We were lucky to catch up with Giosue “Josh” D’Esposito recently and have shared our conversation below.

Giosue “Josh”, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Kieran and I often tasted coffees together and realized how much more rewarding the experience was when shared. We loved discussing flavor profiles, brewing methods, and the stories behind each coffee, and we felt that this kind of curated experience was missing in the Bay Area. Specialty coffee is often enjoyed in isolation or as a quick transaction, but we wanted to create something more intentional—an opportunity for people to slow down, explore different coffees side by side, and appreciate their nuances. That’s what inspired Komakase, a pop-up designed to guide guests through a multi-course coffee tasting, with thoughtful pairings that complement and elevate each cup.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Giosue (aka Josh). While I’ve spent most of my career in Fintech, I’ve always had a deep passion for coffee. That passion led me to create SpecialtyCoffeeGuy, a small Instagram page where I could share my coffee journey. Over the years, tasting and learning about coffee became an obsession, and I wanted to take that excitement even further.

That’s what led me to co-found Komakase, a coffee pop-up inspired by curated tasting experiences. Much like an omakase meal, we guide people through a journey in coffee, showcasing unique flavors, brew methods, and thoughtful pairings to highlight coffee’s full potential.

Through SpecialtyCoffeeGuy and Komakase, my goal is to make specialty coffee more approachable—whether by sharing standout coffees, brewing insights, or simply celebrating the small moments that make coffee special. More than anything, I want people to slow down, taste intentionally, and experience coffee in a new way.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

What started as an occasional weekend project quickly gained momentum, and before we knew it, we were fully booked months in advance. That’s when we realized Komakase had the potential to be something much bigger.

Now, we’re at a pivotal moment. While we’re not full-time yet, we’re actively looking for opportunities that will allow us to take that next step—fully dedicating ourselves to creating an unparalleled coffee experience. It’s an exciting, uncertain transition, but also the most fulfilling journey we’ve embarked on so far.

How’d you meet your business partner?

Kieran and I first met at Kaizen in San Mateo, at Kaizen coffee, a coffee shop I visited every Thursday. It was conveniently located just down the street from my work, and over time, we built a sense of camaraderie through our shared passion for coffee.

As we got to know each other, we realized that while our taste preferences were similar, they were also different enough to bring unique perspectives to the table—sparking interesting and engaging conversations. The more we talked, the more we discovered that we shared a vision of what an ideal coffee experience could be. Beyond just enjoying coffee, we both wanted to take a more active role in shaping that experience and running a shop of our own.

That mutual passion and alignment in vision eventually led us to take the leap and create something together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://komakase.coffee
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/komakasecoffee/?hl=en
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@komakasecoffee?si=UCIC0_wKncv1lwDu