What happens when a design student accidentally becomes a barista and ends up changing the global coffee game?

In this episode, we sit down with 2012 World Barista Champion from Guatemala, to unpack his wild journey: from his first training shift to going rogue on the WBC stage with Intelligentsia coffee and making James Hoffmann laugh in the process.

But this isn’t just about competition...

We get into the real stuff:

→ What it actually means to represent an origin country

→ The hard challenges of coffee sourcing in Guatemala

→ Labor shortages, pricing pressure, and global market chaos

→ How innovation in processing is changing what’s possible



Raul gets real about purpose, identity, and what it takes to survive and lead in the coffee industry.This is the untold story of hustle, heartbreak, and how a single cup can change a life!

👉 Like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Guess The Drip!

💌 Join a Global Audience with BUY THE DRIP WEEKLY

Get our personal coffee insights, brewing tips, and behind-the-scenes content delivered straight to your inbox every week...https://buythedrip.beehiiv.com/subscribe

51. From Barista to Champion to Leader at Origin. Raul Rodas on Coffee’s Real Challenges

we sit down with Laila Ghambari [https://www.instagram.com/lailaghambari], a barista-turned-champion-turned-consultant whose journey through coffee competitions, family business, and specialty retail [https://guildercoffee.com/] offers a masterclass in what it takes to build a sustainable coffee career and cafe.Laila shares how growing up in her dad’s Seattle cafe laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to coffee and how she transformed that passion into a high-impact consulting business [https://lailaghambari.myflodesk.com/readytogrow?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAac7_3XaJ0aYU-0pRTzrgFTwOti_FBFPMhGB5JACx4uV_mi92KV1DMEdyTTBHg_aem_ZBDRqU-1MUqijgwb6nNBdA#]. We talk about the mindset shift that led her to win the U.S. Barista Championship [https://uscoffeechampionships.org/], what many cafe owners get wrong about profitability, and the unseen challenges of scaling coffee businesses.Whether you’re a cafe owner, aspiring competitor, or just coffee-obsessed, this episode is full of grounded insights and real talk about what it takes to survive and thrive in the coffee industry👉 Like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Guess The Drip!💌 Join a Global Audience with BUY THE DRIP WEEKLYGet our personal coffee insights, brewing tips, and behind-the-scenes content delivered straight to your inbox every week...https://buythedrip.beehiiv.com/subscribe☕ ROSSO COFFEE ROASTERS, since 2007Anyone can be a specialty coffee drinker, and that means you. We roasted for the last two World Barista Champions and would love to roast a coffee for you too – try our world-class coffees: www.rossocoffeeroasters.com🎓 COACHING & CONSULTINGElevate your coffee game or business with personalized coaching and consulting: www.buythedrip.coffee🎙️ Listen to the PODCASTCoffee and business insights:Apple | Spotify📺 Subscribe on YOUTUBECatch all our videos: @buythedrip.coffee📸 Follow us on INSTAGRAMStay updated with the latest: www.instagram.com/buythedrip.coffeeFollow Dave: www.instagram.com/crosbyandcoffeeFollow Cole: www.instagram.com/torodeo

50. Laila Ghambari on Competition, Cafe Profitability, and Coffee Consulting

We sit down with one of the most influential figures in specialty coffee with Rachel Peterson [https://www.instagram.com/rachlpeterson] of Hacienda La Esmeralda [https://haciendaesmeralda.com/].Known globally for introducing Geisha to the world, Rachel shares the full story behind how their farm transformed the coffee industry, winning Best of Panama three times in one year a historic first!We talk about:How Geisha was first discovered and introducedThe rise of Best of Panama and record-breaking auctionsGenetics, varietals, and the evolution of Esmeralda’s portfolioFamily business dynamics and the legacy of qualityThe real business of producing the world’s most celebrated coffeesWhether youre a barista, roaster, green buyer, or a specialty coffee fan this conversation is a masterclass in coffee history, strategy, and flavor!👉 Like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Guess The Drip!💌 Join a Global Audience with BUY THE DRIP WEEKLYGet our personal coffee insights, brewing tips, and behind-the-scenes content delivered straight to your inbox every week...https://buythedrip.beehiiv.com/subscribe☕ ROSSO COFFEE ROASTERS, since 2007Anyone can be a specialty coffee drinker, and that means you. We roasted for the last two World Barista Champions and would love to roast a coffee for you too – try our world-class coffees: www.rossocoffeeroasters.com🎓 COACHING & CONSULTINGElevate your coffee game or business with personalized coaching and consulting: www.buythedrip.coffee🎙️ Listen to the PODCASTCoffee and business insights:Apple | Spotify📺 Subscribe on YOUTUBECatch all our videos: @buythedrip.coffee📸 Follow us on INSTAGRAMStay updated with the latest: www.instagram.com/buythedrip.coffeeFollow Dave: www.instagram.com/crosbyandcoffeeFollow Cole: www.instagram.com/torodeo

$10,000/Kilo Coffee? Rachel from Hacienda La Esmeralda Reveals the Story Behind Panama’s Iconic Geisha

Christine Rollings [https://www.instagram.com/christine.rollings] has built coffee businesses in the Philippines and Turkey, traveled the world, and turned her love for coffee into a beautifully self-published children’s book My ABCs of Coffee [https://www.christinerollings.com/].

It also happens to be the first book Cole [https://www.instagram.com/torodeo?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] has read in the last two years. Don’t worry...it’s perfect for all reading levels.

In this episode, Christine shares her entrepreneurial journey from navigating local laws as a foreign business owner to selling over 1,000 copies of a kids book about coffee!

We cover-Building

-a lean coffee startup in Manila-Starting

-a roastery in Turkey during the pandemic

-Selling two businesses before returning to Canada

-The behind-the-scenes process of writing and printing a kids book

-What it’s like to sell books into cafes, not bookstores

-Competing in her first AeroPress competition!

-Christine's next big creative project

📚 Grab her book: https://christinerollings.com

📬 Follow Christine: @christinerollings on Instagram



👉 Like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Guess The Drip!

💌 Join a Global Audience with BUY THE DRIP WEEKLY

Get our personal coffee insights, brewing tips, and behind-the-scenes content delivered straight to your inbox every week...

https://buythedrip.beehiiv.com/subscribe



☕ ROSSO COFFEE ROASTERS, since 2007

Anyone can be a specialty coffee drinker, and that means you. We roasted for the last two World Barista Champions and would love to roast a coffee for you too – try our world-class coffees: www.rossocoffeeroasters.com



🎓 COACHING & CONSULTING

Elevate your coffee game or business with personalized coaching and consulting: www.buythedrip.coffee



🎙️ Listen to the PODCASTCoffee and business insights:

Apple | Spotify📺

Subscribe on YOUTUBE

Catch all our videos: @buythedrip.coffee



📸 Follow us on INSTAGRAM

Stay updated with the latest: www.instagram.com/buythedrip.coffee

Follow Dave [www.instagram.com/crosbyandcoffee]: www.instagram.com/crosbyandcoffee

Follow Cole [www.instagram.com/torodeo]: www.instagram.com/torodeo



What It Takes to Write a Coffee Kids Book and Build Multiple Coffee Businesses

Meet Mike and Jamie....two firefighters turned founders of Canadian Heritage Roasting Company [https://canadianheritageroastingco.com/]. What started as cowboy coffee brewed on the fireline became a mission-driven coffee company now found in over 1,400 stores across North America.



In this episode of Buy The Drip [https://buythedrip.coffee/], they share their story of building a bold brand rooted in a love for the outdoors, wildlife conservation, and great-tasting coffee.

We dive into...

-The early days of making coffee in the backcountry

-How firelines, hunting, and grizzly encounters shaped their approach

-Scaling a national brand without losing their rugged identity

-Their mission to fuel outdoor pursuits and rewild the great outdoors...one tree at a time!!

What’s next: instant adventures, lifestyle gear, and a million-tree goal!

If you love stories about grit, nature, and building something meaningful this one’s for you...



👉 Like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Guess The Drip!

💌 Join a Global Audience with BUY THE DRIP WEEKLY [https://buythedrip.beehiiv.com/subscribe]

Get our personal coffee insights, brewing tips, and behind-the-scenes content delivered straight to your inbox every week...

https://buythedrip.beehiiv.com/subscribe



☕ ROSSO COFFEE ROASTERS [www.rossocoffeeroasters.com], since 2007

Anyone can be a specialty coffee drinker, and that means you. We roasted for the last two World Barista Champions and would love to roast a coffee for you too – try our world-class coffees

www.rossocoffeeroasters.com



🎓 COACHING & CONSULTING [www.buythedrip.coffee]

Elevate your coffee game or business with personalized coaching and consulting: w

ww.buythedrip.coffee



🎙️ Listen to the PODCAST

Coffee and business insights: Apple | Spotify



📺 Subscribe on YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/@BuyTheDrip.Coffee]

Catch all our videos: @buythedrip.coffee



📸 Follow us on INSTAGRAM [www.instagram.com/buythedrip.coffee]

Stay updated with the latest: www.instagram.com/buythedrip.coffeeFollow Dave: www.instagram.com/crosbyandcoffeeFollow Cole: www.instagram.com/torodeo

From Cowboy Coffee to 1,400 Stores - How Two Outdoorsmen Built Canada’s Grittiest Coffee Brand

Join Cole [https://www.instagram.com/torodeo] on this episode of Buy The Drip as he chats with Jordan Saglio, the man behind Movement Coffee Roasters. What began as an unexpected adventure living the van life with his wife and daughter — led Jordan into the world of coffee roasting.

From building a roastery in Stowe, Vermont, to competing in Panama's Brewers Cup, Jordan shares how his journey unfolded.



Tune in for an inspiring conversation about building a coffee business, embracing the unexpected, and creating a meaningful connection with coffee.



Don’t forget to check out Jordan’s roastery at Movement Coffee Roasters [https://movementcoffee.com] and follow his travels on The Nomadic Movement [https://www.youtube.com/@NomadicMovement]on YouTube.



Subscribe to Buy The Drip for more inspiring coffee stories!



#coffee #specialtycoffee #nomadicmovement #coffeeentrepreneur #BrewersCup #panamacoffee #coffeeroasting #podcast



46. The Nomadic Movement to Coffee Roasting: Jordan Saglio’s Journey from Van Life to Movement Coffee

This week on Buy The Drip [https://buythedrip.beehiiv.com/], we’re joined by Jill Hoff [https://www.instagram.com/jillhoff/] Canada’s first female Barista Champion and Director of Coffee & Education at Monogram Coffee [https://monogramcoffee.com/].Jill’s story is one of grit, growth, and relentless curiosity. From her early days on bar to leading one of Canada’s most respected coffee programs, she’s built a powerful career in specialty coffee and she’s done it while lifting others along the way.In this episode, we dive into:-How she built a meaningful career in coffee through education, competition, and connection-The behind-the-scenes grind of training barista champions-Her approach to green buying and forming long-term relationships with producers-What mentorship in coffee looks like when it’s done right-Why building a career in coffee takes both intention and love for the craftWhether you’re a barista, trainer, or entrepreneur, this episode is packed with wisdom from one of the industry’s most respected voices.Press play—this one’s for anyone dreaming of a lasting career in coffee.


👉 Like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Buy The Drip!💌

Join a Global Audience with BUY THE DRIP WEEKLY: https://buythedrip.beehiiv.com/subscribe



☕ ROSSO COFFEE ROASTERS, since 2007

We roasted for the last two World Barista Champions — we’d love to roast for you too: www.rossocoffeeroasters.com🎓



COACHING & CONSULTING: www.buythedrip.coffee🎙️



PODCAST Coffee and business insights: Apple | Spotify📺



Subscribe on YOUTUBE: @buythedrip.coffee



Follow us on INSTAGRAM: @buythedrip.coffee



Follow Dave: @crosbyandcoffee

Follow Cole: @torodeo

45. Building a Career in Coffee: Green Buying, Mentorship & Barista Championships with Jill Hoff

Max Boegler [https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxime-boegler-70620412/?originalSubdomain=be], co-founder of Sovda [https://www.sovdacoffee.com/], went from discovering coffee while living in China to launching one of the most talked-about coffee tech companies in the world.

In this episode, Max shares how Sovda is building tools like The Pearl to help producers and roasters improve quality, consistency, and efficiency without losing sight of the values that define specialty coffee.We cover a lot in this conversation:-How Max’s journey into coffee began with curiosity and hustle in 2017-The early days of Sovda and how crowdfunding helped launch their first machine-Why color sorting still underused in roasting is becoming a game-changer-How Sovda is addressing a 145% U.S. tariff while expanding into markets like Australia, Korea, and Japan-The tension between tech and ethics in specialty coffee: is post-roast sorting “cheating,” or just smart QC?-What it means to grow a coffee business that serves both sides of the value chain from farm to final cupThis episode is for anyone navigating the intersection of craft, tech, and business in coffee. Whether you’re building a roastery, sourcing green, or obsessed with quality Max brings insight, honesty, and a refreshing perspective on what it takes to push the industry forward.#buythedrip #Sovda #CoffeeTechnology #SpecialtyCoffee #CoffeeSorting #CoffeeInnovation #CoffeeBusiness #MaxBoegler #CoffeeRoasterTools #RoasterLife

44. From Farmers to Roasters How Sovda Is Rethinking #coffee Sorting with Max Boegler #coffeetime

In this episode of Buy The Drip, we sit down with John Gordon [https://www.instagram.com/the_johngordon/]! Barista champion, roaster, engineer, and consultant to talk about his unexpected path from the security industry into the heart of specialty coffee.

John shares his early days learning hospitality from the ground up in Melbourne, the pivotal moment that sparked his coffee passion, and how a fear of public speaking led him to barista competitions including multiple appearances on the World Barista Championship stage.



We unpack his transformative time at Square Mile Coffee [https://shop.squaremilecoffee.com/], his philosophy on quality control, and the evolution of coffee technology and culture over the past two decades.

John also opens up about:

Why finding your niche in coffee is hard—but worth it...

The power of collaboration and community in building a meaningful career

His vision for a creativity-focused coffee space

The importance of business acumen in today’s industry

And how passions like art and engineering fuel his curiosity outside of coffee



Whether you’re behind the bar, in the cupping lab, or running your own coffee business, John brings a refreshing honesty and depth to this conversation.

43. From Square Mile to Global Consultant: John Gordon’s Coffee Journey

Dave [https://www.instagram.com/crosbyandcoffee/] sits down with Cole Torode [https://www.instagram.com/torodeo/?hl=en] to unpack the exciting relaunch of Forward Coffee [www.forward.coffee]—now based exclusively in Panama. Cole shares the story behind Forward 2.0, a bold new business model built around quality, freshness, and strong producer relationships.

We dive deep into:
🔹 The decision to focus solely on Panama as a sourcing origin
🔹 Why freshly milled coffee is a game-changer for flavor and consistency
🔹 How shortening cash flow cycles supports producers and sustainability
🔹 The hidden costs buyers often miss—and how Forward is helping reduce them
🔹 Cole’s approach to logistics and transparency to save buyers time and money
🔹 The challenges and costs of sampling, and why better quality control matters

This episode is packed with insights into the coffee supply chain, from origin to cup—plus, Cole shares the community’s overwhelmingly positive response to the new model.

Whether you're a green buyer, a roaster, or just passionate about specialty coffee, you’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of what it really takes to build a better, more sustainable sourcing model.

Tune in and get a first look at the future of Forward Coffee.
📍 Watch now & subscribe! .

#BuyTheDrip #ForwardCoffee #ColeTorode #SpecialtyCoffee #CoffeeSourcing #PanamaCoffee #CoffeeIndustry #GreenCoffee #CoffeeInnovation #CoffeeBusiness



42. Inside Forward 2.0: Cole Torode’s Bold New Coffee Model in Panama

David started Rosso Coffee Roasters over 10 years ago. His 'bootstrap' business
technique got the company to where it is today. Who gave him a microphone? We're
not exactly sure... but through this podcast, he'll uncover the awesome stories
of fellow entrepreneurs and business-minded friends. From green coffee to magic
mushrooms and more—it's time to discover your new favourite podcast, Buy the
Drip!

David Crosby

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