43. From Square Mile to Global Consultant: John Gordon’s Coffee Journey

In this episode of Buy The Drip, we sit down with John Gordon! Barista champion, roaster, engineer, and consultant to talk about his unexpected path from the security industry into the heart of specialty coffee.

John shares his early days learning hospitality from the ground up in Melbourne, the pivotal moment that sparked his coffee passion, and how a fear of public speaking led him to barista competitions including multiple appearances on the World Barista Championship stage.

We unpack his transformative time at Square Mile Coffee, his philosophy on quality control, and the evolution of coffee technology and culture over the past two decades.

John also opens up about:

Why finding your niche in coffee is hard—but worth it...

The power of collaboration and community in building a meaningful career

His vision for a creativity-focused coffee space

The importance of business acumen in today’s industry

And how passions like art and engineering fuel his curiosity outside of coffee

Whether you’re behind the bar, in the cupping lab, or running your own coffee business, John brings a refreshing honesty and depth to this conversation.