Actually Good Coffee Podcast

42. How to Actually Run a Profitable Coffee Roasting Business

On today's episode I sat down with Luke Waite of Pomelo Coffee Consulting. Luke is an industry veteran and has stared P.C.C. to help coffee roasters strengthen their margins as well as their operating procedures. We discuss the power of saying no to a potential client, how NOT to run your business like a charity, and other important lessons all discussed in his upcoming book "The Owner’s Manual: A Guide to Sustaining A Coffee Roaster". If you have just started a coffee roasting business, have been operating for over a decade, or even own a business outside of the coffee industry, tune in to hear both valuable and easily applicable lessons.
Click the link below to pre-order now. https://www.pomelocoffeeconsulting.com/pomelo-book

41. The SCA and CQI have some explaining to do

In this episode, I sit down with Thomas Ameloot — owner of Colabops and CoffeeTron, SCA and CQI certified trainer, and one of the most respected voices in the specialty coffee world. With a resume that seems to go on forever, Thomas was the perfect guest to unpack the Specialty Coffee Association’s recent acquisition of the Coffee Quality Institute’s Q Program. The Q has long stood as the gold standard in coffee evaluation, shaping the way we define quality in specialty coffee. We dive into what this merger could mean for the industry at large — from the trainers and certifiers to the farmers and everyday coffee drinkers.
 
Join my online coffee community: https://www.skool.com/reallygoodcoffeecommunity/about?ref=f3c4f2fcb82c4b83a3e908f2b971262f

40. How Nostalgia ties into Coffee

Nostalgia is one of the most powerful forces in the world—when used right, it can shape entire industries. While earning my Q-Grader certification in 2024, I realized how nostalgia plays a huge role in how we experience and grade coffee. Take Nintendo, for example—they’ve built one of the most loyal fanbases by tapping into the emotional connection people have with their past. But what if that same principle was applied to coffee? In this episode, I dive into the role of nostalgia in crafting a memorable cup and how it can shape the future of specialty coffee.
 
This is the final segment of a course initially featured on our online coffee community.
 
Join here!
https://www.skool.com/reallygoodcoffeecommunity/about?ref=f3c4f2fcb82c4b83a3e908f2b971262f

39. The Key to Tasting Coffee

On today's episode I share with you all a segment from one of our online community's classes. In the original video I discuss some of the methods that helped me acquire my Q-grader certification as well as what I believe to be the key to tasting coffee. As helpful as getting this certification was for my career I don't believe it is a necessary requirement in order to be successful in coffee. If you can fully grasp the concept I discuss here you'll be just fine.
 
Join my online community!
https://www.skool.com/reallygoodcoffeecommunity/about?ref=f3c4f2fcb82c4b83a3e908f2b971262f

38. Running a Coffee Roasting Business with a Newborn

My wife, Alyssa, and I just had our first baby, and unfortunately, no amount of coffee can prepare you for the newborn stage. We’ve officially passed the first month running on fumes while keeping our coffee roasting business afloat. Between midnight diaper changes and 3 AM feedings, we figured it might be helpful (or at least entertaining) to share what we’ve learned so far. So, if you're a fellow sleep-deprived parent, business owner, or just curious how we're managing both without totally losing it—tune in.
 
Join my online community! https://www.skool.com/reallygoodcoffeecommunity/about?ref=f3c4f2fcb82c4b83a3e908f2b971262f

37. Tariffs

On today's episode, I discuss a topic that just can't seem to make it's way out of the news lately. It's also had an impact on the coffee market, assisting in driving the price of coffee up to an all-time high. If you're a fan of Colombian, Mexican, or Decaf coffee, this might be worth the nine minutes it'll take for you to tune into todays episode.
 
Join my online community! https://www.skool.com/reallygoodcoffeecommunity/about

36. Surviving Specialty Coffee in 2025

Time to take a deep dive into this years outlook for specialty coffee roasters. As coffee prices continue to rise, it's important to look back in history and see what previous roasters have done to mitigate these difficult financial times. Take a listen to todays episode to find out what's going on behind the scenes of your (most likely more expensive) daily cup of coffee.
 
Join my online coffee community! https://www.skool.com/reallygoodcoffeecommunity/about
 

35. 2 Year Anniversary Special

What's a more special way to celebrate 2 years of owning a business than by getting interviewed by my wife and business partner? This is a funny, feel good episode where I share personal insights and lessons into what I've learned these past 2 years. Thank you all for the continued support, cheers to another exciting year! ☕️
 
Join my online community!  https://www.skool.com/reallygoodcoffeecommunity/about

34. John Coz on Authenticity in the Coffee Industry

In this second part of my talk with John Coz from Cozz Coffee we discuss John's personal views on the coffee industry. John finishes this two part interview by going into detail on his background and how it's shaped the way he handles his career as a whole. A difficult task for a more creative business owner, especially when feeling the financial pressures of running a small business begin to ensue.
 
Join my online coffee community! https://www.skool.com/reallygoodcoffeecommunity/about

33. New Keurig Recycling Program

For the past few decades K-cups have been synonymous with convenience, simplicity, and unfortunately unnecessary waste. But with Keurig's new K-cycle program they look to finally put an end to this continuous criticism of their flagship product. Is this the answer everyones been looking for or is it just another failed attempt at becoming a part of the sustainability trend? Today I go over what exactly goes into this recycling initiative and whether or not it's here to stay.
 
Join my online coffee community (it's free): https://www.skool.com/reallygoodcoffeecommunity/about
 
Sources:
https://keurigkcycle.com/place-your-order#smPrice
https://www.keurigdrpepper.com/keurig-announces-k-cycle-at-home-recycling-program/
 https://www.keurig.com/hub/lifestyle/introducing-keurig-k-cycle-k-cup-pod-home-recycling-program