Extraordinary Joe is a podcast about exceptional coffee shops and the people who built them. Every episode, host Jeremy Lyman, co-founder of Birch Coffee, sits down with the founders behind some of the most remarkable coffee shops in the world. These are the people who bet on themselves and built something their communities likely can't imagine living without. Part coffee conversation, part founder story, part love letter to the places that make us feel at home.
New episodes will air the first 3 Fridays of each month!
Extraordinary Joe Episode 12: Alejandra James of Estallar Coffee
Episode 12: On this week's episode, I sit down with Alejandra James, founder of Estallar Coffee. Alejandra has been a lover of coffee from childhood but it was only recently that she began working her way out of a long career in finance and building her coffee brand. Estellar showcases exceptional coffees that pay homage to her roots. We dive into all things coffee but also what the process of starting and growing a business has looked like. She talks about going all in and how she turn...
11 Sept 2026
Extraordinary Joe Episode 11: Gabe Venegas of Flō Coffee Bar
Episode 11: On this week's episode, I sit down with Gabe Venegas, founder of Flō Coffee Bar in Venice. Gabe's been in coffee for more than two decades — starting as a barista at Starbucks and working his way into specialty, where a love of competition pushed him into latte art and eventually onto the world stage. We talk about that path, how it led him to open his own coffee bar in Venice, and what it's like running a shop that's had a line out the door nearly every day since it opened. Be su...
4 Sept 2026
Extraordinary Joe Episode 10: Annie Choi of Found Coffee
Episode 10: On this week's special travel episode, I sit down with Annie Choi, founder of Found Coffee in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles. Annie spent years in television post-production before walking away from it entirely. The hours were long, and something about it just wasn't fulfilling enough. We get into why she left, what it actually took to go from an internship at a coffee shop to opening her own in under two years, and how the instincts she built behind an editing desk still shape the...
21 Aug 2026
Extraordinary Joe Episode 09: Mark Wain of Caffe Luxxe
Episode 09: On this week's special travel episode, I sit down with Mark Wain, co-founder of Caffe Luxxe in Los Angeles. Mark grew up New York and discovered coffee at an early age. It wasn't, however, until years later, while living in Seattle and watching an indie coffee scene take shape right under Starbucks' backyard, that it turned into something bigger. He brought the idea to his best friend Gary, and Caffe Luxxe went from being a dream to a reality. Twenty years later, they're sti...
14 Aug 2026
Extraordinary Joe Episode 08: Artie Rangini of St Kilda Coffee
Episode 08: On this week's episode, I sit down with Artie Rangini — founder of St Kilda Coffee in Hell's Kitchen. Before Artie was running two cafes on two different blocks in Hell's Kitchen, he was working behind the counter at Birch. But, his passion for coffee did start there. On a trip to Australia, Artie learned the term for banana picking and left with an obsession with Melbourne coffee he couldn't shake. Now he's got two shops, three kids under five and an unmatched passion for his bus...
7 Aug 2026
Extraordinary Joe Episode 07: Danny Cohen of Super Nice Coffee & Bakery
Episode 07: On this week's episode, I sit down with Danny Cohen — the guy behind Danny Macaroons, Super Nice Coffee and Bakery, and now Super Nice Pizza. Danny and I actually met when he was trying to get us to buy his macaroons at Birch. We did, and if it wasn't for his family demanding he show up to passover with macaroons or not at all, well, we might not be sitting here today. We talk coffee, pizza, and the pitfalls of naming your business with the word "nice" in it. Hope you enjoy!...
17 Jul 2026
Extraordinary Joe Episode 06: Anu Menon of Driftaway Coffee
****Correction: In the episode, Anu mentioned that Driftaway’s roaster is a lapsed Q grader. She also wanted to clarify that Driftaway’s junior green buyer, Zion Brown, is also a licensed Q grader.**** Episode 06: On this week's episode, I sit down with Anu Menon, co-founder of Driftaway Coffee in Brooklyn, New York. Anu and I met in the middle of a 25 cup coffee tasting! In today's episode we recount are initial encounter, what drove her and her partner to start a roastery, the way to become...
10 Jul 2026
Extraordinary Joe Episode 05: Rich Nieto of Sweetleaf Coffee Roasters
Episode 05 : On this week's episode, I sit down with Rich Nieto, founder of Sweetleaf Coffee in Long Island City, Queens. Rich came from a musical background, fell in love with the science of coffee, and bet on his borough at a time when nobody else was. We discuss astrology, coffee and the importance of family and partnership. This was a truly fun one. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Some people leave everything behind ...
3 Jul 2026
Extraordinary Joe 04 Episode: Sheldon Pinto of The Order
Episode 04 : On this week's episode, I sit down with Sheldon Pinto, co-founder of The Order in South Orange, New Jersey. This one got away from us in the best possible way. Sheldon and his family built something really special in South Orange. Great coffee with incredible hospitality unless you try to modify a menu item. We get into what it was actually like to open a business with your whole family, make it through a pandemic six months after opening, and keep showing up for your commu...
19 Jun 2026
Extraordinary Joe 03 Episode: Caroline Bell of Cafe Grumpy
Episode 03 : On this week's episode, I sit down with Caroline Bell, co-founder of Café Grumpy, for one of the most unexpected and genuinely fun conversations yet. We talk about what it really took to build one of New York City's most iconic independent coffee brands and we end up covering customer service, dogs, great coffee and ghosts?! This one goes everywhere. And we loved every minute of it _____________________________________________________________________________________________...
12 Jun 2026
Extraordinary Joe 02 Episode: Jonathan Rubenstein of Joe Coffee
Episode 02 : I sit down with Jonathan Rubinstein the founder of Joe Coffee, to talk about what it really took to build one of New York City's most iconic coffee brands. The risk, the vision, and what keeps him excited about his work today. I'm also thrilled to call Jonathan a friend. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Some people leave everything behind to build something special. Extraordinary Joe is a podcast that finds t...
5 Jun 2026
Extraordinary Joe 01 Episode: Paul Schlader of Birch Coffee
Episode 01: Paul Schlader, co-founder of Birch Coffee, sits down with Jeremy for the first ever episode of Extraordinary Joe. From Minnesota actor to one of New York City's most respected specialty coffee pioneers. This one is personal. Listen to how Jeremy and Paul built something extraordinary. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Some people leave everything behind to build something special. Extraordinary Joe is a p...
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