Fresh Cup has been around for nearly three decades, and throughout the publication’s lifespan, we’ve continually evolved our storytelling to best serve our readers. Sometimes, that means taking a risk on a topic or idea that compels us—but often, that means listening to our writers, and trusting that the topics and people they find interesting will also appeal to our readers.
That’s what happened with our interview series, first proposed by Fresh Cup writer Lydia Stolper back in 2023. Lydia wanted to interview prominent changemakers in the coffee industry—and specifically wanted to ask them questions that other interviewers had overlooked.
Interviews can sometimes feel unwieldy and broad, so Lydia really honed in on specifics. That’s one of our philosophies at Fresh Cup: The more specific a story is—the more minute, in-the-weed details we can capture—the more universal and relatable it becomes.People see themselves in those small moments, and the proof is in the engagement: These interviews have become some of our most-read stories.
So, this week, we decided to revisit some of our favorite interviews from Lydia’s game-changing series. It’s a great opportunity to read—or revisit—these conversations, and to pull out new insights from some of coffee’s most notable figures. You can also catch us on social media sharing some of our favorite quotes and insights throughout the week.
Now, read on for our highlights:
TikTok star and U.S. Barista Champion Morgan Eckroth talks about the evolution of their social media presence, how to fight the ever-changing and dreaded algorithm, and how to push followers to think of coffee as more than just a drink.
Don’t call Everybody’s Busy in Chicago a coffee shop—as owner Melissa Stinson describes it, it’s basically an “alternate universe” of coffee. Melissa talks about what it means to craft truly unique customer experiences, how to avoid the sameness that permeates the industry, and how she makes sense of the coffee world.
Figuring out how to translate hospitality principles to new environments is tricky: Practices that worked online, or when you were just a roaster, look different when you take them into in-person spaces or open a retail shop for the first time. If that’s you, don’t worry: Aaron Fender of Portrait Coffee in Atlanta has gone through it, too, and has insights that could help shape the future of your business.
Rarely is the idea of legacy talked about in coffee: What will we leave behind for the generation coming after us? Renata Henderson and Bartholomew Jones of Cxffeeblack in Memphis tackle the question of legacy head-on, and discuss how their goal of building an all-Black supply chain paves the way for their children and their community.
Coffee folks can take themselves too seriously sometimes, but not Abbey Chiavario, who owns Matryoshka Coffee in Nashville, Tennessee. From colorful streamers to irreverent t-shirts and swag to bowls of Lucky Charms to order, Chiavario finds ways to embrace fun and joy in coffee.
Sahra Nguyen risked it all on robusta, investing everything she had into a coffee varietal many have written off as inferior to arabica. But now she’s at the helm of one of the most innovative coffee brands in the U.S., the New York-based Nguyen Coffee Supply. She’s done it by focusing on sourcing robusta beans from Vietnam—and now has cold brew RTD robusta drinks stocked in Whole Foods and Target.
Feeling inspired? We’ve got more illuminating interviews coming up soon!
