Buy the Drip - Coffee and Business

Easily one of the most exciting young coffee producers at the moment, José Luis is putting top quality coffee into the marketplace, from Chiriqui, Panama.In this conversation, you can hear how José Luis was inspired by his grandfather to start to plant and produce Geisha Coffee and in just a few short years, ended up landing amongst the top rankings of the Best of Panama.Focused today on learning coffee in all it's forms, José is trialing different roasting machines, brewers, grinders and all sorts of instruments in which he can use to better understand his coffees.Working with his partner Valentina, they operate a beautiful business that spans through different farms, with the primary being in El Salto, Boquete. Two new high elevation projects will be online soon.This is a must listen conversation to hear the perspective of a young, entrepreneurial coffee producer who is pushing the limits of quality and coffee potential in Panama.A fascinating conversation for anyone interested in coffee business, coffee production and establishing a foundational business that will outlive any of us individuals.Forward is a green coffee sourcing and exporting company based in Chiriqui, Panama, working with 20+ producers. Cole is one of 22 International Judges for the Best of Panama and is ready to source your next favourite coffee. Forward is a Panamanian registered business and exporter living and working in Panama 12 months per year: https://www.forward.coffeeThis conversation was recorded on May 28th, 2026 in Boquete, PanamaIf you'd like to watch a feature film on Chevas - Cole lives in Panama full time and curates a selection of top Panama Geisha and Varietals, from the Jose Luis Chevas and Panamanian producers you see in this video seriesFORWARD COFFEE, since 2019Forward is a green coffee sourcing and exporting company based in Chiriqui, Panama, working with 20+ producers. Cole is one of 22 International Judges for the Best of Panama and is ready to source your next favourite coffee. Forward is a Panamanian registered business and exporter living and working in Panama 12 months per year: https://www.forward.coffeeROSSO COFFEE ROASTERS, since 2007Anyone can be a specialty coffee drinker, and that means you. Dave and the team at Rosso roasted for the last two World Barista Champions and would love to roast a coffee for you too – try world-class coffee; https://www.rossocoffeeroasters.comFollow on INSTAGRAMFollow Jose Luis Chevas: https://www.instagram.com/chevas27Follow Chevas: https://www.instagram.com/chevas_coffee_ltdStay updated with the latest: https://www.instagram.com/buythedrip.coffeeFollow Forward Coffee: https://www.instagram.com/fwdcoffeeFollow Dave: https://www.instagram.com/crosbyandcoffeeFollow Cole: https://www.instagram.com/torodeo

In this episode, we sit down with Wilford Lamastus Jr, the fourth generation of Lamastus Family Estates, a 3 x Panamanian Brewers Cup Champion and founder of Sisu Coffee StudiosThis conversation takes us through the in's and out's of a legacy family business that dates back more than 100 years and is focused on quality and raising the bar for specialty coffee and Geisha coffeeWhat does it mean to be the fourth generation, and be amongst the energy as his son, the fifth generation of this family legacy grows up under his visionA fascinating conversation for anyone interested in coffee business, coffee production and establishing a foundational business that will outlive any of us individuals.If you ever come to visit Panama, a trip to Lamastus Family Estates is a must - they have a tourism department and will happily take you around the farm and to experience Panama GeishaForward is a green coffee sourcing and exporting company based in Chiriqui, Panama, working with 20+ producers. Cole is one of 22 International Judges for the Best of Panama and is ready to source your next favourite coffee. Forward is a Panamanian registered business and exporter living and working in Panama 12 months per year: https://www.forward.coffeeThis conversation was recorded on February 24th, 2026 in Panama City, PanamaIf you'd like to watch a feature film on Lamastus Family Estates - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GANe9UzVUYCole lives in Panama full time and curates a selection of top Panama Geisha and Varietals, from the Wilford and Panamanian producers you see in this video seriesFORWARD COFFEE, since 2019Forward is a green coffee sourcing and exporting company based in Chiriqui, Panama, working with 20+ producers. Cole is one of 22 International Judges for the Best of Panama and is ready to source your next favourite coffee. Forward is a Panamanian registered business and exporter living and working in Panama 12 months per year: https://www.forward.coffeeROSSO COFFEE ROASTERS, since 2007Anyone can be a specialty coffee drinker, and that means you. Dave and the team at Rosso roasted for the last two World Barista Champions and would love to roast a coffee for you too – try world-class coffee; www.rossocoffeeroasters.comFollow on INSTAGRAMFollow Wilford Lamastus Jr: www.instagram.com/wilfordlFollow Lamastus Family: www.instagram.com/lamastusfamilyestatesStay updated with the latest: www.instagram.com/buythedrip.coffeeFollow Forward Coffee: www.instagram.com/fwdcoffeeFollow Dave: www.instagram.com/crosbyandcoffeeFollow Cole: www.instagram.com/torodeo

"Specialty Coffee is a coffee produced on one farm, by one obsessive compulsive coffee farmer" Price Peterson is celebrated as one of the most influential figures in the Special Coffee Industry - having re-discovered Geisha on his family farm, Hacienda La EsmeraldaFor more than half a century, the Peterson family has shaped the country's coffee industry through Hacienda La Esmeralda - earning international recognition, changing how the world values coffee and helping establish Panama as one of the most sought-after coffee originsHear about the early days of the SCAA and SCAP, a few of the many boards / committees which Price participated as a key member in the early days in their founding years.In this conversation you can expect to hear:- The early days of Hacienda La Esmeralda and how the has farm evolved- The re-discovery and rise of Geisha- What people misunderstand about producing world-class coffee- How the Peterson family approaches quality, experimentation, and the future.- Price's perspective on where Panama coffee is headed over the next decade.Whether you're a producer, roaster, competitor, or simply fascinated by the people behind the coffees we all admire, this episode offers a rare look inside one of specialty coffee's most influential figuresPS, Happy 90th Birthday to Price, who celebrated in Boquete on July 5th, 2026This conversation was recorded on March 10th, 2026 at Hacienda La EsmeraldaListen as Cole and Price sit down for an intimate conversation in his office and discuss the long road of Panama Geisha.Cole lives in Panama full time and curates a selection of top Panama Geisha and Varietals, from the Peterson Family and Panamanian producers you see in these videos.. If you enjoy the conversation with Price, I highly suggest you listen to this conversation with his youngest son Daniel - https://youtu.be/mnBGjmXNCw8FORWARD COFFEE, since 2019Forward is a green coffee sourcing and exporting company based in Chiriqui, Panama, working with 20+ producers. Cole is one of 22 International Judges for the Best of Panama and is ready to source your next favourite coffee. Forward is a Panamanian registered business and exporter living and working in Panama 12 months per year: https://www.forward.coffeeROSSO COFFEE ROASTERS, since 2007Anyone can be a specialty coffee drinker, and that means you. Dave and the team at Rosso roasted for the last two World Barista Champions and would love to roast a coffee for you too – try world-class coffee; www.rossocoffeeroasters.comFollow on INSTAGRAMFollow Hacienda La Esmeralda: www.instagram.com/haciendalaesmeralda Stay updated with the latest: www.instagram.com/buythedrip.coffeeFollow Forward Coffee: www.instagram.com/fwdcoffeeFollow Dave: www.instagram.com/crosbyandcoffeeFollow Cole: www.instagram.com/torodeo

Finca Nuguo is fresh off of winning the 2026 World Brewers Cup Championship by Nas Jaafar of MalaysiaPocho Gallardo has a cult following for the way he meticulously produces his globally celebrated Panama Geisha - winning the Best of Panama and numerous global competitions, many times over.Listen as Cole and Pocho sit down under the coffee trees at Nuguo and talk about the journey, the dedication and the patience to create such a celebrated coffee.Cole lives in Panama full time and curates a selection of top Panama Geisha and Varietals, from Pocho and Panamanian producers you see in these videos.. FORWARD COFFEE, since 2019Forward is a green coffee sourcing and exporting company based in Chiriqui, Panama, working with 20+ producers. Cole is one of 22 International Judges for the Best of Panama and is ready to source your next favourite coffee. Forward is a Panamanian registered business and exporter living and working in Panama 12 months per year: https://www.forward.coffeeROSSO COFFEE ROASTERS, since 2007Anyone can be a specialty coffee drinker, and that means you. Dave and the team at Rosso roasted for the last two World Barista Champions and would love to roast a coffee for you too – try world-class coffee; www.rossocoffeeroasters.comFollow on INSTAGRAMFollow Nuguo: www.instagram.com/pochogallardo Stay updated with the latest: www.instagram.com/buythedrip.coffeeFollow Forward Coffee: www.instagram.com/fwdcoffeeFollow Dave: www.instagram.com/crosbyandcoffeeFollow Cole: www.instagram.com/torodeo

In this episode, we sit down with Jack Simpson, the 2025 World Barista Champion! We explore the full journey behind his rise to the top of competitive coffee.Jack talks about how he first got into specialty coffee, the moment he left his carpentry apprenticeship to chase a new passion, and the long/sometimes difficult road that eventually brought him to the WBC stage. We get into what changed for him mentally and emotionally over the years, how judging and coaching shaped his approach, and what it was like to compete at the highest level three years in a row.We also dig into the training, the preparation, the tools, and the tiny adjustments that helped him keep improving. Jack opens up about the emotional side of competition, the impact of traveling to origin, and how relationships with producers shaped the routine that ultimately won him the title. This is one of the most honest and personal conversations we have had on the podcast, and a look at what it really takes to become World Barista Champion!