The Coffee Think Tank Podcast

How Verve Took Over Capital One Cafe w/ Harris Nash [Verve Coffee Roasters]

When you think about where specialty coffee belongs, a bank probably isn't the first place that comes to mind. But what if the best coffee in your city happened to be served inside a Capital One branch? That's the audacious vision of Verve Coffee, the Santa Cruz-based coffee roaster that was started in 2007 and now has over a dozen cafe locations across California and Japan. Harris Nash, the company's Senior Wholesale Manager, has spent the last two years helping Verve Coffee take over the more than 50 Capital One Cafe locations across 18 states, converting customers from Peet's to specialty coffee in places like Herald Square in New York and shopping malls in Kansas. Harris brings a unique perspective to this challenge. He's worked nearly every role in the coffee industry—from barista to importer to getting stuck on a Chinese coffee farm during COVID lockdowns. But this Capital One project has pushed him out of his comfort zone even further with training 600 baristas to represent Verve's brand in locations they don't directly control, creating systems to maintain quality across a massive geographic footprint, and proving that specialty coffee can thrive in unexpected places. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN * Why Capital One switched to serve Verve Coffee from Peet's across 50+ locations * The challenge of training 600 baristas to represent Verve's brand in locations they don't directly control * Why customer redirects became crucial for converting Peet's customers to specialty coffee drinkers * How Verve developed granular training systems and learning management platforms to maintain quality at scale * Why Verve partnered with local coffee trainers in each market to facilitate the transition * How the partnership enabled Verve to support more coffee producers than ever before * The technology and operational systems needed to manage coffee quality across 18 states * Why Harris believes specialty coffee's future lies in making high-quality coffee more approachable * How Verve created the exclusive Daybreaker Blend with a give-back component for Capital One Cafes CHAPTERS * 00:00 Introduction to the Capital One Cafe Project * 03:11 Harris Nash's Journey in Specialty Coffee * 05:48 Transitioning from Peet's to Verve Coffee * 08:58 The Role of Training in Specialty Coffee * 12:09 Challenges of Brand Transition and Customer Experience * 15:10 Staff Training and Overcoming Resistance * 18:02 Infrastructure and Support for New Locations * 20:53 Maintaining Brand Standards and Quality Control * 24:03 Collaboration with Capital One and Operational Challenges 27:06 Integrating Verve's Identity into Capital One Cafes * 34:12 Building a Brand Identity * 39:13 Collaborative Marketing Strategies * 46:06 Innovating Specialty Coffee * 51:50 Future of Partnerships and Products * 56:36 Experiences in China and Coffee Origins WHERE TO FIND HARRIS NASH * Follow Harris on Instagram: @harrisnash [https://www.instagram.com/harrisnash] * Verve Coffee website: vervecoffee.com [https://vervecoffee.com] * Verve Coffee on Instagram: @vervecoffee [https://www.instagram.com/vervecoffee] MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE * Capital One Cafe [https://www.capitalone.com/local/] * Dwell Dripper [https://www.vervecoffee.com/products/dwell-dripper-kit?srsltid=AfmBOopNS6uP-IOhus3ZzW_c4lSq4fVpJSlO91__yLvZbZt4wc_gn6Ng] * Pink House Alchemy [https://www.pinkhousealchemy.com/] * Swift Coffee [https://www.swiftcoffee.com/] * Farm Level Foundation [https://www.farmfoundation.org/] * REI Foundation [https://www.reifund.org/] * Torch Coffee [https://www.torchcoffee.asia/] * Black and White Coffee [https://www.blackwhiteroasters.com/] The Coffee Think Tank podcast is a show about trends, ideas, and innovations in coffee by Fresh Cup, hosted by Garrett Oden. Subscribe to Fresh Cup for more industry insights at .

The Grocery Expansion Game w/ Raina Roberts [Partners Coffee]

With quality coffee more widely available than ever, roasters can no longer rely solely on their beans’ excellence to drive growth. As Raina Roberts, Business Development Director at Partners Coffee in Brooklyn, NY, puts it, “When everyone’s special, no one’s special.” Raina oversees 250+ wholesale accounts and has guided Partners’ expansion beyond the Northeast. She’s seen how grocery buyers now demand more, charge hidden fees, and issue dispute codes that can wreck margins if you’re not prepared. In this Coffee Think Tank episode, we unpack what it really takes to break into grocery, the costs you can’t overlook, how to support rollouts across regions, and how to win wholesale accounts when you’re not local. If you handle B2B growth or expansion at a roaster, this one’s for you. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN * How Partners Coffee grew from a Northeast base into Midwest grocery chains * The real economics and logistics behind specialty coffee in grocery stores * Why a grocery partnership can take a year before products hit shelves * How to calculate true COGS for grocery to stay profitable * Hidden fees and dispute deductions that erode margins * Balancing Brooklyn identity with broad-market appeal * Winning wholesale clients when you aren’t the local roaster * Developing travel-friendly specialty SKUs like cold-brew pouches and instant coffee * Using DTC data to prove market potential in new regions CHAPTERS00:00 The changing landscape of coffee biz-dev03:02 Raina’s journey in coffee06:08 What a Business Development Director really does08:51 Distribution and logistics landmines11:57 First big Midwest win: Fresh Thyme Market15:07 Marketing a new region from afar18:02 How grocery sales actually happen21:06 Data management and transparency headaches24:10 Tariffs and price shocks28:07 Pricing strategy under grocery pressure31:12 Understanding and fighting disputes35:43 Region-specific marketing tactics39:05 Serving wholesale customers that aren’t local45:11 Protecting brand integrity while scaling51:07 Product innovation — cold brew, instant, and more55:48 Trends shaping coffee’s next five years WHERE TO FIND RAINA ROBERTS * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/raina-roberts-155407211/] * Partners Coffee website [https://www.partnerscoffee.com/] * Instagram @partnerscoffee [https://www.instagram.com/partnerscoffee/] MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE * Fresh Thyme Market [https://www.freshthyme.com/] * Whole Foods Market [https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/] * World Market [https://www.worldmarket.com/] * Rockaway Cold Brew Pouches [https://www.partnerscoffee.com/products/rockaway-cold-brew] * Partners Instant Coffee [https://www.partnerscoffee.com/collections/instant-coffee] The Coffee Think Tank podcast is a show about trends, ideas, and innovations in coffee by Fresh Cup, hosted by Garrett Oden. Subscribe to Fresh Cup for more industry insights at freshcup.com [freshcup.com].

The Rise and Fall of Intelligentsia’s Instant Espresso Bar w/ Bailey Manson [Intelligentsia]

In this episode of Coffee Think Tank, Bailey Manson, Director of Innovation at Intelligentsia Coffee, shares the story of the Illumination Bar in Pasadena—a bold experiment that replaced traditional espresso machines with freeze‑dried instant coffee for all espresso‑based drinks. Launched during the pandemic in 2020, this radical service model lasted until January 2025 before evolving again. We discuss how Bailey and his team convinced themselves to pursue such a crazy idea, the tools and workflow required to serve coffee this way, how baristas and customers reacted, and why the bar just replaced the freeze‑dried setup with an innovative—but more classic—espresso workflow. What You’ll Learn * How COVID‑19 and a lease renewal created the perfect opportunity for Intelligentsia to test a radical new service model * The detailed workflow for making espresso drinks with freeze‑dried instant coffee (and the specialized equipment needed) * Why customers often couldn’t tell the difference between freeze‑dried and traditional espresso in milk‑based drinks * How Intelligentsia made instant coffee work as a viable alternative to espresso for years * The economic and operational challenges of maintaining an instant‑based program * Why customer reviews eventually pushed a return to traditional espresso equipment * How the Illumination Bar still serves as a testing ground for innovative service models Chapters * 00:00  Introduction to the Illumination Bar * 02:59  Bailey's Coffee Journey and Role at Intelligentsia * 05:48  The Concept Behind the Illumination Bar * 09:01  Challenges and Innovations in Coffee Preparation * 11:54  The Unique Workflow and Equipment Used * 14:54  Customer Reactions and Market Acceptance * 18:03  The Science of Freeze‑Dried Coffee * 21:06  Final Thoughts on Innovation in Coffee * 29:02  Innovations in Coffee Equipment * 31:46  The Unique Experience of the Illumination Bar * 34:51  Adapting to Customer Feedback * 38:01  The Challenges of Freeze‑Dried Coffee * 50:55  The Evolution of Service Models * 54:13  Future Trends in Specialty Coffee Where to Find Bailey Manson * Follow Intelligentsia Coffee on Instagram: @intelligentsiacoffee [https://www.instagram.com/intelligentsiacoffee] Mentioned in the Episode * Swift Coffee [https://www.swiftcoffee.com/] (freeze‑dried coffee producer) * Curtis Corinth [https://www.wilburcurtis.com/microsite/corinth/] (water dispenser for instant espresso) * La Marzocco KB90 [https://lamarzoccousa.com/commercial-products/espresso-machines/kb90/] (espresso machine) * Wally [https://www.wally.coffee/] (automated milk steamer) * Flare 58x [https://flairespresso.com/product/flair-58x/?srsltid=AfmBOorg0L5RFyLhwe6PObKD0Gx8wRqciC_OubqbYnIXzKNEbtUzNKqC] (manual espresso maker) * X‑Bloom [https://www.notion.so/Show-notes-1cddd403da8a804bbc3cf62a22c4e62b?pvs=21] (brewing equipment)

Frameworks for Using AI in Coffee Shops w/ Melissa Villanueva [Brewpoint Coffee]

Artificial intelligence tools are transforming how businesses operate. But in an industry built on human connection and craft, coffee business owners must balance taking advantage of new tools with preserving the soul of their business. That's why I wanted to talk with Melissa Villanueva, someone I consider to be a sharp operator with a keen eye for how to use AI effectively. Over the past decade, Villanueva has grown Brewpoint Coffee from a Craigslist purchase into a thriving company with three cafes and a roastery in the Chicago area. Now, she's navigating how to thoughtfully integrate AI tools without compromising what makes Brewpoint special. What You'll Learn How BrewPoint uses AI as a targeted tool rather than a replacement for creativity Practical applications of AI for coffee shops, from custom coffee recipes to equipment troubleshooting The importance of maintaining authenticity in customer-facing aspects of your business Why AI often works best for enhancing existing processes, not creating new ones How to evaluate which AI tools actually save time versus create more work Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AI in Coffee Business 03:11 Exploring AI Use Cases in Brewpoint 05:54 The Role of AI in Writing and Content Creation 08:47 Customer Engagement and AI Tools 12:11 Operational Efficiency with AI 14:49 Philosophy and Future of AI in Business 28:56 Navigating AI's Ethical Boundaries 30:43 Preserving Human Creativity in Business 34:25 Empowering Teams to Use AI Effectively 39:50 The Role of AI in Policy Creation 42:33 Key Characteristics of Business Success 49:43 Reflecting on AI's Impact on Entrepreneurship 56:15 Future Goals and Strategic Planning Where to Find Our Guest BrewPoint Coffee website [https://brewpoint.coffee/] @brewpointcoffee on Instagram [https://instagram.com/brewpointcoffee] @melissaavillanueva on Instagram [https://instagram.com/melissaavillanueva] Referenced Resources ChatGPT (OpenAI's AI assistant) Claude (Anthropic's AI assistant) BrewPoint's Nova Cold Brew Concentrate

Tech is Changing Sourcing for Roasters w/ Kat Melheim [Algrano]

Coffee sourcing is undergoing a quiet, tech-enabled revolution, and there are few people better equipped to talk about than Kat Melheim. Through her roles at Black & White, her time on a Hawaiian coffee farm, and now at Algrano, Kat has been part of a shift toward greater transparency and accessibility, especially in the roasting and green buying realms. The digitization of coffee sourcing isn't just a convenience play - it's fundamentally altering who gets to participate and how value flows through the supply chain. I wanted to understand if we're witnessing a true disruption or just a repackaging of the same old power structures with a tech interface. Kat's perspective, from someone who's operated at multiple points in the value chain, offers some great clarity on what's really happening here, and what roasters who are just coming onto the green buying scene need to know about sourcing digitally. What You'll Learn * How coffee roasting's culture of secrecy is evolving toward openness and collaboration * The shift from traditional importing to technology-enabled direct sourcing platforms * Algrano's digital marketplace model for connecting producers and roasters * The business advantages of forward buying for both sides of the supply chain * Current market challenges facing traditional coffee importers * How small roasters can now establish direct relationships from day one * The important distinctions between direct sourcing and direct trade * Why origin experiences fundamentally change coffee professionals' perspectives * How immersive origin trips create meaningful connections across the coffee industry Chapters 00:00 Breaking Down Coffee Roasting Secrets 07:00 Modern Coffee Sourcing Evolution 15:15 Defining Direct Trade vs. Direct Sourcing 21:03 Algrano: Simplifying Coffee Trade Logistics 24:10 Digital Marketplaces vs. Traditional Importing 30:22 Current Challenges for Coffee Importers 34:01 How Technology Transforms Producer Relationships 37:33 Overcoming Forward Buying Hesitation 40:09 Algrano's Transparent Business Model 44:06 Building Meaningful Producer Connections 46:01 Kat's Origin Journey: Farm to Roastery 53:34 Creating Immersive Origin Experiences 58:08 How to Connect with Kat and Algrano Where to Find Kat Melheim * RoasterKat Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/roasterkat/] * RoasterKat YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@roasterkat] * Algrano [https://algrano.com/] * Coffee People Zine [https://www.notion.so/Show-notes-18ddd403da8a81989af7c79f71341122?pvs=21] Mentioned in the Episode * Kona Farm Direct [https://konafarmdirect.com/] (Hawaiian coffee farm) * El Vergel [https://www.instagram.com/vergelestate/?hl=en] (Colombian coffee producer) * Mountain Harvest [https://www.algrano.com/en/seller-profiles/15788-mountain-harvest] The Coffee Think Tank podcast is a show about trends, ideas, and innovations in coffee by Fresh Cup, hosted by Garrett Oden. Subscribe to Fresh Cup for more industry insights at freshcup.com [http://freshcup.com].