr 20 2026
    Being a barista in 2026 means more than dialling in espresso.Dialing in from Canada, we’re joined by seasoned barista first, social media personality second - Emily Makes Coffee. With 40,000 followers, millions of views, and a lot of very honest takes about life behind the bar, Emily has become a refreshing voice in the coffee conversation. From burnout to opportunity, we explore what the job really demands today - and what needs to change for coffee careers to become truly sustainable in and out of the cafe. FIND her @emily.makes.coffeehttps://emilymakescoffee.ca/ CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 02:48 Being a Barista in 2026 09:16 The Skills Customers Don’t See 13:27 Burnout, Wages & Career Sustainability 18:10 Content Creation, Authenticity & Representation 29:31 New Opportunities for Baristas 38:20 Safety, Boundaries & Difficult Customers 46:14 What Makes a Great Barista 52:38 Great Customers, Bad Habits & Pet Peeves 1:00:12 What Makes a Great Café to Work In 1:02:58 Advice for Young Baristas 1:05:31 Hospo Horror Stories 1:11:13 Hot Takes + Final Shoutout Want more coffee content? IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 18 mins
  • Designing Coffee Gear People Actually Use | DOM SYMONS from Subminimal!

    Designing Coffee Gear People Actually Use | DOM SYMONS from Subminimal!
    Apr 15 2026
    What does it actually take to turn a coffee idea into a real product?In this episode, we sit down with Dominic Symons, Founder of Subminimal and designer behind tools like the NanoFoamer and Subscale. We unpack what separates genuinely useful coffee equipment from the endless stream of gadgets hitting the market.From identifying real problems behind the bar to prototyping, manufacturing, patents, and raising over $1.5M through Kickstarter, Dominic shares what most people misunderstand about launching a product, and why simplicity is often the hardest design challenge.We also explore copycat culture, protecting ideas, and why many concepts should never make it past the sketch phase.If you’ve ever wondered how coffee tools actually come to life, this episode is for you.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! https://subminimal.com @subminimal Products mentionedNanoFoamerNanoFoamer PROSubscaleFlick WDT Tool CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 00:24 Meet Dominic Symons (Subminimal) 02:04 Raising $1.5M on Kickstarter 03:01 Is Kickstarter Still Worth It? 04:33 Product Development Reality Check 09:15 Why Milk Frothing Needed Innovation 12:35 From Side Project to Global Product 14:09 What Makes a Great Coffee Tool? 15:41 Copycats, Patents & Protecting Ideas 18:22 Product Ideas That Didn’t Make It 23:25 How to Start Designing a Product 26:36 Finding Manufacturers & Production 28:08 Real Cost of Launching a Product 32:11 Filming the Kickstarter Campaign 34:17 Coffee Market Update 36:16 Brands Pushing Innovation 37:11 Coffee Trends That Might Be Overhyped 39:09 Where to Find Subminimal 40:01 Outro Want more coffee content? IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share
    Show More Show Less
    41 mins
  • Processing Coffee Like Beer?! | Edwin Noreña of CAMPO HERMOSO

    Processing Coffee Like Beer?! | Edwin Noreña of CAMPO HERMOSO
    Apr 13 2026
    Edwin Noreña is a fourth-generation farmer and coffee innovator, leading Finca Campo Hermoso in Colombia. The farm is known for its experimental coffees, with Edwin himself developing a co-fermentation technique inspired by the craft beer industry. We caught him at MICE2026 to talk “co-fermented” vs “infused” coffee, as well as hops in coffee processing, and the complications that come with bringing co-ferments into the mainstream. 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! Campo Hermoso: https://www.instagram.com/campohermoso_coffeefarms/ CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction & Why Experimental Coffee is Trending 02:30 Campo Hermoso & The R&D Approach to Coffee 05:10 Co-Fermented vs Infused Coffee Explained 06:45 Multi-Stage Fermentation & Using Hops 10:40 Fermentation Science (Yeast, Anaerobic, Lactic) 12:00 Adding Value at Origin 14:00 Extreme Flavours & Market Trends 18:00 Quality vs Co-Fermented Coffee Debate 21:30 Consistency Challenges in Experimental Processing 25:30 Can Big Brands Scale Co-Fermented Coffee? 27:45 Future of Coffee Innovation 29:00 Final Thoughts & Where to Find Edwin’s Coffee Want more coffee content? IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share
    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
  • 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
    Show More Show Less
    27 mins