Tiny Sidecar: A Coffee Podcast

Episodes

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  Sidecar Sessions: Erica Escalante, The Cafe Operator 05.10.2026 1h 15m

  Send us Fan Mail Erica Escalante knows cafés and she’s not afraid to tell you what actually works or what doesn't. In this episode, Cait sits down with Erica to talk about her years of experience in coffee, what she’s learned from operating cafés, and how that experience led to her newest venture, The Cafe Operator. They get into leadership, building better systems, the realities of running a café, and the value of having someone in your corner who can cut through the noise and give you clear...
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  Sidecar Sessions: Keri Roberts, Non-conformity Coffee 01.10.2026 1h 7m

  Send us Fan Mail This week on Tiny Sidecar, I’m joined by Keri Roberts and truly, this was one of those conversations I had a hard time editing down because I wanted to keep all of it. We chat about all the roads that the first years of building a business takes you on: sourcing, community, learning to roast, building meaningful business relationships and a touch of everything else. It’s thoughtful, funny, honest, and full of the kind of little side topics that make a conversation feel ...
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  Sidecar Sessions: Kat Melheim, Coffee People Zine 17.09.2026 50m

  Send us Fan Mail Kat Melheim is the creator of Coffee People Zine, an independent publication built around the art, stories, and creativity of people working in coffee. In this episode, Kat and Cait talk about where Coffee People came from, building something outside the traditional rules of the coffee industry, and what it takes to keep an independent creative project going. They get into making space for other people’s voices, the importance of creativity and play, and what can happen when ...
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  Sidecar Sessions: Anu Menon, Driftaway Coffee 08.09.2026 47m

  Send us Fan Mail Anu Menon is the co-founder of Driftaway Coffee, a company she started with her husband in 2014. More than a decade later, Driftaway has grown into a company known for thoughtful sourcing, transparency, and finding creative ways to connect people more deeply with the coffee they drink. In this episode, Anu and I talk about what it actually looks like to grow a coffee company over the long haul: from choosing to build without outside investment to figuring out what transparenc...
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  Sidecar Sessions: Amaris Gutierrez-Ray, Joe Coffee (pt. 2) 01.09.2026 46m

  Send us Fan Mail In Part Two with Amaris Gutierrez-Ray, we dig deeper into what it means to lead with intention in the coffee industry. We talk feminist leadership, responsible sourcing, and why treating people well shouldn’t be separate from running a successful business. Amaris shares her perspective on building strong leaders instead of simply managing employees, creating workplaces where people can grow, and cultivating a positive culture that lasts beyond any one person. We also continue...
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  Sidecar Sessions: Amaris Gutierrez-Ray, Joe Coffee (pt. 1) 24.08.2026 52m

  Send us Fan Mail What does it look like to grow your career alongside a company? In this episode, Cait sits down with Amaris Gutierrez-Ray, VP of Coffee at Joe Coffee, to talk about building a long-term career in coffee and what happens as both you and your role evolve along the way. Amaris shares her path through Joe Coffee, what the day-to-day of being a VP of Coffee actually looks like, and how her responsibilities and perspective have changed over the years. They also get into leadership,...
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  Sidecar Sessions: Richelle Taylor, Olympia Coffee 21.07.2026 57m

  Send us Fan Mail What does it take to build a meaningful career in coffee? According to Richelle Taylor, it starts with curiosity and a willingness to say yes. In this episode of Tiny Sidecar, I sit down with Richelle Taylor, Director of Operations at Olympia Coffee, U.S. Coffee in Good Spirits Championship runner-up, and founder of the Women in Coffee event based in Seattle. We talk about her journey through the specialty coffee industry, the opportunities that shaped her career, and why sta...
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  Sidecar Sessions: Ivana Chan, Raise the Bar 13.07.2026 56m

  Send us Fan Mail This week on Tiny Sidecar, I'm joined by Ivana Chan for a conversation about building a career in specialty coffee and how she is hoping to bring others along with her through Raise the Bar. We dive into great leadership, education, and filling in the missing pieces in this fast moving industry. Along the way, we talk about the importance of representation, what it means to lead with intention, and why some of the best opportunities come from unexpected places. Whether you're...
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  Sidecar Sessions: Sunghee Tark, Bean Voyage 01.06.2026 54m

  Send us Fan Mail Coffee gets called sustainable a lot but what does that actually mean? This week, we sit down with Sunghee Tark to talk about the work behind real structural change in coffee. From the story of Bean Voyage to women producers, sustainability, and the systems that shape who thrives (and who gets left behind), this conversation gets honest about what it will actually take to build a more equitable coffee industry. Curious, thoughtful, and full of perspective shifts, this one mig...
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  Talk Mental Health to Me with Lucia Bawot 21.04.2026 54m

  Send us Fan Mail This week on Tiny Sidecar, we’re having a real conversation about mental health. What it looks like, how it shows up in our industry, and why it matters more than we sometimes admit. I’m joined by Lucia Bawot the founder of SANA, an organization focused on supporting mental health and wellbeing within coffee communities, specifically women producers in Columbia. Together, we talk about building meaningful support systems, the importance of community care, how art plays a pivo...
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  The Chat Where You Realize You’re a Sidecar 17.02.2026 18m

  Send us Fan Mail This one started as a simple conversation about Instagram and somehow turned into a full-blown identity spiral... in the best way. You know those chats that begin super chill and suddenly you’re asking, “Wait… who are we actually?” Yeah. That happened today. In this episode, I’m unpacking what it looks like to stop tweaking the grid and start talking about who you really are as a brand, as a creative, as a human building something on purpose. No script. No heavy editing. Just...
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  Sidecar Sessions: Talk Family To Me 10.02.2026 28m

  Send us Fan Mail This episode of Tiny Sidecar is a collection of real stories from women shaping the coffee world. Each one offering a different perspective on this industry and, often, what family means within it. You’ll hear stories in both English and Spanish, just as they unfold across the supply chain. If you’re not fluent in both, grab Google Translate. The app’s live conversation feature can translate in real time as the episode plays. You don’t need every word to feel the power here. ...
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  Detour: A Sidecar Mashup 03.02.2026 28m

  Send us Fan Mail Today we’re hopping into the sidecar to talk about what’s coming in 2026 and to share a couple of conversations from the Women Powered Coffee Summit that stayed with me long after the event ended. Natalie and Nico are two women who made an lasting impact with just a few words, and I’m so excited to pass their voices along. I hope you find this time with them as inspiring as I did. As always grateful for you my coffee friend and chat soon! Support the show Thanks for lis...
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  Hop In We're Going To Mexico! 22.12.2025 20m

  Send us Fan Mail This week on Tiny Sidecar, we’re spending the day in transit as we make our way to Mexico. Consider this the opening scene: setting the tone, the mood, and the soundtrack for the Summit before things really get rolling. Please place your tray tables in the upright position, settle in, and let’s get going. Support the show Thanks for listening to Tiny Sidecar. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend or leave a quick review. We'll see you here next Tuesday! You can ...
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  Talk Carry-Ons To Me 08.12.2025 18m

  Send us Fan Mail Season Two kicks off with a suitcase, a spark, and those pre-summit jitters we all know too well. In this first episode, we unpack the prep work from Bean Voyage community calls to the buzz of saying yes to something big. So grab your bag and hop in the sidecar… it’s time to hit the road. P.S. interviews start here. Get ready to meet Alex! Support the show Thanks for listening to Tiny Sidecar. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend or leave a quick re...
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  Your First Sip of Season Two 10.11.2025 4m

  Send us Fan Mail Buckle up, friends! Tiny Sidecar is back for Season 2! This time, we’re kicking things off with stories straight from the source: women producers, importers, and roasters who are shaping the future of coffee. Cait returns from the Women Powered Coffee Summit with fresh inspiration, new connections, and plenty of behind-the-scenes moments to share. Join us for a quick spin through what’s to come this season. Because in every cup, there’s a story. And in every story, a l...
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  Sidecar Sessions: Katie, Wonderstate Coffee 13.10.2025 38m

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Cait catches up with Katie, Director of Operations at Wonderstate Coffee, for an easygoing and honest conversation about what it means to grow in life, in leadership, and in coffee. The two talk about family ties, the winding path that led Katie to her role in operations, and the moments in coffee that still make her light up. Along the way, Cait reflects on time with her own family and teases what’s ahead from the Women Powered Coffee Summit. Grab a mug, set...
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  Talk Hospitality To Me 08.09.2025 21m

  Send us Fan Mail What does excellent hospitality really look like in coffee? Is it the bottomless diner mug, the quick “just get me my latte” efficiency, the curated third-wave experience, or the Gen Z vibe check? In this TSC episode, I’m taking you through hospitality across the generations and showing how expectations have shifted (and overlapped). We’ll count down my top micro-hospitality moments, the tiny gestures that turn coffee into connection, and talk about why hospitality (not just ...
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  Detour: Summer Recap + Fall Goals 02.09.2025 21m

  Send us Fan Mail This week we’re taking a little detour. Instead of stats or guests, I’m pulling over to reflect on the summer we’ve had together and set some intentions for the fall ahead. I’ll share the highs and lows from behind the mic, the projects that kept me busy, and the lessons I’m carrying forward. Then I’ll look ahead, what’s next for Tiny Sidecar, what’s brewing in the coffee world, and the personal goals I’m chasing this season. It’s part recap, part ramble, and part did we just...
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  Talk Numbers To Me 20.08.2025 22m

  Send us Fan Mail Women make up the majority of the labor force in coffee, yet their presence in ownership and leadership still lags far behind. In this episode, we look at the numbers to give us a foundational understanding. From farm labor and land ownership to leadership roles and decision-making power. And ask what they reveal about the state of women in coffee today. It’s not just statistics. It’s about power, visibility, and the future of an industry that depends on women at every step o...