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Artwork for Filter Stories

Filter Stories - Coffee Documentaries

James Harper
Coffee
Specialty Coffee
Cold Brew Coffee
Coffee Science
Water For Coffee
Organic Coffee
Coffee Extraction
Commodity Coffee
Mahlkönig
Sensory Science
Hamburg
Sustainability In Coffee Production
Coffee Roasting
Water Filtration Science
Brewing Techniques
Espresso Preparation Techniques
Flavor Chemistry
Alkalinity
Brazil
Specialty Coffee Association

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!

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes78Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryArtsFood

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Artwork for Filter Stories

Latest Episodes

Specialty coffee changes the story for the indigenous people of Guatemala. Coffee as a tool of oppression finally offers hope....and then something a bit more complicated.

This episode explores the tension between the values of the Mayan communities... more

YouTube

When you buy a bag of coffee labelled fifth-generation family farm, it feels like a good choice.

But in Guatemala, that label might actually be a signal for a more uncomfortable truth.

This episode explores how land has been understood, used, and e... more

YouTube

What happens when coffee disappears?

This is not a thought experiment! It’s happened many times in history: War, blockades, tariffs, ideology, health panics, sanctions, supply shocks.

When coffee is not around, people still need something warm, com... more

YouTube

Most coffee is grown on vast plantations using machines, pesticides and fertilisers.

But in Ethiopia, coffee grows wild in humid forests surrounded by birds.

And that wild coffee matters more than most of us realise. It is the genetic ‘library’ we ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Ted Fischer
Professor of anthropology at Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Episode: Guatemala's Inconvenient Truth, Part 1: Whose land is it anyway?
Juan Jose López
PhD candidate in anthropology researching coffee and multi-species relationships
Independent researcher
Episode: Guatemala's Inconvenient Truth, Part 1: Whose land is it anyway?
Solomon Takle
An Ethiopian from the Kaffa region, passionate about the cultural significance of coffee.
Episode: Mother Coffee: The history and heritage of Ethiopia's wild coffee forests
Dr. Aaron Davis
Senior research leader of Crops and Global Change at the Royal Botanic Gardens
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
Episode: Mother Coffee: The history and heritage of Ethiopia's wild coffee forests
Margrit Schulte Beerbühl
Professor of history at the University of Düsseldorf and expert on chocolate and coffee
University of Düsseldorf
Episode: We Built This City…On Coffee: Hamburg and the making of Europe's coffee trade
Sven Röhrigke
Business Development Manager at Mahlkönig and in-house historian
Mahlkönig
Episode: We Built This City…On Coffee: Hamburg and the making of Europe's coffee trade
Professor Christopher Hendon
Professor of chemistry at the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
Episode: How specialty coffee woke up to water’s role in flavour
Frank Neuhausen
Senior leader at BWT Water & More, involved in discussions about water for coffee.
BWT Water & More
Episode: How specialty coffee woke up to water’s role in flavour
Joseph Lee
Founder of Sontai Coffee, first UK independent specialty coffee brand utilizing super automated machines.
Sontai Coffee
Episode: Farm to port: why specialty costs more

Hosts

James Harper
Creator and host of Filter Stories, a coffee documentary podcast; involved in producing and narrating historical/educational coffee content.
Jonathan Morris
Professional historian and author focused on coffee history; provides scholarly framing and narrative context.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 390 ratings
  • You Had Me At “Water”

    This is the show you’re looking for coffee nerds!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JaySeeB
    United Statesa year ago
  • Relaxing and educational

    James Harper has a gift in telling stories especially about coffee

    His honest efforts in researching each podcast in great detail is truly inspiring to be both relaxing and stimulating educational has brought my troubled mind a great deal of peace

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    77TJ
    United Statesa year ago
  • Brillant storytelling and great information all about coffee

    My favorite podcast by far!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    vattolinos
    Switzerlanda year ago
  • Amazing stories by an independent podcast producer

    I love listening to James’s podcast. I am an eager consumer of coffee and I found his stories always fascinating, helping me understand the beauty and the dark side of this product I so much love.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Spennna81
    Germany2 years ago
  • Really well produced

    Great storytelling, insightful, wonderful sound and music.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    keepcalmcoffee
    Germany2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise production value, and the host's research and storytelling.
Episodes are informative and accessible to both newcomers and long-time coffee lovers.
Audience appreciates ethical discussions and real-world impact on farmers and supply chains.
High-quality storytelling with engaging depth on coffee's people, history, and science.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#155
United States/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#198
Canada/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#244
United Kingdom/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#151
Germany/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#249
Australia/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#50
Mexico/Arts/Food

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Getting great water for coffee, step-by-step. Part 1: Alkalinity, hardness and why it matters
Q: How can we measure what's too much or too little alkalinity and hardness in water?
James promises a detailed walkthrough on measuring and treating tap water in the next episode.
Getting great water for coffee, step-by-step. Part 1: Alkalinity, hardness and why it matters
Q: How does water hardness affect coffee equipment?
Hard water produces limescale, which can build up in brewing equipment and make them inefficient, potentially causing expensive repairs.
Getting great water for coffee, step-by-step. Part 1: Alkalinity, hardness and why it matters
Q: What is alkalinity and why does it matter for coffee?
Alkalinity is how strong one solution is able to neutralize an acid, and it directly affects how acidic the coffee will taste.
How specialty coffee woke up to water’s role in flavour
Q: What role does magnesium play in coffee water?
Magnesium is increasingly viewed as a crucial mineral that enhances the flavor of specialty coffees, although the exact mechanisms are still being studied.
How specialty coffee woke up to water’s role in flavour
Q: What are the most important measures for water quality in coffee?
The two most important measures for water quality in coffee are Total Hardness and Alkalinity, which indicate how likely water is to cause limescale buildup and how it neutralizes acids, respectively.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Filter Stories

What is Filter Stories about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two historians and writers explore coffee's global journey, tracing its deep history, social impact, and science. Episodes balance world-building with on-the-ground perspectives from researchers, farmers, and industry insiders, highlighting how governance, economics, and culture shape what ends up in your cup. Notable strengths include rigorous archival storytelling, strong science integration around water and chemistry, and a clear focus on ethical considerations, supply chains, and the people behind every bean. The show stands out for weaving historical context with contemporary debates about sustainability, certifications, and the human cost of coffee, offering both accessible entry points for newcomers and rich detail for aficionados.

Where can I find podcast stats for Filter Stories?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Filter Stories. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Filter Stories and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Filter Stories get?

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What are the audience demographics for Filter Stories?

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How many subscribers and views does Filter Stories have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Filter Stories has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Filter Stories?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Filter Stories:

1. Freakonomics Radio
2. The Rest Is History
3. Hard Fork
4. The Ezra Klein Show
5. A History of Coffee

How many episodes of Filter Stories are there?

Filter Stories launched 8 years ago and published 78 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Filter Stories?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Filter Stories?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Filter Stories from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Filter Stories?

Recent guests on Filter Stories include:

1. Ted Fischer
2. Juan Jose López
3. Solomon Takle
4. Dr. Aaron Davis
5. Margrit Schulte Beerbühl
6. Sven Röhrigke
7. Professor Christopher Hendon
8. Frank Neuhausen

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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