Talking with Toby Smith

In this short episode, Ben chats with Henry Miller and Justin from Brisbane’s Latitude Coffee Roasters, fresh from their win at the Golden Bean World Series. They unpack the preparation, precision and mindset behind their award-winning coffees—from selecting and blending standout lots to making tiny adjustments that transformed the final cup. The conversation also explores competition judging, the rise of co-ferments and why great roasting ultimately means putting ego aside and trusting what you taste. An insightful listen for coffee professionals, competitors and anyone curious about what it takes to become a world champion roaster.

Is specialty coffee losing its way? Tune into our latest episode with coffee experts Paul and Jono as we dive deep into the industry, the journey, and what the future holds for your favorite brew. ☕️ #CoffeeConversation #SpecialtyCoffee

In the first-ever live podcast of 'That Coffee Show,' host Ben Gleeson and a distinguished panel of coffee industry professionals discuss a wide range of topics essential to café and roasting business operations. Panelists include Hannah Ryan from Morning Coffee Society, Pete Andrews from Legend Coffee, Elisha Dowling from Local Hero and Caleb Holstein from Green Square. They explore strategies for navigating the current cost of living crisis, the impact of green coffee price fluctuations, and the importance of maintaining genuine customer service. The discussion also highlights the role of social media in community building and marketing. Practical advice is shared on raising coffee prices, engaging with customers, and empowering staff to contribute to social media efforts. The conversation emphasizes the need for confidence in business decisions and the value of creating a unique café experience.

In this episode of 'That Coffee Show,' host Ben Gleeson sits down with special guest Timothy Sweet to delve into the nuances of the coffee industry. Tim shares his journey from working in a restaurant to becoming a key member of San Remo Coffee, discussing the varying coffee cultures across Australian states, the challenges cafes face, and the importance of industry education. They also touch on coffee innovation, the role of automation, and the influence of mentors in professional growth. A must-listen for anyone passionate about coffee and the industry’s future.

We have a special episode to kick off Season 3 of That Coffee Show. Crossing over with the ‘Bean there, done that’ Podcast, Ben Gleeson is joined by industry experts Phillip Di Bella & Raihaan Esat. Phillip Di Bella needs no introduction when it comes to coffee & the Australian coffee scene. Initially known for the establishment of Di Bella Coffee, which became Australia’s largest specialty coffee company, Phillip’s entrepreneurial spirit has brought success to other businesses such as International Coffee Traders, Abbotsford Road Specialty Coffee in New York, and more recently The Coffee Commune. Raihaan or ‘Rai’ as we know him, has an impressive coffee resume himself. Known as one of the good guys of specialty coffee, Rai has an incredible palette & coffee knowledge & is always looking for ways to share with people. He is the Head judge for Golden Bean Australasia, General Manager of International Coffee Traders along with The Coffee Commune & was a part of the team that won the Golden Bean World Series in 2022. This episode is jam packed with unique insights about all things coffee & the industry that surrounds it. Show notes https://www.coffeecommune.com.au/the-new-bean-there-done-that-podcast/

In this episode, we catch up the the newly crowned World Cup Tasting Champion Young Baek. Not only is Young a World champion taster, he is also a World Class human who wants to help educate & build on the current specialty coffee culture. You'll hear Young's story on how he started in specialty coffee right up to winning the world title in Athens & spoiler alert: it wasn't all smooth Sailing. In this interview, you'll come to find that Young is a humble, genuine human that is more than happy to share his knowledge & offer advice to anyone wanting to learn! Enjoy.

In this episode we catch up with Stacey Lynden. Stacey is multi award winning Barista & Roaster winning medals in numerous competitions. She is a qualified Q grader & looks after quality control for Swiss Water Decaf. In this episode we hear how Stacey got involved in Specialty coffee & also talk about competing & the process and evolution of decaf coffee.

In this episode, Ben's better half joins him in the studio to discuss simple ways cafe owners can make small adjustments in their shops to improve the overall 'vibe' & attract more customers.

In this episode Ben takes the show on the road to catch up with the Founder of Toby's Estate, Toby Smith. Toby is responsible for creating one of Australia's most iconic coffee brands, spreading the world over. Toby has had a profound impact within the world of Specialty Coffee & today we get to gain some insight into just how that happened.

This weeks episode is a little bit different. We have David (Deej) Smith joining Ben Glee in the studio to ask each other a series of random coffee questions. As always, there are plenty of laughs to be had along with some really useful advice.