THE GARDEN ROASTERY
  • Home
  • About
  • Shop
    • Coffee
    • Coffee Subscriptions
    • Christmas Shop >
      • Merchandise
    • Accessories & Gifts
    • Sale
    • Sweet Additions
    • Gift Cards
  • Ramblings of a Roaster
  • Videos
  • Info & Contact

Ramblings of a roaster

CoffeeSpa? Where did that idea come from?

30/11/2019

0 Comments

 
Where did that idea come from? This is a question that I am getting a lot just now. I have been a coffee roaster for a couple of years and I’m very proud to have just launched the CoffeeSpa Beauty Box Range. Along with some amazing comments from complete strangers that have blown me away...like “wow!” “What an amazing idea”, I have also received some wonderful curiosity, like “How did you think of it?” “How did you know what to do?” So here’s the story....
Where did that come from?

Picture
Picture
Like with so many of these things, it was a combination of events that led to an unexpected lightbulb moment. I’ve always tried to take care of myself and adapt as I reach different stages in my life. I’d noticed a change in my skin a while ago and so had been looking online for a face mask. It’s a type of product that I hadn’t really used before and as I try to keep my skincare as natural as possible, I was taking my time to read up on lots of products, checking out the reviews and ingredients lists.
As I trawled the internet, looking at the various beauty products available, something started to jump out at me....Coffee!? ....Coffee face mask....coffee body scrub.....The more I looked, the more I saw. Coffee coffee coffee. Wow, I thought, who knew?
Coffee, coffee, coffee!
I am that type of person that, once I have an interest, likes to really get into the detail of the topic..(I can feel my friends and team frantically nodding at this point :) ). So there I was, page after page of internet info about coffee in beauty products: the benefits; natural skincare ingredients that work well with coffee; how I could prepare ingredients for my own personal skincare....and then it happened ....light dawned! If I would like to be able to prepare my own personal skincare products, using natural ingredients and get them just right for me, other people would probably like to do the same. In that way, the product can be perfect for the individual’s need.
So I set about pulling together everything I needed, ingredients, recipes, storage containers. First of all I would need a supply of fresh roasted ground coffee.......oh hang on a minute...@thegardenroastery ✅
Once I had sourced all of the ingredients, I wanted to pull them together with simple, high quality, reusable containers in an as environmentally responsible way as possible, with options to include more of a homespa experience. Why wouldn’t you want to create your own haven of peace and tranquility whilst enjoying your skincare?
Shop CoffeeSpa
..and so The Garden Roastery CoffeeSpa range was born. An EcoStandard box with the basics, and a Deluxe box to enjoy a full HomeSpa experience.
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Autumn ramblings...

1/11/2019

1 Comment

 
Well, an autumnal hello from The Garden Roastery. I love this time of year, the schools have gone back, the autumn weather has set in and the colours are amazing. The Roastery is warm and toasty, with rich smells of coffee and spice. I always think it’s a time of year for planning. When I was in school I would have bought a new pencil case and organised my stationery. Even though those days are long gone, I still have that underlying feeling of preparation and the nagging feeling of ‘what next?’.
Picture


Those of you who know me will be aware that it’s not as though I have plenty of time on my hands. With a busy business career, that has periods of international travel, a long commute and running The Garden Roastery, there is plenty to do. In amongst all of that I also try to fit in family time and exercise.

However, as always this autumn, I’m in planning mode. So what’s next? Where will my passion take me? One of the things I love about having my own business is the ability to be agile and try new things. When you own the risk, the possibilities are endless! So my latest musings are on new coffees and new products but as always, without the hype.
Picture


Christmas is around the corner, and this year is the first time I will be offering gifts in beautiful baskets for sending direct to the recipient. This is in addition to the beautiful gift sets already on sale. I’ve just ordered Christmas boxes for stocking fillers and Christmas gifts, plus product development continues with vanilla and pumpkin spice coffee in the offing.
So, I’m sending you all a coffee filled, autumnal, hug in a mug. Keep watching The Garden Roastery on Facebook and Instagram for the launch of the new products and to see life at The Garden Roastery.

Lisa x
Roaster by Passion

Picture
1 Comment

What a difference a year makes

22/4/2019

0 Comments

 
I don’t know where the last year has gone. It’s almost 12 months since I officially launched The Garden Roastery and sold my first bag of coffee. To be honest, like a lot of these things, it kind of happened by accident. Having found a true passion in coffee, I trained as an SCA coffee roaster at The London School of Coffee and started to roast on a second hand industrial roasting machine in my garage.
Picture
Picture
When I got to the point of not being able to drink as much as I had roasted, I started to give away bags of roast coffee to friends and family. Boy, were they kind, always great feedback but I worried when they said that they wouldn’t take any more coffee from me - was it really that bad?? No, they said they really enjoyed the coffee but didn’t feel comfortable taking any more for free, they would like to buy some! I thought they were crazy. So the business was born. My first official sale was when one off my friends posted an envelope through my door with a £5 note in it. The message on the envelope said that my friend’s colleague had liked the coffee so much, he had sold them the bag and now he wanted to use the cash to buy some more. I might frame that envelope, it made me smile so much.
If you believe in something, take the first step, otherwise you will never know ...

So things have moved on. Having been evicted from the garage (apparently they are meant for cars ..), the wonderful Roastery was built and I’ve not looked back. I’ve learnt new skills, designed and built my website, created products, launched my on-line store, and with the help of a designer friend created the Garden Roastery identity.
Picture
Picture
Picture
What many of my customers don’t realise is that I have a day job. I have a busy role in a engineering company, with a fabulous team and daily positive challenges which I love, but roasting and my coffee business are truly my passion. I found a hobby later in life and now it’s taken on a life of its own. From day 1, with a £5 note in an envelope, to a growing client base, both local and further a field. I am truly humbled to have my speciality roast coffee recommended by my customers to their friends, and I regularly receive new enquiries and orders. From one off gift purchases, to over one third of my business from repeat customers, I love what I do. I get so much pleasure from chatting to customers and understanding what type of coffee they like to drink. Importantly I also get to support local people and charities which is close to my heart.
Picture
Shop Now
The biggest lesson that I have learnt from all of this is the importance to go with your gut. Life is short, don’t get hung up on ‘what-ifs’ and ‘maybes’. If you believe in something take the first step, otherwise you will never know.

Check out the awesome Roastery build video on The Garden Roastery Facebook page. Follow my progress and coffee updates on Facebook and Instagram @thegardenroastery

Love Lisa, Roaster by passion x
0 Comments

back to basics......brewing............. 'pour over' made easy

13/4/2019

0 Comments

 
So I have to share this with you.  As you know at The Garden Roastery I am all about great coffee without the hype #yourcoffeeyourway.  A little while ago I was looking for a straight forward brew method for my Mum.  Well, we can’t have the mother of a coffee roaster not being able to drink fabulous coffee, can we? ;)

Whilst my mum has several methods to make coffee when she has visitors, she didn’t have a way to make a good cuppa just for herself.  There are clearly several options.  As you will have seen in my last ‘back to basics' blog, the one person cafetière is great, but my Mum already has a larger cafetière for guests.  I took a look at a single dripper/filter top for a mug.  Whilst they are good, they really need a goose neck kettle to pour the water evenly, and then I found something better ..... drum roll please ..... A pour over coffee maker with its own water tank.  
​
Picture

​There are several great benefits of the design. The water tank has small holes to evenly distribute the water onto the coffee grounds. The tank has a lid which makes it much safer when sat on top of a mug, and the tank has a measure so you can get the amount of water just right. The lid doubles as a drip tray for the filter when you’ve finished, so no nasty drips across the kitchen.
Picture

​Having been so impressed with this innovative product I sent one to my lovely mum and thought nothing more about it, until last week when I visited.  All I can say is ‘wow’.  Whilst I am admittedly biased about the great coffee itself (Mum uses a little micro roastery .....) the Pour Over worked brilliantly.  I was so impressed, I bought myself one just to write this blog!

Picture
So, if you want an innovative, uncomplicated, safe, well designed way to make a single cup of great 'Pour-over' coffee, I would say look no further than this little beauty.

Shop Now
0 Comments

Coffee & spice and all things nice ...

10/11/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture

​As the famous advert whispers “the holidays are coming, the holidays are coming....” and it’s true, the festive season will be on us before we know it. So that got me thinking about festive flavours and coffee.

Now any self-respecting qualified roaster usually shudders at the phrase ‘flavoured coffee’. That is because it usually brings to mind poor quality coffee with unhealthy and unnatural ingredients.

Well it doesn’t have to be that way. So a while ago I set off experimenting to determine how I could create something that has a great flavour, respects the delicate nature of speciality roast coffee and is natural.
I started off with good quality syrups, but found that the amount of syrup required to get a good flavour was adding far more sugar to the drink than was good, and was difficult to grind.  So what if I could find a great flavour without the sugar, whilst using just natural ingredients. Say hello to whole spices!

The spirit of Christmas (and mulled wine) is summed up in a few key spices.... cinnamon, star anise and cloves..

By grinding the whole spices directly with fresh roast coffee The Garden Roastery Whole Spiced Coffee Collection was born. Launching with two varieties - Cinnamon and Christmas Spices.
Picture
The Garden Roastery Whole Spiced Coffee in Bags, Tins & Gifts .........Click to Order
Whole Spiced coffees are available in The Garden Roastery bags, tins and gifts sets.

At the roastery, I prepare the flavoured coffees separately to single origins.  I use my new Wilfa Grinder, which, as with my Drogheria Eureka grinder, the Wilfa can be set for the appropriate  grind size for whichever brew method you prefer.
​
Picture
The Garden Roastery Whole Spiced coffees are available now. Order on line and we will post them direct to your door. Alternatively, local customers can collect from the Roastery at a pre-agreed time, once the fresh roast coffee has been prepared.

Wishing all my customers a happy and healthy festive season.  Happy holidays..
Lisa
SCA Certified Roaster (and coffee geek...)
0 Comments

coffee Giving something back...

23/9/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
So this blog may well be a little more serious than usual, and for good reason.  Sadly, I have, like so many other people, experienced cancer as a family member.   Including the indescribable, personal and unique journey that creates, not only for the individual but also for their loved ones.  In both my personal life, and through various roles, I have seen first hand the support that cancer charities can provide.  Whether through nurses and carers, or providing support and information to the individual and their family through the most difficult of times.

So, it seems only fitting that someone who runs a coffee business should support the World's Biggest Coffee Morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.  

100% of the profits from orders placed for The Garden Roastery coffee bags and coffee tins between 28th September and 6th October will be donated to this worthy cause.  Just place your order through the button below and I will send it straight to your door.

Purchase Coffee to Support Macmillan
The Garden Roastery will be donating the coffee for the World's Biggest Coffee Morning to be held by my friends at LKHair Bromsgrove on 5th & 6th October 2018.  Thanks to Karen and Lou for organising that.
​​
Picture
Picture
So, whether you have experienced cancer, or been lucky enough not to, we'd love to provide you with some great coffee and help a worthy cause at the same time.  

Thank you so much for reading this blog....

Lisa x 
Picture
 

​This one's for you Dad xxx. .......


0 Comments

Back to basics - brewing...cafetiere / french press

28/7/2018

0 Comments

 
I often get asked about different ways to brew coffee. So once you’ve chosen which beans you like, and whether you prefer a lighter or darker roast, how are you going to make your drink? So in this series of short blogs I’m going to take those new to coffee through some of the absolute brewing basics. This time it’s the turn of the good old Cafetière or French Press .....
Picture
Brewing In a Cafetière / French Press

How much coffee to use?
Use 1.5 to 2 tablespoons of ground coffee per small coffee cup
For a 3 cup cafetière, I use 4 to 5 tablespoons of coffee
For an 8 cup cafetière, I use 11 to 15 tablespoons of coffee

Grind Size?
The coarseness of your coffee grind is really important. Every brewing method extracts flavour differently. So for a Cafetière use coarse ground coffee. At The Garden Roastery our Eureka grinder can be set to all levels. So just let us know how you brew when you order your coffee, and we’ll give you the perfect grind.

Preparation
Boil your kettle, 94 degrees is good for cafetière brewing so let the water cool a little. You can pre-warm the pot, but it’s not essential and remember that will affect your brewing temperature.

Here we go...
Add your coffee to the pot. Pour over the water to just cover the grounds. Leave for 30 seconds to ‘bloom’. Then fill the pot, leaving enough room to place the plunger on top.

Wait 4 minutes....... then plunge, slow and steady.

Your coffee is ready to enjoy.

Take some time to experiment, to make the perfect cup of coffee, just how you like it. These are just guidelines .. #yourcoffeeyourway.


Picture
Picture
Picture
If you fancy brewing your coffee in a Cafetière, but don’t have one, check out the gift sets in The Garden Roastery shop.
Shop For Cafetières
0 Comments

Roasting day

21/7/2018

0 Comments

 
So it's roasting day.  This is how we do it at a micro-roastery....
0 Comments

Back to basics...

8/7/2018

0 Comments

 

So I’ve taken a bit of time out over the last few weeks, and it’s got me to thinking. I set up the Garden Roastery after I became increasingly interested in speciality coffee, I learnt a lot, and I am still learning. But before all that training and developing my knowledge, what did I know? I knew that I loved coffee, I was fascinated by the hundreds of ways that you could make and drink it, but I didn’t know the difference between a latte and a flat white, the difference between commodity coffee and speciality, and I’d certainly never heard of an aeropress! I guess that is the same for the majority of folks, so I’ve decided over the next few blogs to write about some of those things. I make speciality roast coffee in a micro-roastery, and I want people to not only be able to drink my coffee, but to know how to make it the way they like it #yourcoffeeyourtime, so let’s learn about coffee together...
#yourcoffeeyourtime

Hey coffee lovers, add a comment to the blog if you have any questions or interest areas, and I will try to include these in future blogs... e.g. ways to brew your roast coffee, what’s the best grind size to use? when do you press the plunger in your cafetière? how much coffee should you use?....


0 Comments

Your coffee, your time....

28/5/2018

0 Comments

 
I've been wondering for a while what led me on this journey to becoming a coffee roaster, and it finally dawned on me.  I have had a passion for coffee for a long time, but what was the original attraction?  Nowadays coffee is available 24/7, in many formats and locations, good quality and bad.  The industry is in it's 5th wave, with coffee shops in the daytime, that become pop-up bars at night.  But when I started working in my 20's there was a lot less choice.  The first branded coffee stores were starting to appear on the high street and I could barely walk past one without wanting to pop-in.  With their shiny espresso machines, dim lighting and promise of a a few moments of watching the outside world tick by while I drank my coffee - my coffee, my time.  I was hooked!  That was it......the ability to stop time.  In those days the coffee wasn't great, and the service was patchy, but I still loved the relaxed experience of squishy sofas, newspapers and chilled music, while other people's lives rushed by.

Life moves pretty fast.  If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it

​Over the years since, the choice and quality of coffee has improved, and you can decide when you take your coffee time-out.  A coffee shop, a meeting place, a bar, or at home.  The speciality coffee industry has been developing since the 1970s, focusing on the whole process from farm to cup, developing the best way to roast and extract coffee, to give you the taste and feel that is personal to you.

When I was lucky enough to be given the gift of a barista training course for my 40th birthday, I loved it, but what surprised me the most was how fascinating I found the science of the development of the coffee beans themselves.  Being a 'people' person it was an unusual interest for me.  So, that's where it started.... and from then basic and more advanced roasting training followed.  I now understand much more about the science, and I am lucky enough to run my own micro-roastery.  But every day is a school day and I continue to develop the taste of coffee that works for me, my friends and my customers, to give them their coffee-time, just how they like it.

In the words of Ferris Bueller "Life moves pretty fast.  If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it"
0 Comments
Forward>>

    Author

    Lisa - Roaster by Passion

    Picture

    Topics

    All
    Back To Basics
    Brewing
    Cafetiere
    Charity Support
    Christmas
    Flavoured Coffee
    General Ramblings
    Pour Over
    Recipes

    Archives

    April 2023
    March 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    December 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    April 2019
    November 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About
  • Shop
    • Coffee
    • Coffee Subscriptions
    • Christmas Shop >
      • Merchandise
    • Accessories & Gifts
    • Sale
    • Sweet Additions
    • Gift Cards
  • Ramblings of a Roaster
  • Videos
  • Info & Contact