Time for our last installment of live interviews from Coffee Fest 2025. This time from Orlando, FL USA!
We are talking with four awesome professionals about everything from training and tasting, Florida coffee culture and barista work - to career dreams coming true through hard work and faith, and empowering your baristas with distributed management!
First we are talking with Claudio Martinez!
For Claudio, coffee has never been just a drink, it is part of his soul, rooted in his family's 70-year heritage in Honduras. That connection was reignited in Thessaloniki, Greece, where, under the mentorship of Tony Sebastian of I Heart Coffee Roasters, he embraced the beauty, tradition, and community that coffee represents.
His first hands-on experience came in a small drive-through coffee shop in Ellendale, North Dakota, owned by a close friend. As a young barista, Claudio discovered the joy of serving others one cup at a time. That spark guided him forward, leading to opportunities with global icons such as Lavazza, where he worked as a trainer and educator, and later with List + Beisler, where he shared exceptional coffees as a green trader with roasters across the country. Each step nurtured his gratitude and reinforced his belief in coffee as a bridge between cultures and communities.
Today, as the driving force behind Golden Bush Coffee, Claudio channels that lifelong passion into supporting food and beverage communities throughout Florida and beyond. His mission is grounded in humility and purpose, guided by the belief that coffee is never just about what's in the cup—it is about people, stories, and the connections it creates.
Links:
https://goldenbushcoffee.com/
https://www.instagram.com/goldenbushcoffee/
Next up we feature Vanessa Jaramillo!
Vanessa Jaramillo is the Regional Events & Operations Coordinator for Florida Coffee Culture, where she helps connect and celebrate the people behind Florida's growing specialty coffee scene. As a Colombian-American, Vanessa's connection to coffee began long before she became a barista — she visited origin before ever working behind a bar. After discovering specialty coffee in Australia during her gap year, she returned to Florida with a deep passion for community and storytelling.
With three years in the coffee industry, Vanessa has immersed herself in every part of the craft — from cuppings and throwdowns to competitions and community events. She's driven by the belief that coffee is a universal connector that brings people together from all walks of life.
Links:
https://www.flcoffeeculture.com/
https://www.instagram.com/floridacoffeeculture/
We then turn to chat with Maria Esther Lopez Thome!
María Esther is the Co-Founder and Co-Creator of Coffea School, a Coffee & Tea Training Center located in Miami Gardens, Florida. Lawyer, with Master in Tax and Administrative Law. Q-Instructor. SCA Authorized Trainer in the entire Coffee Skills Program, from seed to cup. SCA-ReCo Fellow. SCA Technical Standard Committee Fellow, 2016-2018. CQI Q-Processing Professional. CQI Quality Evaluation and Post-Harvest Processing Assistant Instructor. CVA Program Trainer. Has traveled the world teaching about coffee: Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Ethiopia, United States. Passionate about coffee and the incredible relationships that growth in within. A sustainability believer, always willing to learn more.
Links:
https://coffeaschool.com/
https://www.instagram.com/coffeacompany/?hl=en
Finally we round off the episode with a wonderful conversation with Katherine Morris!
Katherine Morris is the Owner and CFO of Cherry Coffee Company in Fort Worth, Texas, which includes Cherry Coffee Shop, a values-driven neighborhood café, and Novel Coffee Roasters, a specialty roastery with a focus on intentional sourcing and private-label partnerships. With over 18 years of experience across finance, nonprofit, and hospitality, Katherine blends operational know-how with a people-first approach to leadership.
At Cherry, she introduced a shared management model that empowers baristas to lead key areas of the business — from coffee development to inventory — helping create a resilient, collaborative team culture.
Links:
https://cherry-coffee.com/
https://www.instagram.com/cherrycoffeefw/?hl=en
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