IT’S JUST COFFEE!

Does a second café really double your money? And what about the seventeenth? Following his Main episode, Dave Makin of Axil Coffee Roasters sits back down with Rohan and Ben for a Coffee Break on what it actually takes to run a multi-venue café group in 2026, and on building a brand-new venue in the middle of it all.

Condesa Co.Lab also brings us the weekly green coffee market report.

COFFEE BREAK! is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from barista tips and honest café conversations to the coffee knowledge people don’t always share.

Want more coffee content? IT’S JUST COFFEE!: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod

Want to get in touch? Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com with your questions, café stories or hot takes.

Proudly sponsored by:
APAX LAB: https://apaxlab.com/
Condesa Co.Lab: https://condesacolab.com.au/

Thanks for listening!

#CoffeeBreak #CafeBusiness #SpecialtyCoffee #DaveMakin #AxilCoffee
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Get excited, the World Barista Championship is almost upon us! And joining us to discuss the upcoming event is Founder and Managing Director of Axil Coffee Roasters, Dave Makin.

We reminisce on Dave’s competition history, and reflect on how the competition shaped his coffee business. Then we look to the future: time, money, resources… What does it take to compete in 2026? What should viewers watch for in Panama? And how will this year differ from previous WBCs?

From the investment behind Jack Simpson’s world title to the coffees, tools and competitors to keep an eye on, this is your pre-Panama briefing.

Much to discuss!

If you're new here (welcome), our show dives into some of the best coffee conversations on the internet, but we will always remind ourselves at the end of the day — It's Just Coffee!

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Dave Makin on the World Barista Championship
06:17 Dave’s 2008 WBC Near Miss
10:24 How Axil Builds World Champions
12:59 How Much Does It Cost to Compete?
21:23 Is Winning the WBC Worth It?
27:47 Jack Simpson’s Road to World Champion
34:37 Is Barista Competition Accessible?
40:35 WBC Panama Preview
42:00 APAX Lab
42:38 WBC History & Australia’s Success
49:38 WBC Rules & Equipment
52:30 Do You Need Panama Gesha to Win?
54:15 Coffee Tools: Competition to Cafe
59:31 WBC Competitors to Watch
1:05:04 WBC Predictions
1:07:49 Advice for New Competitors
1:08:52 Why Coffee Prices Are Rising
1:11:33 The Team Behind Axil

Find Axil Coffee Roasters here:
https://www.instagram.com/axilcoffeeroasters/

Want more coffee content?

IT'S JUST COFFEE:
https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod

Want to get in touch? Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com for any questions or comments.

Proudly sponsored by:

Apax Lab:
https://apaxlab.com/

Thanks for listening!
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Can a faster coffee machine make your café feel more human?
Following their deep dive into matcha, Rohan and Jai Lott sit back down for a Coffee Break on where cafés are heading. They get into automation, pre-batched espresso and why getting your head up from behind the machine might be the best thing you can do for your customers.

The conversation moves from Melbourne hospitality and remembering someone’s name to signature drinks, simpler menus and the equipment Jai would choose if he were opening a café today. Plus, the mistakes he keeps seeing in new businesses: too little money and beautiful spaces with terrible workflow.

Condesa Co.Lab also brings us the weekly green coffee market report.
COFFEE BREAK! is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from barista tips and honest café conversations to the coffee knowledge people don’t always share.

CHAPTERS!

00:00 The Future of Cafés with Jai Lott
01:28 Café Automation and Hospitality
07:13 What Melbourne Gets Right
15:05 Signature Drinks and Simpler Menus
16:59 Jai’s Ideal Café Setup
19:25 Common Café Opening Mistakes
24:11 Condesa Co.Lab Market Report
26:36 Building a Café in France

Find Jai at: https://www.instagram.com/coffeewithjai/ Kissako Matcha: https://www.instagram.com/kissakomatcha/

Want more coffee content?
IT’S JUST COFFEE!: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod
Want to get in touch?
Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com with your questions, café stories or hot takes.
Proudly sponsored by:
APAX LAB: https://apaxlab.com/
Condesa Co.Lab: https://condesacolab.com.au/
Thanks for listening!

#CoffeeBreak #CafeAutomation #SpecialtyCoffee #JaiLott
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Jai Lott was the man behind iconic US coffee brands Bluestone Lane and Blank Street. Now he’s changed course, moving back home to Australia to start a matcha business! Join us as we discuss his incredible career, why he decided to make the switch, and what we should expect from his latest venture, Kissako Matcha.

00:00 Meet Jai Lott

02:15 From Bluestone Lane to Blank Street

07:02 Why matcha, and why now?

08:11 Matcha sourcing and transparency

10:52 Matcha culture in Japan

12:03 What matcha quality really means

16:44 APAX LAB sponsor message

17:23 How to taste and compare matcha

21:45 Should cafes batch matcha?

23:18 Batching methods and freshness

28:15 Matcha drinks beyond the latte

31:04 Simple ways for cafes to start serving matcha

33:17 Matcha pricing and cafe margins

34:39 Can matcha help cafes stay open longer?

37:07 Jai’s hot takes on batching and coffee

39:19 Shout-out to Project Zero

40:22 Closing thoughts and where to find Jai

Thank-you Jai for joining the show!

Find Jai at: https://www.instagram.com/coffeewithjai/

Kissako Matcha: https://www.instagram.com/kissakomatcha/

If you're new here (welcome), our show dives into some of the best coffee conversations on the internet, but we will always remind ourselves at the end of the day - It's Just Coffee!

Want more coffee content?

IT'S JUST COFFEE: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=4e8cead0-6644-4c4a-b419-28c825b1b236

Want to get in touch? Hit us up at hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com for any questions or comments.

Proudly sponsored by:

Marco Beverage Systems: https://www.instagram.com/marcobeveragesystems/

Apax Lab: https://apaxlab.com/

Condesa Co.Lab: https://condesacolab.com.au/

Thanks for listening!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What actually helps you become a better coffee roaster? We asked experienced people across the coffee world for the one skill, tool or habit that made the biggest difference.

Rohan and Ben unpack their answers: tracking time through a roast, measuring bean colour, matching the roast to the way a coffee will be brewed, and trusting what’s in the cup over a perfect looking curve. They add a few tips of their own on sensory calibration, roaster maintenance and sharing knowledge with other roasters. Plus, Condesa Co.Lab brings us the weekly green coffee market report.

COFFEE BREAK! is your weekly inside scoop into the coffee community. Everything from barista tips and honest café conversations to the coffee knowledge people don’t always share.

CHAPTERS!00:00 What Makes a Better Coffee Roaster?00:58 Track Time Through the Roast04:18 Why Roasters Measure Coffee Colour09:12 Match Your Roast to the Brew13:15 Condesa Co.Lab Market Report15:25 Taste the Coffee, Not the Curve18:28 Calibrate Your Cupping20:10 Keep Your Roaster Clean21:31 Share What You Know23:11 Colin Harmon’s Coffee Business Books

Want more coffee content?IT’S JUST COFFEE!: https://linktr.ee/itsjustcoffeepod

Got a roasting tip we missed? Send it to hello@itsjustcoffeepod.com.

Proudly sponsored by:APAX LAB: https://apaxlab.com/Condesa Co.Lab: https://condesacolab.com.au/

Thanks for listening!

#CoffeeBreak #CoffeeRoasting #SpecialtyCoffee
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