Set intentions & achieve goals

The power of intention…. There is a lot of talk around at the moment about setting intentions, manifesting and gratitude.  I would say that whilst I feel the words are overused, I am someone who believes in the power of those things from a practical and pragmatic perspective. 
Having had a tricky few months, with equipment and home breakdowns, at the end of 2022, I set an intention to go ‘onwards and upwards’.  I’ve always loved the quote ‘What’s Next?’ from The West Wing, and to me it signals not wallowing, but positively moving forwards.  Which of course is not always easy… but I did it..

I set the intention to refresh my coffee skills, immerse myself in the coffee world and reignite my passion.   Even though I had some nerves, I booked a trip to Copenhagen to spend a week in the Coffee-Mind Academy.   I studied for a higher level of roasting qualification, undertook practical and written exams and passed!!  For which I was certified by the Speciality Coffee Association as a Roasting Professional.  The learning from the course has given me new skills, loads more knowledge and major new energy for my business.

Time to buy a new roaster...
The other key objective for the trip was to decide on which new roaster to buy. As my business has grown, I need extra capacity to roast more coffee, and I was seeking to upgrade my technology to achieve even better results with my roasts.   My original roast machine, Daisy, is getting older.  At Coffee-Mind in Copenhagen there are many roast machines to try and I was able to understand the pros and cons of each, relative to my business.   By the end of the week I knew which machine was going to be right for the next stage of my coffee journey.  When I got home, I placed an order and she arrives tomorrow.  I am beyond excited and I can’t wait to show you. 

What about Copenhagen as a city? 
With so much stuff in my head before the trip about coffee training, I hadn’t had much time to think about where I was going, but, Copenhagen I love you! A beautiful city, super easy to get around, with people who are so genuinely friendly and helpful wherever I went.  Fresh, delicious and innovative food and amazing coffee.  The city has beautiful sites, with such a calm and peaceful atmosphere.  I will definitely be going back!

So 'What’s Next? I hear you cry....
I had set the intention to develop my products and services and I would love to share more about coffee with my customers, face to face.  One really important part of which is the sensory aspects, how to really understand, detect and describe tastes and smells in coffee. So, this month I will be undertaking a sensory training programme.  So watch this space, as I start to plan products and activities using my new skills...

In the meantime, please keep following my journey.  You can do this via Facebook and Instagram - @thegardenroastery.   If you enjoy catching up on life at The Garden Roastery, why not tell your friends too..

For now, as always, thank you so much.  Lisa x