Coffee Knowledge Hub

About Coffee Knowledge Hub

Do you work in the coffee industry or want to work in the coffee industry? This podcast is about the business of coffee, for people who want to improve their coffee businesses, start a coffee business, or be better at their jobs. Learn from industry leaders and experts from across the globe. Learn from the mistakes many have made before. Hosted by Andrew Tolley and Tibor Varady, whose experiences traverse cafe startup, management, training, retail, roasting, and leading diverse teams. We have a combined industry experience of over 30 years. We have been successful competitors, we are both past Chairs of the Barista Guild of Europe (as it was then). We are excited to help you navigate the dynamic world of coffee businesses.

Publisher

Andrew Tolley

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Mar 2024

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

44 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   13 Oct 2026

   Growing with purpose, special guests cafe year 2

   Paul Ross on Investment, Rare Coffee & Special Guests Paul Ross returns to the Coffee Knowledge Hub Podcast to share what has changed since opening Special Guests Café back in 2024. He talks with Andrew Tolley and Tibor Varady about bringing in investors, navigating the cash-flow realities of buying rare coffee, and expanding carefully while protecting the hospitality, craft, and community that define the business. They explore what good investment looks like in specialty coffee, why capital needs to come with aligned values and useful expertise, and how Special Guests is building a more curated high-end coffee experience. Paul also reflects on the lessons of the first café, the challenge of scaling a team and a second site, as well as his deifinition of specialty coffee and his personal definition of success. In this episode Why Special Guests chose investment over traditional lending The long cash cycle behind sourcing exceptional coffees How to grow without losing a business’s philosophy Plans for a second café and a resilient team The rise of rare, high-end coffee experiences Designing service around trust, knowledge, and discovery What makes premium coffees commercially sustainable Paul’s view of specialty coffee and long-term success

2. 

   28 Sept 2026

   The DO's and DONT's of drink development: masterclass with George Shutt

   How do you bring customers back to your cafe, week after week, season after season? With a well curated coffee menu. George Shutt, head of coffee at Harris + Hoole gives a pragmatic masterclass in drink developmentfor cafe operators. With tips on creating drinks that are on trend, delicious, on brand and good for business. Who is this episdoe for? Anyone looking to ignite their menu, learn how to develop drinks, or understand which trends to adopt or ignore. George Shutt (https://www.instagram.com/georgetimothyshutt?stkn=MWdybzN5OGQ2aWt0OA==) Harris+Hoole (https://www.instagram.com/harrisandhoole?stkn=MXEwMnVna2VzMWptZg==) Additional discussions and insights on the https://coffeeknowledgehub.com (https://coffeeknowledgehub.com)

3. 

   21 Sept 2026

   Why coffee training is never a waste of money Training and career development with Kathie Hilberg

   Most cafés don’t have a coffee quality problem—they have a training problem. Kathie Hilberg breaks down what makes barista training effective, when roaster-led education is enough, and when a more advanced approach is needed to grow both people and performance. Andrew Tolley sits down with Kathie, a seasoned barista, educator, competition judge, and specialty coffee professional with 15 years of industry experience. Together, they explore the real return on investing in training. If you’ve ever wondered whether staff education is worth the cost, how to build confidence behind the bar, or why great coffee can still fall short without the right team, this conversation offers practical answers. Why training can improve quality, service speed, and customer confidence Where cafés can access training, from roasters and independent educators to online resources and in-house programs How to choose the right training format for your business What makes a great trainer Why foundational barista skills still matter in an age of automation How to train employees who don’t drink coffee Why clear SOPs and consistent training materials help teams perform better How reliability, curiosity, and a willingness to learn can support career growth Kathie also shares her own career journey—from competing as a barista and Brewers Cup competitor to judging, leading with the BGA and SCA, educating coffee professionals, and moving into specialty tea with Spirit Tea. Her story offers valuable insight for anyone considering their next step in coffee, hospitality, sales, or education.For café owners, trainers, and baristas who want to build stronger teams and better coffee programs, this episode is a practical look at how skills, systems, and people work together. Where to find Kathie: Instagram: @kaffeinehilberg @Totally dissolved podcast (spotify, apple etc) Find more insights from this show on the https://community.coffeeknowledgehub.com/ (https://community.coffeeknowledgehub.com/c/podcast)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

4.6 / 5

7 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 30 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

47

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

31

Contact Coffee Knowledge Hub

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.