Sourced: The Coffee Podcast

Hosted by Royal Coffee, Inc.

Entrepreneurship Education

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Jul 2026

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About the show

Royal Coffee, Inc. is a green coffee importer serving the global coffee roasting community. Since 1978, Royal has connected coffee producers to coffee roasters. In 2019, Royal launched the highly anticipated project The Crown: Royal Coffee Lab & Tasting Room, an open-sourced coffee education center located in Oakland, California. This podcast is an extension of the thoughts and happenings taking place within the larger network of Royal Coffee & The Crown. We hope you enjoy it!

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60 recent

July 29, 2026Episode 449 min

Inside Ethiopia's Coffee Harvest Delays, Freight Struggles, and Their Impact on Quality

Peter Radosevich and Richard Sandlin of Royal Coffee break down why this year's Ethiopian coffees are some of the best in recent memory, despite soaring prices and logistical challenges. They trace the journey from COE pools in December to roasters' rosters in fall, unpacking how delays, conflict, and weather shaped the harvest. Tune in to find out what makes this year's Ethiopian offerings stand out, and why waiting to buy could mean missing out.

March 2, 2026Episode 339 min

Exploring Coffee Research in Hawaii

In this conversation, Chris Kornman and Juli Burden discuss the exciting developments in coffee research and education in Hawaii, focusing on innovative processing techniques, the importance of coffee germplasm, and the role of soil science and water conservation in coffee farming. They also explore the unique relationship between cacao and coffee, the diversity of Hawaiian coffee, and the future of the industry.

February 10, 2026Episode 21 hr 9 min

Exploring the Heart of Ethiopian Coffee

In this episode, Joshua Wismans, Richard Sandlin, and Isabella Vitaliano recount their trip to Ethiopia, exploring the complexities of the coffee supply chain, the importance of Fair Trade, and the healthcare challenges faced by coffee-growing communities. They discuss the role of Royal Coffee in supporting Ethiopian producers, the significance of building long-term relationships, and the impact of their experiences on their approach to sourcing coffee.

January 22, 2026Episode 127 min

Is Frozen Coffee the New Fresh?

Freezing coffee has long been dismissed as outdated advice but is it actually wrong? In this episode, Chris and Isabella share findings from a six-month research project published in Roast magazine exploring whether freezing roasted coffee slows staling. Comparing room-temperature storage with two frozen methods across washed and natural coffees, the study found that while nothing replaces fresh beans, frozen coffee retained sweetness and freshness markers longer. After several weeks, cuppers could clearly distinguish frozen samples from room-temperature controls, which showed faster declines in sweetness and more stale notes. The takeaway: if coffee is a few months off roast, freezing whole beans may actually help preserve quality. A myth revisited, with data to back it up.

September 2, 2025Episode 934 min

S3. Episode 9: Sustaining a Coffee Roasting Business

The Crown's Director of Education sits down with Luke Waite, founder of Pomello Coffee Consulting and author of The Owner's Manual: A Guide to Sustaining a Coffee Roaster to discuss the challenges of writing for a niche coffee audience, the unique needs of a coffee roasting business, and the nuanced, sometimes vulnerable state of trying to be better than "good enough."

March 11, 2025Episode 852 min

S3, Episode 8: Interpersonal Relationships in Coffee; The Magic of Catracha Coffee in Santa Elena

In this episode I wanted to zoom in and get a little bit personal. Although the scale is not massive the impact is immeasurable. Talking with Mayra, our co-worker at Royal, paints a picture of how coffee is so interpersonal and is driven by its ability to connect people to one another. In her hometown of Santa Elena in Honduras, Mayra has created economic change by exporting her community's coffee to the specialty market through Catracha Coffee. But the coffee business also funds a non-profit that extends support for her community members on a host of activities including income diversification, art, and mental health. We are thrilled to speak with her about her journey.

November 8, 2024Episode 729 min

S3, Episode 7: Early Third Wave - Discovery, Evolution, and Microlots Part 2

In part two of the series, Charlie, Chris, and Spencer explore topics such as risk in coffee purchasing, the pendulum swing in experimental coffee, who is driving demand for investment in unique flavors, whether coffee hybrids could be the next wave, defining co-ferments, the potential for co-ferments to take over the world, and more!

October 14, 2024Episode 628 min

S3, Episode 6: Early Third Wave - Discovery, Evolution, and Microlots Part 1

In this 2-part series, Charlie, Chris and Spencer go back in time to explore the turning point of sourcing and demand in late aughts till present day. They chat about 'good and right' coffee, government intervention, barista competitions, regrets in coffee buying and more. Stay tuned for the next episode on risk and experimentation in coffee buying.

August 23, 2024Episode 519 min

S3, Episode 5: C Market biannual update 2024 - Where is all of the coffee?

In this episode, Spencer Ford, Junior Trader, and Alex Mason, VP of Trading Activity, take a deep dive into the market volatility of the past six months. They cover topics such as backwardation, the record number of exports from Brazil, Vietnam's impact on the coffee market, and where all the coffee is. They also offer advice on the best plan of action given the current situation.

May 15, 2024Episode 433 min

S3, Episode 4: Innovative Honduran Coffee Production Models with Richard Sandlin

Curious about what happens on an origin trip with importers and roasters? In this episode, we bring you exclusive insights from Richard about his recent trip to Honduras with Laurel Wirth and a team of coffee roasters. Tune in to learn more about two cutting-edge producing groups they visited: COMSA and Catracha. Music credit: Joshua Wismans