The Exchange: Recent Episodes
Olam Specialty Coffee
The Exchange is a coffee podcast where coffee people talk to coffee people about coffee and/or things coffee adjacent. Often hosted by Mike Ferguson, but sometimes not.
Coming Soon: The Exchange presents "Another Cup" podcast with Amy Broderick and Todd Mackey, interviews with our friends on the production side of coffee, from Seed to Seaport.
Opening theme music: "Buy the Dip" by Dream-Protocol.
Closing theme music: "Good Plan" by Peter Nesterouk. (Very likely mispronounced in pod)
00:00 Introduction
01:28 Hobby Roasting as a Business (Briefly revisiting Season 4, Episode 1 Topic)
05:19 The Purpose of Hedging
09:12 Explaining Hedging to Coffee Buyers
11:37 Why Use the Futures Market
15:00 The Reputation of the Futures Market
25:20 The Value of Hedging for Roasters
29:16 How to Use Hedging as a Roaster
37:14 The Limitations of Hedging for Small Roasters
39:04 Expanding Hedging Opportunities
45:37 Acknowledging the Team Behind the Strategy
47:12 Closing Remarks
A transcript of the episode, edited for length and written clarity, can be found HERE.
Coffee roasting from hobby to business? How does that even happen? Mark and Todd talk about some of the coffee roasters they've watch go from passion project to profits. And welcome home, Mark Inman!
Green coffee storage, a few things to keep in mind if you're new to coffee roasting, thinking about coffee roasting, or well on your way and expecting to grow.
I think the biggest reason that Centrals didn’t return to Europe at pre-war volumes is that several years before the war, the coffee industry in San Francisco got fed up with the fact that they couldn’t buy more Central American coffees even though they were interested in quality and willing to pay for it. They understood that the difference between them and the industry in Europe were the relationships, so they started sending delegations to Central America to spend time, not like tourists and not in the big cities where the large roasters like Arbuckle’s had buying hubs, but further down the supply chain.
Our theme music , Say Africa, is performed by Vusi Mahlasela.
More Music from Vusi.
You can visit Covoya UK here.
You are probably familiar with the image of Juan Valdez, his signature mustache, traditional garb, and faithful mule in tow. But there are 10 things you probably didn’t know, from the name of his donkey to how many actors have played the character.
Written and read by Mike Ferguson.
Managing Director for Covoya Specialty Coffee, Rob Stephen, has a conversation with Senior Trader and Director of Sourcing Ian Kluse about his more than 20 years in the coffee industry.
Read the written version here .
Instant by Nettson
Music promoted by Free Stock Music
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
Remain focused on sales, be disciplined with the numbers, remain committed to quality, and don’t compromise your integrity. Any coffee roaster, whether in their first year or fifth decade, can learn from Folgers coffee history and will be well served by following in the footsteps of a young James A Folger. Read the written blog here.
You're a coffee roaster but as your company and/or your career moves forward you find you're spending more and more time managing green coffee buying. Rob and Charlie share their thoughts and advice for those who are managing and ever increasing volume of green coffee purchases.
It's an Extra Shot audio blog: 300 Years of Coffee Talk - Words About Words About Coffee from 1722 to 1922.
Why have a coffee blend? Why not? We dive deep into some of the big picture considerations behind blending as Patrick Barter of Gracenote Coffee and coffee trader / guest co-host Todd Mackey step back to consider some of the more philosophical questions around coffee blends.
It's an Extra Shot audio blog: "Speaking of Coffee Prices - Thoughts for Roasters and their Customers."
Byron Holcomb, specialty coffee manager in Guatemala joins us to talk about coffee origin issues and what makes a good green coffee buyer.
Mike Ferguson chats with green coffee professionals Charley Requadt and Ethan White about advice they offer new coffee roaster or those who are looking foreword to being coffee roasters one day.
Connie Blumhardt joins Mike Ferguson to talk about their 24 years as friends in coffee, starting Roast Magazine in 2003 (or was it 2004), and her observations of the coffee roasting sector.
Welcome Back! In the two years between seasons 2 and 3 much has happened but we're back, rebooting The Exchange with a few changes. In this episode Mike Ferguson interviews Todd Mackey. Todd talks about his career in coffee, his job as a coffee trader, and the challenges of the last two years.
It’s still Halloween here at Olam Specialty coffee as we present part 2 of The Roaster & Scary Physical Defects. As we pick up the conversation, Todd is talking about insect damage, just one of several defects he will discuss, including how the defects are “scored” under SCA guideline. And Mark continues in his role as film critic.
Welcome to our second annual Halloween episode. Once again we are talking about "Scary" defects but this time it's physical defects and, of course, scary movies.
Part 2 starts with Todd doing math and ends with Todd barely avoiding electrocution at the end of his career as an equipment tech. There's never a dull moment as Mark and Todd continue their conversation on The Coffee Roaster & Providing Retail Equipment.
You can find a transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/2JaTfsD
Into the life of every coffee roaster the equipment question must fall. Are you going to provide brewing equipment to your wholesale accounts? Under what conditions? Mark and Todd tackle these and other questions in The Coffee Roaster & Providing Retail Equipment - Part 1.
You can find a full transcript of this episode at this link:
https://bit.ly/31loJ5w
Special guest Rob Stephen is back with Mark and Todd to conclude a discussion on The Coffee Roaster & Packaging. At the end of part 1 the conversation moved to vacuum packaging and cost, with Rob concluding, "You're into it for 20-30 grand but I would say if you're going to put that much coffee into distribution you should be expecting to get that out of it."
We apologize for the sound quality on these two episodes. We were recording under less than optimal circumstances. But never fear, you can find a transcript of this episode at the link here: https://bit.ly/2BvVJOc
It's not just Mark and Todd this episode. We have a special guest and the topic is packaging, the hows and whys and whens.
We apologize for the sound quality on these two episodes. We were recording under less than optimal circumstances. But never fear, you can find a transcript of this episode at the link here: https://bit.ly/2VZqrZi
Season 2 Episode 7 is the second of 2 parts on the topic of customer training. Mark and Todd continue their conversation on when to offer training to customer, how much training to provide, and what type of training is right for different customer.
Season 2 Episode 6 is the first of 2 parts on the topic of customer training. As Todd says, for coffee roasters, "training is the new equipment." But how much training, where, and when? Is it free? How do you manage customer expectations? Not only do Mark and Todd begin addressing these questions, but Todd was late for our recording sessions and, of course, Mark just let that go and didn't mention it ... at all.
"Where I wanted to start our look at building a team was really from the angle of taking a one-person-band and turning it into an orchestra."
-Todd Mackey, Season 2 Episode 5 of The Exchange
Season 2 Episode 4, Mark and Todd continue a conversation about the pros and cons of coffee roasters opening retailing operations.
In episode 3 of season 2, Mark and Todd talk about the pros (and start talking about the cons) of roasters going into retailing.
Part 2 of a discussion about the Specialty Coffee Association and the recent Coffee Expo in Boston, including a interview with SCA's Stephen Morrissey live from the chaos of the show floor. Mark and Todd also talk about some of the brewing and roasting equipment they discovered at the Expo.
Episode 12 of our podcast, The Exchange presented by Olam Specialty Coffee, and the first episode of season 2. Welcome back! In this episode Mark and Todd talk about the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), and the recent Coffee Expo in Boston. In fact, we have LIVE clips from the event. This is part 1 of 2 parts on this topic.
On a recent afternoon, our Providence office was unusually crowded so we decided to record holiday wishes.
TheExchange@olamnet.com
Technically this is episode #11 but season one has been over for a few weeks so this is a bonus episode. Since Thanksgiving is upon us, Mark and Todd talk about business and coffee mentors they are thankful for having in their lives and careers, people who have influenced and guided them along the way.
Season one is officially over but we'll be posting "Extra Shots" now and then until May when we launch season two.
Music: Espresso Bar by Hannes Hofkind. Used under Creative Commons.
In this Halloween episode, our final episode of season one, Mark and Todd talk about a few scary defects that occur in coffee and a few scary movies too.
Clip attributions: Witch laugh-Mike Koenig Storm-Mike Koenig Mummy-Mike Koenig Leave Now-Mike Koenig Cat-CA9 Tolling Bell-Daniel Simion Suspense Music-Maximilein Dark and Deep Laughter-Hopeinawe Rock-a-bye-Frankiegirl Swamp Thing Moan-Robinhood Manic Laugh-Project Titan
Clips from the following were used in compliance with sampling under copyright law: Moondance by Van Morrison Kolchak TV show theme by Gil Mellé Michael’s theme from Friday the 13th by Harry Manfredini Vincent Price, movie unknown
TheExchange@olamnet.com In Episode 9, Mark and Todd spin the "Green Coffee Lingo Wheel" and define another nine green coffee terms with characteristic humor, valuable insights, and a surprise ending where Todd fails to know a term.
You can see the Green Coffee Lingo Wheel for yourself and test what you know at blog.olamspecialtycoffee.com/spin
TheExchange@olamnet.com In Episode 8, Mark and Todd spin the "Green Coffee Lingo Wheel" and define nine green coffee terms with characteristic humor, valuable insights, and a surprising lack of reference to Mark's age.
You can see the Green Coffee Lingo Wheel for yourself and test what you know at blog.olamspecialtycoffee.com/spin
Opening Theme, Coffee by Sean T. Wright | cc-nd cc-nc cc-by https://www.jamendo.com/track/920435/coffee
Closing Theme, Coffee Talk by Anitek | cc-nd cc-nc cc-by https://www.jamendo.com/track/711275/coffee-talk
TheExchange@olamnet.com
In episode 7, the second of 2 episodes on QA/QC and cupping for coffee roasters, Mark and Todd talk about the language of cupping for roasters and more on creating a cupping space. You can email Mark and Todd with questions they'll answer on the podcast, or to arrange a review of your coffee, at TheExchange@olamnet.com.
The Exchange is Presented by Olam Specialty Coffee Hosted by Mark Inman www.olamspecialtycoffee.com/mark-inman-bio
and Todd Mackey www.olamspecialtycoffee.com/todd-mackey-bio
Directed by Mike Ferguson
All music is available and used under Creative Commons.
TheExchange@olamnet.com
In episode 6, the first of 2 episodes on QA/QC and cupping for coffee roasters, Mark and Todd get into the nuts and bolts of cupping for roasters. You can email Mark and Todd with questions they'll answer on the podcast, or to arrange a review of your coffee, at TheExchange@olamnet.com.
The Exchange is Presented by Olam Specialty Coffee Hosted by Mark Inman http://www.olamspecialtycoffee.com/mark-inman-bio
and Todd Mackey http://www.olamspecialtycoffee.com/todd-mackey-bio
Directed by Mike Ferguson
All music is available and used under Creative Commons: Opening Theme, Coffee After Six by Crete Boom cc-nd cc-nc cc-by https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He57Af7dOI8
Closing Theme, 7th Coffee at 5 am by Tomasz Werbicki cc-nd cc-nc cc-by https://soundcloud.com/tomasz-werbicki/7th-coffee-at-5am
TheExchange@olamnet.com
Episode 5 is the second of two episodes on sales and marketing. Remember you can email Mark and Todd with questions or to arrange having them taste your coffee and talk about it on the show at TheExchange@olamnet.com
In Part one of two episodes on sales and marketing, Mark and Todd talk about the branding niche, and, of course, Mark's age.
We're inviting listeners to email Mark & Todd at TheExchange@Olamnet.com. We welcome comments, questions, and suggestions. Mark and Todd would also like to invite roasters who use coffee from Olam to submit their coffee for an online review and interview. Send an email to TheExchange@Olamnet.com for more information.
TheExchange@olamnet.com
In Episode 3 of The Exchange, presented by Olam Specialty Coffee, Mark Inman and Todd Mackey continue their conversation on coffee blending theory.
TheExchange@olamnet.com
In the first of two episodes on coffee blending, Mark Inman and Todd Mackey talk about the reasons, good and bad, for creating coffee blends.
The Exchange is presented by Olam Specialty Coffee.
TheExchange@olamnet.com
Our first episode, we tried recording over Skype, so the sound is a little challenging for listeners, but improved vastly with the next episode.
In this episode of The Exchange by Olam Specialty Coffee, Mark Inman and Todd Mackey talk about discipline and best practices around buying green coffee ... and Rob Stephen interrupts to talk about "Subject to Approval of Sample" contracts.