Episode 162: A vision of transparency – in conversation with Dion Cohen, Single O

In today’s episode, we’re speaking with Dion Cohen, Co-founder of Single O – an iconic name in Australian specialty coffee.

Originally known as Single Origin Coffee Roasters, Dion founded the business in 2003 alongside his wife and business partner, Emma Cohen. Their vision was to bring greater transparency to the coffee supply chain while building a brand that was fun, engaging, and unafraid to break the mould.

Since then, Single O has become a pioneer of Australia’s specialty coffee scene and operates cafés in Sydney and Queensland and has a growing presence in Japan.

In this conversation, Dion shares the philosophy behind Single O – one grounded in quality, traceability, and education rather than self-promotion. He also talks about expanding into Japan, and how the brand adapted its bold, irreverent  Australian style to resonate with Japan’s more reserved and traditional culture.

Credits music: "What I Used To Do" by Liza Lo in association with The Coffee Music Project and SEB Collective. Tune into the 5THWAVE Playlist on Spotify for more music from the show

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Guest

Dion Cohen
Co-Founder, Single O

A former professional gymnast from Cape Town, Dion moved to Sydney in 1989 and studied Architecture before shifting into project management. In 2003, he co-founded Single O with his wife Emma, seeking a more hands-on, people-focused career.