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 Government regulation causing unintended industry ripple effects Smaller cafés, kiosks, memberships and new emerging models The “three flawless visits” rule for customer loyalty   About Our Guest Rai Esat is the General Manager of International Coffee Traders and a key leader within The Coffee Commune. With extensive experience across coffee, operations and hospitality, Rai offers a practical, data-driven view on building smarter café models, improving customer experience and growing sustainably in challenging economic conditions. Key Takeaways AI helps reduce mental load and streamline workflows Staffing challenges persist, but hiring for attitude reduces long-term pressure Emotional engagement outperforms discounting in a tight economy Understanding customer segments prevents misaligned café concepts Sustainability is valuable but costly – and must work for all parties Government decisions can disrupt supply chains and pricing Smaller footprints and kiosks will dominate new openings After three flawless visits, a customer becomes a loyal regular Mindset work underpins perseverance and success in 2026 Links & Resources Mentioned The Coffee Commune International Coffee Traders My Mate’s Place (Coffs Harbour) Books referenced: Psycho-Cybernetics The Go-Giver Dr Joe Dispenza’s mindset concepts Growth mindset principles Time-Stamped Key Points 00:35 – Welcome to 2026 & setting your outcomes 01:57 – Introducing Rai Esat & the theme: What’s brewing next? 02:13 – AI as a game-changer in hospitality 02:42 – Retention, attraction & productivity: the big three for 2026 04:04 – The power of a strong “why”: My Mate’s Place story 04:50 – Value, connection & emotional engagement in a tough economy 06:09 – Staff engagement & hiring for attitude 07:30 – Craving connection: events and networking 08:11 – 7am coffee raves & the health-focused generation 08:53 – Serving unmet needs & solving problems 09:35 – Emotional connection & fighting for the dollar 09:46 – Customer segmentation tool: a hospitality game-changer 11:04 – Building from the outside in 12:33 – Keywords for 2026: perseverance & recomposition 14:27 – Trends: smaller cafés, shorter leases & lower staffing 15:20 – Prices, tax and disposable income 16:19 – Sustainability: ideals vs economic reality 18:34 – Government mandates & unintended consequences 22:13 – Focus back on opportunity & growth 22:25 – Loyalty, micro-interactions & the 3-visit rule 23:20 – Apartment boom & the return of the kiosk 24:44 – Membership models for cafés 25:13 – Community & the human element 26:17 – Final thoughts: experimentation, sustainability & new models    Press play on your favourite podcast platform and get ready for a practical, insightful look at the year ahead. Produced by The Podcast Boss