On 1st July, we held our eighth edition of Full Circle. An annual event that connects roasters and producers in the DRWakefield community. A day of in-depth coffee talks, discussions and tastings, it is a unique opportunity to network with coffee professionals working throughout the supply chain and hear diverse perspectives on coffee.
We were joined by keynote speakers from Colombia and Costa Rica, as well as organisations like The Food People and Swiss Water Decaf. We also tasted some delicious coffees from Beneficio La Chumeca and Inmaculada.
If you didn’t get the chance to attend this year, you will still get an opportunity to see the presentations – we filmed them all and will be releasing them on our YouTube Channel over the coming weeks.
On behalf of the DRWakefield team, we would like to thank everyone who attended Full Circle and the Tate for providing a beautiful venue, and a special thanks to all the speakers for sharing their insights.
Global Food & Beverage Trends
Charles Banks: The Food People
A fourth-generation foodie and recognised ‘champion of change’, Charles brings over 30 years of experience across fine dining, retail, and food service to this insightful session. In his talk, he unpacks global foresight and thefoodpeople’s 2025/26 trend forecast, connecting these insights to what they mean for coffee, beverages, and wider food systems today.
thefoodpeople is a global trends agency that uses deep human intelligence, creativity, and curiosity to help organisations, from brands and retailers to governments, navigate the fast-moving world of food and drink. With a team of psychologists, chefs, flavourists, and more, they’re dedicated to shifting the future of food through foresight, purpose, and innovation.
Learn more about how trend foresight is being used to champion change and build a better, more connected future for the coffee industry. As mentioned during Charles’s talk, you can find the resources linked here: Presentation Deck, Annual Trend Summit, and the Trends E-Book.
Introducing Inmaculada Coffee Farms
Karen & Jorge: Inmaculada
Jorge Castro and Karen Egidi represent the team behind Inmaculada Coffee Farms, a producer known for its innovation and excellence in specialty coffee. Jorge, an Industrial Engineer with a Master’s in Coffee Agribusiness, leads global sales and production, while Karen, a Business Administrator focused on international trade, manages green coffee sales across the UK, North America, and Europe. Together, they bring a wealth of experience and a shared commitment to forging strong commercial partnerships and championing unique Colombian coffees.
In this talk, Jorge and Karen share Inmaculada’s journey since 2010, exploring how their philosophy, rooted in integrity, passion, and excellence has helped them unlock the potential of some of the world’s most exotic and flavour-forward coffees. From respecting terroir and preserving coffee genetics to pushing the boundaries of processing, they offer a deep dive into what it takes to consistently produce coffees that stand out on the global stage.
Exploring Coffee & Cascara
NANCI SANCHEZ, STC
Nanci Sanchez is a fourth-generation coffee producer and professional in Foreign Trade, and with 7 years at STC (Sustainable Trading Company SA) and Coopetarrazú RL, and a lifetime in coffee, Nanci shares how her work in trade, logistics, and quality connects with her deep family roots in coffee farming.
In this session, Nanci introduces us to the history, values, and ongoing projects at Coopetarrazú and STC, highlighting their commitment to sustainability and producer empowerment. The talk concludes with a video from La Chumeca, where Jorge “Pacho” explains their Cáscara process, offering an inside look at how coffee by-products can create new opportunities for producers.
The Rise of Specialty Decaf
Mike Strumph, Swiss Water Decaf
With decades of experience in green coffee, sensory analysis, and competition judging, Mike brings a wealth of insight into how consumption and marketing trends are shaping the way we view decaf. He highlights why demand is rising, how producers and roasters can respond, and how Swiss Water’s chemical-free process preserves the flavour of origin while opening new opportunities for storytelling.
Watch now to hear why decaf deserves more attention in specialty coffee and how it can be a driver of growth and innovation across the supply chain.
