If you’ve ever wondered how a single cup of coffee can carry the weight of a nation’s history, meet James Ladanyi. The director of Specialty, a four-part docuseries, spent years behind the espresso bar before turning his lens on the coffee world of Wellington, New Zealand. His journey—from barista to filmmaker—reveals a craft steeped in struggle, artistry, and quiet rebellion. The series isn’t just about beans; it’s about the people who shape the stories they brew.
Ladanyi’s path to filmmaking was paved with coffee. After working as a barista during his undergraduate degree in Wellington and later while pursuing a Master’s in acting in Bristol, he returned home during the pandemic to manage a coffee stand in a barbershop. That experience became the spark for Specialty, born from a moment of industry frustration: the backlash against a $0.50 price hike for flat whites. “It felt like a small raise, but the public reaction was brutal,” he says. That disconnect between coffee lovers and makers became the series’ heartbeat.
The docuseries unfolds in four episodes, each peeling back a layer of the specialty coffee world. Episode 1, Drip Theory, explores the post-pandemic resilience of café culture, framing coffeehouses as vital “third spaces” in urban life. Episode 2 follows Honoka Kawashima, New Zealand’s 2023 Barista Champion, and Frank Hsu, a founder of Wellington’s Frank’s Coffee, delving into the science of taste and the pressure of competition. Episode 3 traces New Zealand’s coffee history through historian Redmer Yska, from immigrant-run cafés in the 19th century to the espresso boom of the 1990s. Episode 4 centers on Rene Macaulay, a pioneer of lighter roasts in a dark roast-dominated culture, and his decades of ethical sourcing across Africa and South America.
What ties these stories together is a simple truth: coffee has always been a story worth telling. Yet it’s been chronically underrepresented in film, compared to food, wine, and beer. “I wanted to add one small contribution to that,” Ladanyi says. The series doesn’t just highlight Wellington—it offers universal tales of ambition, ethics, and the economics of craft.
Ethical sourcing, from fair trade to organic certification, is a cornerstone of modern coffee culture.
Key points: The specialty coffee industry has been undervalued in media, despite its cultural and economic impact. Ethical sourcing, from fair trade to organic certification, is a cornerstone of modern coffee culture. Specialty is a community-driven project, funded by local support and crowdfunding, reflecting the industry’s collaborative spirit.
What story about coffee has shaped your relationship with the drink? Share your favorite moment in the comments.
Questions & Answers
Who directed the docuseries *Specialty*?
James Ladanyi directed *Specialty*, a four-part docuseries exploring New Zealand’s coffee culture and its deep historical roots.
What inspired James Ladanyi to make *Specialty*?
Managing a coffee stand during the pandemic inspired Ladanyi to create *Specialty*, blending his barista experience with his passion for storytelling.
Information sourced from industry reports and news outlets.
