Looking Ahead: What’s Brewing in 2026: AI, Coffee, and the Power of Community

In this episode of Bean There Done That, host Phil Di Bella and Rai Esat, General Manager of International Coffee Traders, look ahead to 2026 and unpack what café and hospitality owners can expect – and how to not just survive, but thrive.

They explore the growing role of AI as a productivity tool, the ongoing challenges of retention, attraction and productivity of staff, and why community, emotional connection and a strong “why” will separate the winners from the strugglers.

Phil and Rai discuss shifts in customer behaviour, shrinking disposable income, the real cost of sustainability, and the dangers of poorly executed government regulation. They also share practical ideas like smaller-format cafés, building-centric kiosks, memberships, and pantry items as new revenue models.

The episode closes with two powerful themes for 2026: perseverance and recomposition – doing the mental work, applying the lessons of 2025, and recomposing your business around what actually works.

Key Topics & Themes

AI’s role in reducing workload and boosting productivity

Retention, attraction and productivity as the defining staffing challenges

Why emotional connection and community will be the ultimate differentiators

The rise of coffee raves and non-alcohol social gatherings

Hiring for attitude rather than skill

The upcoming customer segmentation tool for hospitality

The real economic weight of sustainability