What We Know About Coffee

Join us at Market Lane Coffee as part of the Coffee Weekend Melbourne 2026 festival as we hear directly from four highly respected international specialty coffee businesses to discuss What We Know About Coffee. Moderated by Market Lane, the featured speakers are: Yozo Otsuki - Kurasu, Japan Founded in 2013 in Kyoto, Japan, Kurasu is dedicated to showcasing Japanese home-brewing and coffee culture globally. Today Kurasu has cafes in Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Dubai, and China. Minsu Kim - Bean Brothers, Korea Founded in 2013 with locations across Korea and Malaysia, Bean Brothers is known for its commitment to exceptional quality and architecturally unique spaces. Diana Patiño - Exploradores de Cafe, Mexico Founded in 2016, Exploradores de Cafe is a specialty coffee project bringing exceptional Mexican coffee to the world and celebrating all aspects of producers and the coffee supply chain. Ken Takakura - Re-Co, The Netherlands Founded in 2025, Re-Co is a new micro-roastery dedicated to showcasing exceptional, hand selected coffee lots, and communicating the importance of transparent, direct relationships with producers and sustainable sourcing. Together, they will share their collective wisdom on what it takes to create and maintain a successful specialty coffee business, addressing topics such as: What is your philosophy on coffee? What is the role of storytelling within a business? How do you make practical steps to expand into new markets? What helps your business stand apart? This evening is catered to professionals within the coffee industry looking to grow their business, develop new insights within a global market, or better communicate their values to customers. The talk will followed by an opportunity for audience Q&A. Welcoming drinks and snacks will be provided.