Claim OwnershipThe London Coffee Festival Podcast
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Founder Stays On is the new podcast from London Coffee Festival where coffee founders share the real stories behind the brands you love. Each episode brings two founders together for an unfiltered conversation about the highs, lows, and lessons of building a coffee business. From bold ideas and big risks to the culture and values that keep them going, this is where passion meets reality. Perfect for coffee lovers, entrepreneurs, and anyone curious about what it truly takes to create a coffee business.
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#LondonCoffeeFestival
#SpecialtyCoffee
#CoffeeCulture
#CoffeeCommunity
#CoffeePodcast
#CoffeeEntrepreneurs
#CoffeeBusiness
#CoffeeLovers
#CoffeeLife
#CoffeeTalk
#CoffeeRoasters
#CoffeeJourney
#CoffeeStories
#CoffeeInnovation
18 Episodes
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Santiago Gamboa, Co‑Founder of Hermanos Coffee Roasters, & Kirby Sinclair of The Roasting PartyFrom roasting in living rooms to building award‑winning specialty coffee brands, Santiago and Kirby share raw, honest stories about community, resilience, and shaping the future of coffee.
Recorded at BloomsYard, Level 2, 100 Liverpool St, London EC2M 2AT.
🎧 Listen now and subscribe for more stories from the people shaping specialty coffee.
Next Episode: Bharti Radix x Kirby Sinclair
Ever dreamt of opening a coffee shop? Bharti Radix (BloomsYard) and Kirby Sinclair (The Roasting Party) reveal what it really takes - from building a brand and leading a team to surviving the toughest times in hospitality.
Recorded at BloomsYard, Level 2, 100 Liverpool St, London EC2M 2AT, this candid conversation is packed with insights for coffee lovers and entrepreneurs alike.
🎧 Listen now and subscribe for more stories from the people shaping specialty coffee.
The new Founder Stays On Podcast from the London Coffee Festival kicks off with Bharti Radix, founder of BloomsYard and Jayne Cromwell co-founder of Carnival Coffee Roasters.
Two founders, one honest conversation, no script — covering bootstrapping, scaling, staffing challenges, and surviving COVID.
Real talk about resilience, community, and building independent coffee businesses in London.
Recorded at BloomsYard, Level 2, 100 Liverpool St, London EC2M 2AT .
Host Alex Dantes-Smith sits down with Rob Ward (Slayer) and Freda Yuan (Origin Coffee) to dream up their ultimate coffee shop concepts and let’s just say, we’d visit both.
Think:
🇫🇷 Coffee & crêpes in the South of France
🎸 A smoky lounge with Eric Clapton Unplugged on repeat
🚲 Bikes, brews, and bold ideas
Big thanks to @OzoneCoffee for hosting!
#Londoncoffeefestival #LetItBrew #CoffeeCulture #SpecialtyCoffee #CafeDreams
In this final Founder Stays On episode before the London Coffee Festival 2026, Katherine Swift, Founder of OMGTea, talks with Max Dubiel, Founder of Redemption Roasters - the world’s first prison‑based specialty coffee company. Max shares how Redemption grew from roasting behind prison walls to becoming a leading social‑impact brand reducing reoffending through barista training and meaningful employment.
They also explore the rise of matcha, the future of coffee from low‑caffeine trends to cold formats ethical sourcing, and how wellness is reshaping what consumers want. Katherine shares the OMGTea journey and why provenance and quality matter more than ever.
An inspiring conversation at the intersection of coffee, matcha, and social purpose.
Please note: this episode includes background noise due to being recorded in a coffee shop, which may intermittently interfere with audio.
This podcast is brought to you by the London Coffee Festival - discover more at https://www.londoncoffeefestival.com/ and catch up on the rest of the podcast episodes.
Our thanks to Hermanos Colombian Coffee Roasters Muro Aldgate for hosting the recording.
In this episode, Katherine Swift, founder of OMGTea, and Brendan Olley, co‑founder of Shed, discuss the purpose‑driven origins of their businesses and the realities of building authentic brands in the wellness and specialty coffee worlds.
Katherine shares how OMGTea was born from her mother’s cancer diagnosis and her discovery of matcha’s powerful health benefits, while Brendan reflects on the growth of Shed from a creative co‑working community into a multi‑site coffee and studio brand.
Together, they explore the rise of matcha, the pressures of founder life, sustainable growth, and staying true to their values.
A warm, insightful conversation about passion, purpose, and building businesses with heart.
If you’re a coffee lover, café owner, or a creative thinking about starting something of your own, this episode offers grounded insight, real‑world experience, and plenty of inspiration from two founders who’ve lived it.
This podcast is brought to you by the London Coffee Festival — discover more at https://www.londoncoffeefestival.com/
Recorded at Hermanos Colombian Coffee Roasters - Muro Aldgate location.
In this episode, Santiago Gamboa, Co-Founder of Hermanos Coffee Roasters and Christopher Fields, Co-Founder of Shed sit down for an honest conversation about what it really takes to build and sustain an independent coffee business in London.
Recorded inside a Hermanos Muro in Aldgate East, they reflect on the nerves of opening a first shop, the shock of opening a second, the realities of roasting in tiny spaces, and how COVID reshaped neighbourhood trade.
They talk openly about working closely with the people you trust, staying consistent as you grow, and the tough moments — including when closing a site becomes the smartest decision you can make.
They also share what's next: strengthening existing shops, expanding wholesale, exploring franchising, and building long‑term brand resilience.
If you’re a coffee lover, café owner, or a creative thinking about starting something of your own, this episode offers grounded insight, real‑world experience, and plenty of inspiration from two founders who’ve lived it.
This podcast is brought to you by the London Coffee Festival — discover more at https://www.londoncoffeefestival.com/
In this special episode of the Let it Brew podcast recorded at London Coffee Festival 2025 Alex Dantes-Smith sits down with Paul Kelly to explore La Marzocco’s rich history of groundbreaking collaborations across fashion, design, and specialty coffee.
From high-profile projects with Porsche, and Rimowa they dive into what collaboration really means for the iconic espresso machine maker.
Together, they unpack the brand’s creative mindset, the values that drive its co-creations, and the surprising moments that have shaped La Marzocco’s journey.
You won't want to miss it!
#Londoncoffeefestival #LetItBrew #CoffeeCulture #SpecialtyCoffee #LaMarzocco
In this episode of the Let It Brew podcast, host Alex Dantes-Smith welcomes Ashley Palmer-Watts—former Executive Chef at The Fat Duck and Dinner by Heston, and Co-Founder of Artisan Coffee Co. and The Devonshire, Soho @devonshiresoho—along with Bryan Serwatka, Coffee Community Manager at @minorfigures.
They explore their ultimate dream coffee shop concepts, each bringing a unique vision to the table.
Bryan’s Dream Café – Quivering Lips. Think Rolling Stones meets Flaming Lips artwork, built on a foundation of community and inclusivity.
Ashley’s Coffee House - a dynamic hub for art and music, featuring Tipsy Donuts filled with rich caramel, inspired by Heston’s legendary Tipsy Cake.
Special thanks to Bloomsyard for hosting this episode!
You won't want to miss it! Episode 10 is out now!
#LetItBrew #CoffeeCulture #Podcast #SpecialtyCoffee
In this episode of Let It Brew, host Alex Dantes-Smith sits down with Ollie Simon, GM of Brand and Marketing at Allpress Espresso UK, and Bugra Marasali, Founder of Lodestar Coffee—to explore their ultimate dream coffee shop concepts.
From flat whites to macchiatos, Ollie shares his espresso journey, while Bugra keeps it unapologetically pure: "You don’t go to a kebab shop and order a pizza"—so why serve anything but great coffee?
Expect deep insights, bold opinions, and plenty of caffeine-fueled conversation. Episode 9 is out now!
Special thanks to Origin Coffee for hosting this episode.
#LetItBrew #CoffeeCulture #Podcast #SpecialtyCoffee
Why settle for the ordinary when you can sip your latte surrounded by cuddly chaos? In this episode of Let It Brew, Alex Dantes-Smith chats with Kurt Stewart, Master Roaster and Founder of Volcano Coffee Works, and Roosa Jalonen, Coffee Specialist, Arabica Q Grader, and the newly crowned UK Barista Champion 2024. Together, they dive into their ultimate dream coffee shop concepts.
Roosa’s vision? A café that doubles as a petting zoo. Picture this: a sanctuary where frothy cappuccinos meet fluffy companions—puppies, kittens, baby goats, and ducklings proving that the best conversations happen in spaces filled with warmth (and wagging tails).
Episode 8 of the Let It Brew Podcast is OUT NOW!
Special thanks to Volcano Works for hosting us for this recording.
Alex Dantes-Smith sits down with Bharti Radix, Founder of Bloomsyard and Camilla Morgan, Head of Business Development and Customer Relationships at Eversys UK Ltd to discuss their dream coffee shops.
Coffee at the top ⬆ zipline to the bottom ⬇ - because who needs a drive-thru when you’ve got adventure?
Episode 7 of the 'Let It Brew' Podcast is OUT NOW!
Special thanks to Bloomsyard for hosting us for this recording.
Alex Dantes-Smith sits down with Will Corby from Pact Coffee and Josh Tarlo from Headstand to discuss their dream coffee shops.
Leave your worries at the door, grab a hammock, and step through a magic portal to your coffee haven zen —just don’t ask for an Americano or Builder’s Tea! You won't want to miss this one. Enjoy!
Special thanks to Ozone for hosting us for this recording.
Alex Dantes-Smith chats with Alexandra Dalton of Rascal Coffee and Emily Roach from Ozone Coffee about their dream coffee shops.
Alex’s New Orleans coffee shop, Apapachar (translated as hugs in Spanish), blends dive bar vibes in New Orleans and a no-laptops policy—unless you don’t mind being tucked away in a dark corner! Meanwhile, Emily’s vision features a Scandinavian-inspired haven with a pet dog, toasted banana bread, and Emo 2000's playlists – ‘fringes only!’
Special thanks to Ozone Coffee for hosting this recording.
Alex Dantes-Smith sits down with Paul Ross from Special Guests Coffee and Maxwell Dashwood from Colonna Coffee to discuss their dream coffee shops.
A gym/coffee shop? In the New Forest? With a ring of ponies? And an owner that asks you to leave if you don't order a clean coffee? Yeah, buddy! You won't want to miss this one. Enjoy!
Special thanks to Ozone for hosting us for this recording.
In this episode of The Let it Brew Podcast, our host Alex Dantes-Smith sits down with two coffee industry experts - The Hagen Project's Head of Coffee, Steve Nulty and Brad Morrison, owner of Dark Arts to explore the ultimate question: What would your dream coffee shop look like?
We dive deep into the creativity of both of their dream coffee shops. From the quirky names (think coffee pub, anyone?) to the perfect location. Want to know which roasters they’d feature, or the eccentric trait that would make their shop unforgettable?
Special thanks to Daze Coffee Shop - pop-up lovechild of @batchbabycoffee and @paradox_design_coffee.
In this episode, Alex Dantes-Smith chats with Paul Kelly from La Marzocco about Building his Dream Coffee shop. They cover everything from the perfect location and unique food items to coffee equipment and Paul’s favourite music. Special thanks to Daze Coffee Shop - pop-up lovechild of @batchbabycoffee and @paradox_design_coffee. Find them at 207, 1 Westgate St, London, United Kingdom E83RL.
In the inaugural episode, host Alex Dantes-Smith, Head of European Retail at Fellow, delves into the theme of "Building the Dream Coffee Shop."
Joining Alex in this engaging and insightful conversation are:
Andrea Ventrice, National Account Manager at Califia Farm;
Caroline Schray, Senior Regional Manager at Fellow;
Dan Fellows, UK Brand Ambassador at Slayer Espresso.
From choosing the right equipment to creating a memorable customer experience, the panel share their invaluable insights and experiences.
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