

Filter Stories - Coffee Documentaries
James Harper
Coffee stories with an extra shot of history and science. Filter Stories is a podcast revealing coffee’s hidden microscopic secrets, its powerful past, and how your choice of beans impacts tens of millions of people.
See the behind-the-scenes stories on Instagram @filterstoriespodcast.
If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the show and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!
See the behind-the-scenes stories on Instagram @filterstoriespodcast.
If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the show and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 12, 2019 • 24min
Is your coffee building Trump’s wall? Part 2: El Savage
You buying a coffee from El Salvador and Trump building a border wall have nothing in common.
Or do they?
Over five episodes, we explore a story of El Salvador. We confront massacres, wide inequality and the specialty coffee you drink today.
Buried deep in this story is a group of people our coffee dollars are neglecting across the world.
In Part 2, we reveal why our economist nicknames his own country "El Savage.”
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If you haven't already, please subscribe to the show and review us on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filter-stories/id1428327760
Shape the future of Filter Stories by taking this 10 minute survey: https://www.surveymonkey.de/r/YWH3LZM
Taste Maria’s coffee and support Filter Stories by joining the Indiegogo crowdfund here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/filter-stories-who-grew-your-morning-coffee/x/22081911#/
Sign up to the Filter Stories newsletter here: http://www.eepurl.com/dD-sY1
Recommend Filter Stories to other podcast lovers on Podyssey! https://podyssey.fm/podcast/itunes1428327760-Filter-Stories
Piano music composed and performed by James Harper
Sound mixing: Dom Edgley / https://domedgleysound.com/
Filter Stories logo design: https://headquarters.studio/
A big thanks to: Cesar Magana, Mauricio Escalón, Álvaro Castro, Emilio Lopez Diaz, Marco Ariz, Francescopaolo Marolla, Walter Retana, United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation El Salvador, Rony Cordero, Cafe Salkantay Santa Ana, Jodie Cárcamo, Manuel Jesus Lopez, David Velasquez, Gilberto Baraona, Hugo Hernandez, Sara Cortez, Consejo Salvadoreño de Cafe, Tyler Wright, Josh Fontecha, Robert Durrette, Farmers First Coffee, Mauricio Benjamin Bautista Arucha, Israel Márquez, San Carlos Dos Cooperative, Sixto Ramos, Policar Siciliano, Helena Merivel Dias de Jimenez, Olga Carmel Ramirez, Azules Piedras Cooperative, Luis Ortez Ordoñez, Roberto Figero, Jesus Salvador Ortez, Victor Flores, Bronwen Serna
Editorial thanks: Hannah Smith, Tina Ghelani, Adam Harper, Raymond Detweiler, Melanie Böhme, Andrew Johnson, Karin Vališová, Jesse Hartman, Matthias Staeheli
Check out Standart, the award-winning coffee magazine. Get a free magazine and a free bag of coffee by clicking here.
How does Perfect Moose detect what kind of milk is in the pitcher? Click here to find out.
Visiting World of Coffee San Diego? Pull a shot on the gorgeous Slayer Steam Single
What does the Marco MilkPal look like to you? WALL-E? Something Steve Jobs would be proud of? Check it out here.

Nov 7, 2019 • 27min
Is your coffee building Trump’s wall? Part 1: A tale of two El Salvadors
You buying a coffee from El Salvador and Trump building a border wall have nothing in common.
Or do they?
Over five episodes, we explore stories of El Salvador. We confront massacres, wide inequalities and the specialty coffee you drink today.
Buried deep in this story is a group of people our coffee dollars are neglecting across the world. People who decide to migrate north.
———————————
If you haven't already, please subscribe to the show and review us on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filter-stories/id1428327760
Shape the future of Filter Stories by taking this 10 minute survey: https://www.surveymonkey.de/r/YWH3LZM
Taste Maria’s coffee and support Filter Stories by joining the Indiegogo crowdfund here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/filter-stories-who-grew-your-morning-coffee#/
Sign up to the Filter Stories newsletter here: http://www.eepurl.com/dD-sY1
Recommend Filter Stories to other podcast lovers on Podyssey! https://podyssey.fm/podcast/itunes1428327760-Filter-Stories
Piano music composed and performed by James Harper
Sound mixing: Dom Edgley / http://www.domedgleysound.com/
Filter Stories logo design: http://www.headquarters.studio/
A big thanks to: Cesar Magana, Mauricio Escalón, Álvaro Castro, Emilio Lopez Diaz, Marco Ariz, Francescopaolo Marolla, Walter Retana, United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation El Salvador, Rony Cordero, Cafe Salkantay Santa Ana, Jodie Cárcamo, Manuel Jesus Lopez, David Velasquez, Gilberto Baraona, Hugo Hernandez, Sara Cortez, Consejo Salvadoreño de Cafe, Tyler Wright, Josh Fontecha, Robert Durrette, Farmers First Coffee, Mauricio Benjamin Bautista Arucha, Israel Márquez, San Carlos Dos Cooperative, Sixto Ramos, Policar Siciliano, Helena Merivel Dias de Jimenez, Olga Carmel Ramirez, Azules Piedras Cooperative, Luis Ortez Ordoñez, Roberto Figero, Jesus Salvador Ortez, Victor Flores, Bronwen Serna
Editorial thanks: Hannah Smith, Tina Ghelani, Adam Harper, Raymond Detweiler, Melanie Böhme, Andrew Johnson, Karin Vališová, Jesse Hartman, Matthias Staeheli
The British Ambassador’s wife was acted by Heather Simons
Check out Standart, the award-winning coffee magazine. Get a free magazine and a free bag of coffee by clicking here.
How does Perfect Moose detect what kind of milk is in the pitcher? Click here to find out.
Visiting World of Coffee San Diego? Pull a shot on the gorgeous Slayer Steam Single
What does the Marco MilkPal look like to you? WALL-E? Something Steve Jobs would be proud of? Check it out here.

Sep 17, 2019 • 18min
Big and Small in El Salvador: Part 3
We meet a man who came from humble beginnings who has achieved what Armando and Maria have only ever dreamed about.
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Taste Maria’s coffee and support Filter Stories by joining the Indiegogo crowdfund here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/filter-stories-who-grew-your-morning-coffee#/
See the Filter Stories live show in Berlin on the 1st and 4th of October 2019: https://www.facebook.com/events/494233377792673/
Sign up to the Filter Stories newsletter here: www.eepurl.com/dD-sY1
Recommend Filter Stories to other podcast lovers on Podyssey! https://podyssey.fm/podcast/itunes1428327760-Filter-Stories
Piano music composed and performed by James Harper
More episode information here: www.medium.com/@FilterStories
Sound mixing: Dom Edgley / www.domedgleysound.com/
Filter Stories logo design: www.headquarters.studio/
A big thanks to: Ignacio Gutiérrez, Maria Zoila Pineda de Rivera, Oscar Rivera, Marco Ariz, Hotel La Palma, Piero Cristiani
Editorial thanks: Hannah Smith, Tina Ghelani
Check out Standart, the award-winning coffee magazine. Get a free magazine and a free bag of coffee by clicking here.
How does Perfect Moose detect what kind of milk is in the pitcher? Click here to find out.
Visiting World of Coffee San Diego? Pull a shot on the gorgeous Slayer Steam Single
What does the Marco MilkPal look like to you? WALL-E? Something Steve Jobs would be proud of? Check it out here.

Aug 20, 2019 • 28min
Big and Small in El Salvador: Part 2
Imagine you’re a coffee buyer on a mission to buy Salvadoran coffee. We visit Armando and Maria’s farms. Which farm would you choose to buy from?
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Taste Maria’s coffee by joining the Filter Stories Indiegogo crowdfund here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/filter-stories-who-grew-your-morning-coffee#/
Listen to the About Face podcast here: https://www.aboutfacepodcast.com
Sign up to the Filter Stories newsletter here: www.eepurl.com/dD-sY1
Recommend Filter Stories to other podcast lovers on Podyssey! https://podyssey.fm/podcast/itunes1428327760-Filter-Stories
Piano music composed and performed by James Harper
More episode information here: www.medium.com/@FilterStories
Sound mixing: Dom Edgley / www.domedgleysound.com/
Filter Stories logo design: www.headquarters.studio/
A big thanks to: Maria Zoila Pineda de Rivera, Oscar Rivera, Marco Ariz, Ignacio Gutiérrez
Editorial thanks: Janina Grabs, Jenn Rugolo, Tina Ghelani, Adam Harper
Maria and Santos were acted by Ana Kavalis and Eneko Sanz
Check out Standart, the award-winning coffee magazine. Get a free magazine and a free bag of coffee by clicking here.
How does Perfect Moose detect what kind of milk is in the pitcher? Click here to find out.
Visiting World of Coffee San Diego? Pull a shot on the gorgeous Slayer Steam Single
What does the Marco MilkPal look like to you? WALL-E? Something Steve Jobs would be proud of? Check it out here.

Aug 5, 2019 • 27min
Big and Small in El Salvador: Part 1
20 years ago specialty coffee patted itself on the back for saving coffee farmers, both big and small, from the misery of low coffee prices.
But what's it like for a small coffee farmer getting into this specialty coffee club today?
We dive into El Salvador’s Cup of Excellence to contrast the experience of two producers.
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Taste Maria’s coffee by joining the Filter Stories Indiegogo crowdfund here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/filter-stories-who-grew-your-morning-coffee#/
Sign up to the Filter Stories newsletter here: www.eepurl.com/dD-sY1
Recommend Filter Stories to other podcast lovers on Podyssey! https://podyssey.fm/podcast/itunes1428327760-Filter-Stories
Piano music composed and performed by James Harper
More episode information here: www.medium.com/@FilterStories
Sound mixing: Dom Edgley / www.domedgleysound.com/
Filter Stories logo: www.headquarters.studio/
A big thanks to: Maria Zoila Pineda de Rivera, Oscar Rivera, Marco Ariz, Ignacio Gutiérrez
Editorial thanks: Janina Grabs, Jenn Rugolo, Tina Ghelani, Adam Harper
Maria was acted by Ana Kavalis
Check out Standart, the award-winning coffee magazine. Get a free magazine and a free bag of coffee by clicking here.
How does Perfect Moose detect what kind of milk is in the pitcher? Click here to find out.
Visiting World of Coffee San Diego? Pull a shot on the gorgeous Slayer Steam Single
What does the Marco MilkPal look like to you? WALL-E? Something Steve Jobs would be proud of? Check it out here.

Jul 1, 2019 • 22min
Unseen Bean: Part 2
Gerry's cafe failed.
We investigate why by putting ourselves in Gerry's shoes and experiencing the coffee world as a blind man.
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Gerry’s roastery: http://www.theunseenbean.com/
More Piano music on Coffee People Zine: https://www.coffeepeople.org/pages/musicv01
Sign up to the Filter Stories newsletter here: https://www.eepurl.com/dD-sY1
Recommend Filter Stories to other podcast lovers on Podyssey! https://podyssey.fm/podcast/itunes1428327760-Filter-Stories
Piano music composed and performed by James Harper
More episode information here: https://www.medium.com/@FilterStories
Sound mixing: Dom Edgley / https://www.domedgleysound.com/
Filter Stories logo: https://www.headquarters.studio/
A big thanks to: Gerry Leary, Ever Meister, Ben Cole, Kat Melheim, Sam Neely, Becca Brenowitz, Brian Hergert
Editorial thanks: Lerato Maphanyane, Andrew Johnson, Adam Harper, Diksha Dutta
Check out Standart, the award-winning coffee magazine. Get a free magazine and a free bag of coffee by clicking here.
How does Perfect Moose detect what kind of milk is in the pitcher? Click here to find out.
Visiting World of Coffee San Diego? Pull a shot on the gorgeous Slayer Steam Single
What does the Marco MilkPal look like to you? WALL-E? Something Steve Jobs would be proud of? Check it out here.

Jun 18, 2019 • 22min
Unseen Bean: Part 1
Gerry has a disability that keeps 2 in 3 adults out of full time work.
But Gerry demolishes expectations over and over again.
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Gerry’s roastery: http://www.theunseenbean.com/
Sign up to the Filter Stories newsletter here: http://www.eepurl.com/dD-sY1
Recommend Filter Stories to other podcast lovers on Podyssey! https://podyssey.fm/podcast/itunes1428327760-Filter-Stories
Piano music composed and performed by James Harper
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/filterstoriespodcast/
More episode information here: http://www.medium.com/@FilterStories
Sound mixing: Dom Edgley / http://www.domedgleysound.com/
Filter Stories logo: http://www.headquarters.studio/
A big thanks to: Gerry Leary, Ever Meister, Ben Cole
Editorial thanks: Lerato Maphanyane, Tim Ridley, Luka Kelman, Andrew Johnson, Adam Harper.
Check out Standart, the award-winning coffee magazine. Get a free magazine and a free bag of coffee by clicking here.
How does Perfect Moose detect what kind of milk is in the pitcher? Click here to find out.
Visiting World of Coffee San Diego? Pull a shot on the gorgeous Slayer Steam Single
What does the Marco MilkPal look like to you? WALL-E? Something Steve Jobs would be proud of? Check it out here.

May 14, 2019 • 23min
Venezuela
What do you do when you want to buy a cafe but your country is collapsing around you?
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If you haven't already, please subscribe to the show and review us on iTunes! www.itunes.apple.com/de/podcast/filte…327760?l=en&mt=2
Sign up to the Filter Stories newsletter here: http://www.eepurl.com/dD-sY1
Recommend Filter Stories to other podcast lovers on Podyssey! https://podyssey.fm/podcast/itunes1428327760-Filter-Stories
Piano music composed and performed by James Harper
More episode information here: http://www.medium.com/@FilterStories
Sound mixing: Dom Edgley / http://www.domedgleysound.com/
Filter Stories logo: http://www.headquarters.studio/
A big thanks to: Cesar Eduardo Bermejo and Cesar Andres Bermejo of Brew Coffee Company, John Matías, Manual Barsallo of Paddle Coffee Roasters, Giancarlo Effio of Mentiritas Blancas
Editorial thanks: Tanya Newton, Tyler Wright, Jack Butcher, Adam Harper, Tom Jarz
Check out Standart, the award-winning coffee magazine. Get a free magazine and a free bag of coffee by clicking here.
How does Perfect Moose detect what kind of milk is in the pitcher? Click here to find out.
Visiting World of Coffee San Diego? Pull a shot on the gorgeous Slayer Steam Single
What does the Marco MilkPal look like to you? WALL-E? Something Steve Jobs would be proud of? Check it out here.

Apr 12, 2019 • 32min
Stateless
Mikhail is a specialty coffee barista. But he’s stuck on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
He doesn’t want to be there and he’s trying to get off. But he can’t. There are boats and planes, but none will let him on.
Mikhail is a victim of an invisible curse that affects up to tens of thousands of people who work in coffee.
There is a good chance you’ve drank a coffee that was grown, picked or brewed by a stateless person.
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If you haven't already, please subscribe to the show and review us on iTunes! https://itunes.apple.com/de/podcast/filter-stories/id1428327760?l=en&mt=2
Sign up to the Filter Stories newsletter here: http://www.eepurl.com/dD-sY1
Piano music composed and performed by James Harper
Recommend Filter Stories to other podcast lovers on Podyssey! https://podyssey.fm/podcast/itunes1428327760-Filter-Stories
UNHCR Statelessness: https://www.unhcr.org/stateless-people.html & https://www.unitedstateless.org
More episode information here: https://www.medium.com/@FilterStories
Sound mixing: Dom Edgley / https://www.domedgleysound.com/
Filter Stories logo: https://www.headquarters.studio/
A big thanks to: Mikhail Sebastian, Lindsay Jenkins, Valerie Lowson, David Baluarte, Chris Boian
Editorial thanks: Karin Vališová, Volkart Wildermuth, Kinga Peçak
Episode image © UNHCR
Check out Standart, the award-winning coffee magazine. Get a free magazine and a free bag of coffee by clicking here.
How does Perfect Moose detect what kind of milk is in the pitcher? Click here to find out.
Visiting World of Coffee San Diego? Pull a shot on the gorgeous Slayer Steam Single
What does the Marco MilkPal look like to you? WALL-E? Something Steve Jobs would be proud of? Check it out here.

Mar 10, 2019 • 31min
Sofía
What were your dreams at 16? Sofía lives on a remote coffee farm in Nicaragua and hers is to be a great english translator.
But Sofía needs school and a lot of luck. Every morning in her blue and white school uniform she walks for an hour to school. The road is deserted and her family knows she may be attacked. And then she walks home.
Each coffee we drink holds the hopes of Sofía living a life off this farm. Or is that just wishful thinking?
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If you haven't already, please subscribe to the show and review us on iTunes! https://itunes.apple.com/de/podcast/filter-stories/id1428327760?l=en&mt=2
Sign up to the Filter Stories newsletter here: http://www.eepurl.com/dD-sY1
Recommend Filter Stories to other podcast lovers on Podyssey! https://podyssey.fm/podcast/itunes1428327760-Filter-Stories
Piano music composed and performed by James Harper
Transparent Trade: http://www.transparenttradecoffee.org
Project Alianza: http://www.projectalianza.org
Janina Grabs’ blog: https://janinagrabs.com
More episode information here: https://medium.com/@FilterStories
Sound mixing: Dom Edgley / https://domedgleysound.com
Filter Stories logo: https://headquarters.studio
A big thanks to: Sofia's family and the farm owner, Camila de la Vega, Janina Grabs, Tyler Wright, Amanda Eastwood
Editorial thanks: Kate Leismer, Heather Simons, Adam Harper
Check out Standart, the award-winning coffee magazine. Get a free magazine and a free bag of coffee by clicking here.
How does Perfect Moose detect what kind of milk is in the pitcher? Click here to find out.
Visiting World of Coffee San Diego? Pull a shot on the gorgeous Slayer Steam Single
What does the Marco MilkPal look like to you? WALL-E? Something Steve Jobs would be proud of? Check it out here.


