Tiny Sidecar: A Coffee Podcast
Tiny Sidecar is a women-focused coffee podcast celebrating the voices, stories, and passions of the coffee world. From farmers to roasters to baristas and beyond, each episode takes you on a playful, empowering ride through the industry’s vibrant community. Hosted by Cait Rifkin, Tiny Sidecar shares candid conversations, inspiring journeys, and the occasional sidecar detour. Hop in, we’re brewing something amazing.
Episodes
28 episodes
Untitled Episode
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...
Sidecar Sessions: Keri Roberts, Non-conformity Coffee
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 busines...
Sidecar Sessions: Kat Melheim, Coffee People Zine
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, buildin...
Sidecar Sessions: Anu Menon, Driftaway Coffee
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 peop...
Sidecar Sessions: Amaris Gutierrez-Ray, Joe Coffee (pt. 2)
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 su...
Sidecar Sessions: Amaris Gutierrez-Ray, Joe Coffee (pt. 1)
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 yo...
Sidecar Sessions: Richelle Taylor, Olympia Coffee
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 Operatio...
Sidecar Sessions: Ivana Chan, Raise the Bar
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, educatio...
Sidecar Sessions: Sunghee Tark, Bean Voyage
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, an...
Talk Mental Health to Me with Lucia Bawot
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,...
The Chat Where You Realize You’re a Sidecar
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. ...
Sidecar Sessions: Talk Family To Me
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 Eng...
Detour: A Sidecar Mashup
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 ...
Hop In We're Going To Mexico!
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 yo...
Talk Carry-Ons To Me
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...
Your First Sip of Season Two
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 Wom...
Sidecar Sessions: Katie, Wonderstate Coffee
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 p...
Talk Hospitality To Me
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 throu...
Detour: Summer Recap + Fall Goals
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 t...
Talk Numbers To Me
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 t...
From Origin, With Love: Green Coffee 101
Ever wonder how coffee actually gets from origin to your cup? In this episode, I pull back the curtain on the green coffee sourcing process from slurping samples and decoding certifications to the relationships that matter most....
Hot Off The Roaster: July Coffee News
This week on Tiny Sidecar, we’re catching you up on all the buzz worthy happenings in the coffee world. From roaster retreats in Michigan to powerful mental health movements and grassroots fundraisers. Cait gives you the scoop on Washed Up Coff...
Sidecar Sessions: Kristaleen, Stone Creek Coffee
In this episode, I sit down with Kristaleen, a barista and educator at Stone Creek Coffee in Milwaukee. We talk about what it means to grow in the coffee industry, the power of approachable education, and the kind of intentional culture that ma...
Coffee Date: Wisco Coffee Recap
In this episode of Tiny Sidecar, we're taking a cozy ride through Wisconsin’s coffee scene. From roastery tours to heartfelt coffee chats with family and friends, I recap my recent trip and the moments that made it special. Tune in for...