ASEAN Coffee Conversations – Exploring the Future of Coffee Through Conversation
Coffee has always been about connection.
Connection to people, culture, origin, and the stories behind every cup. That philosophy sits at the heart of ASEAN Coffee Conversations — a podcast series hosted by Justin Metcalf that explores the evolving world of coffee through honest discussion, industry insight, and real-world experience.
With more than 30 years in the coffee industry, Justin has worked across roasting, education, sourcing, café development, judging, and international coffee collaboration. Through his role with the ASEAN Coffee Institute (ACI), the ASEAN Coffee Federation (ACF), and as founder of Bodacious Coffee Roasters in Melbourne, the podcast has become a platform to help showcase the incredible diversity and future potential of coffees coming out of the ASEAN region.
Founded in Melbourne, Bodacious Coffee Roasters is an independent Australian coffee company built on relationships, education, and a passion for sourcing and roasting distinctive coffees with purpose and authenticity. With a strong focus on direct trade, origin connection, and coffee storytelling, Bodacious Coffee has spent years working closely with producers and partners throughout the ASEAN region to help showcase the incredible diversity of coffees emerging from Southeast Asia.
Beyond roasting, the company is deeply involved in coffee education, café development, sustainability conversations, and building stronger links between producers and consumers. Through initiatives such as the ASEAN Coffee Series, Bodacious Coffee is helping introduce Australian coffee drinkers to the unique flavour profiles, cultures, and stories behind coffees from countries including Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and the Philippines.
ASEAN Coffee Conversations is not just about talking about coffee — it is about helping build awareness, appreciation, and connection between producers, roasters, cafés, and consumers throughout Southeast Asia and beyond.
A major part of this vision is now being brought to life through the Bodacious Coffee ASEAN Coffee Series.
Through direct relationships with farms and producing partners across the region, Bodacious Coffee is actively sourcing, roasting, promoting, and selling coffees that represent the unique flavour profiles and identities of ASEAN coffee origins. The podcast works hand-in-hand with this project by helping tell the deeper story behind the coffees:
* the producers,
* the regions,
* the processing methods,
* the sustainability challenges,
* and the people shaping the future of coffee across Asia.
Topics explored throughout the podcast include:
* The future of ASEAN coffee,
* Sustainability and climate change,
* AI and technology in coffee,
* Coffee education,
* Direct trade relationships,
* Specialty coffee culture,
* café and roasting evolution,
* Future coffee species such as Liberica and Excelsa,
* And the changing identity of coffee throughout the ASEAN region.
What makes ASEAN Coffee Conversations unique is that it combines practical industry experience with genuine passion for helping ASEAN coffee gain stronger recognition globally.
These are not scripted corporate conversations. They are grounded reflections from someone who has spent decades working directly within the coffee industry and who continues to work closely with producers, educators, cafés, and coffee communities throughout the region.
At its core, ASEAN Coffee Conversations aims to help create a stronger voice for ASEAN coffee — not simply as a producing region, but as an emerging leader in coffee culture, innovation, education, and flavour identity.
Listen to ASEAN Coffee Conversations on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7DkouGRRd3RPSaNhmALHeI?si=ac6403630ef44784
Learn more about Justin Metcalf:
Explore the Bodacious Coffee ASEAN Coffee Series: