The Coffee Life

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Interviewing The Coffee Industry - Stephen Houston

16 Dec 2020

Today's lovely guest on Interviewing The Coffee Industry is Stephen, Head Roaster of Bailies Coffee and a Champion(!!!!) of a lot of things!

How are you?

Hi! I am doing as well as I can given the current situation, thankful that my family and friends are safe and healthy and I can still work my normal job and hours!

Where do you work and what is your role?

I work for Bailies Coffee Roasters based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. I am the Head Roaster and I've been here for just over 6 years.

How has Coronavirus affected your job?

It has changed quite a lot in our company over all, the start of Lockdown (March) we went from a 40 strong workforce to around 10-12 with everyone being furloughed. Myself and our production manager were in fact the only staff in our building during those first 12 weeks, the rest were WFH. We had to make a few changes to how we worked, making things more efficient and multiskilling as much as possible. There was a big dip in production, dropping a huge amount of wholesale, but then a big increase in online retail sales. So we were able to maintain good volumes and as the summer came in, started to be able to bring more staff back as demand increased. Unfortunately over the last few months we have had to loose a number of staff and made some changes to some departments working hours but as a company we have survived, learnt a lot and continued to grow as the year comes to an end.

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in The Coffee Industry through 2020?

I'd say as a company (and I'd say most companies), was trying to pivot and rethink how you do things, whether it meant furloughing most of your staff, loosing wholesale customers and navigating into the unknown has come with a lot of worries and uncertainties. We were not only worried about our end customers coffee shops etc. But also our producers that we have our direct relationships with, how much coffee we would be able to buy and how hat effects them at origin.

I think everyone struggled a little to comprehend what was happening, with a usual year filled with events, shows and competitions, going to a mainly take away industry and not seeing people was a big challenge, but it made us and myself find new ways to engage and stay connected with the coffee community and build on connections and relationships we have made over the years, in fact I feel probably more connected with coffee friends as a result!

How have you felt about the Coffee Industry this year?

I still feel the same way, I still love what I do as a roaster and coffee professional, my passion for all things from green coffee right through to brewing is still strong. As I mentioned previously, I have made sure to stay busy and connected with the coffee industry, whether it is through online meets, Instagram lives, online/remote competitions or just even messaging and calling people I would have usually had a catch up with at trade shows. There are plenty of people who need a shout out too.

@somepeoplelikecoffee did a great series on Instagram lives to keep us all connected and entertained, @thekoredirective for their weekly chats and the amazing work they do to promote diversity, equality, equity and making a safe space for everyone, @thebaristaleague for the effort of putting on an online competition and involving a larger spread of competitors from all over the world.

So yeah as much negative and difficult challenges we have all faced, this industry has shown that we do care about each other and that there are plenty of ways to stay connected and together through all this.

What is something you've missed in The Coffee Industry in 2020?

I suppose it's been the trade shows and competitions, they're usually the highlights of my year, getting to hang out with people. Travelling around the world, meeting new people, discovering new coffees and products. But saying that, I still feel I managed to stay well connected with the industry and kept myself positive and busy!

How has Coronavirus/Lockdown affected your Mental Health?

It's been ups and downs, I'd always like to think I'm pretty mentally strong and able to find ways to look at situations calmly and rationally, but for sure (probably like everyone) when the first Lockdown happened and things at the start were so uncertain, it did challenge my mind quite a bit, I was lucky that I was able to work and it was very busy so it was a good distraction, but in my home life, my wife and I were expecting our first baby, so it was scary to have all the uncertainties on top of navigating of having a baby in the middle of a pandemic! We managed to stay positive and excited that we were going to have a baby and it sure helped me remain hopeful and positive. Also being able to stay connected with friends and family was a good positive throughout all this, social media, zoom etc has really helped, as I really made the effort to keep in contact with people or to take the time to just talk and connect with people.

What are you looking forward to in 2021?

Well hopefully another year of being able to do my dream job and stay connected and relevant in the industry. I am hopeful that we will be able to hang out again in person in 2021, have some coffee and get back to how things were! But will still keep up with more accessible online events/projects alongside this. It's a great way to reach out to more people and involve both old and new members of the community!

Find Stephen

Instagram - Click Here

Bailies Instagram - Click Here

Bailies Website - Click Here

Or you can show your support by "buying me a coffee" for just $3

Shop the coffee life co - A store for reusing coffee grounds

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Interviewing The Coffee Industry - Grant Poole-Adams

15 Dec 2020

Today's post on Interviewing The Coffee Industry is the lovely Grant from COFFEEwithGPA. Grant is a lovely guy, and The Coffee Life has been mentioned in his YouTube videos (watch here!)

How are you?

I'm doing ok! It has been an odd year with a huge amount of change that was immensely overwhelming to begin with, but as with all change, it brings adaptations. I think it has highlighted the need for all of us to look out or one another and be a pillar of support across he board, we are all in this together, I think it has been the biggest awakening to the fact that we all need one an other!

What do you do for a living?

I changed careers in January of this year and now work in commercial finance and creative marketing (yes all in one place) but I have spent all of my working life in the design industry going Graphic Design, Photography and Videography. For about 6 years until 2020, I also worked as a Creative Pro for Apple.

In terms of the Coffee Industry, how long have you been involved and what do you do?

It started by accident for me, I was sat on a beach in Mexico trying to find a new creative venture to help give me something to focus on and bring me out of my shell a bit, that was back in 2018, I contacted one of my favourite brands at the time and managed to get some support from Maxwell (Colonna-Dashwood) to start my review blog. A year later, a widely know tech Youtuber in Wales peer pressured me into creating a YouTube review channel... It was all down-hill from there, haha!

How has Coronavirus affected you during 2020?

I was starting something brand new to me this year and when Covid hit, my role changed completely, then changed again when we left lockdown for the first time. I have always had work throughout which I am eternally grateful for as I know many did not have the privilege. But it certainly shook my foundations. It was a tough time with very tough conversations though!

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in the industry this year?

Aligning my focus and carrying on! COFFEEwithGPA was a big love for me and then once Covid hit, I had to put so much emotional energy into work that for a time, I lost my love for it completely. It is only now that I am starting to get back on track! That was quite a sad time for me, to lose a love that I once had so strongly!

How have you felt about the Coffee Industry this year?

I have felt so bad for everyone, but equally so impressed. The brands that I love the most, I would say have given me reason to love them even more and it has given me a whole new appreciation for the craftmanship that goes into the equipment, the products and the ethos behind those companies. I have only had the chance to visit one or two coffee shops this year, all of my connections have been roaster side, but wow, what an incredibly talented and resilient group of people they are!

What is something you have missed in the Coffee Industry in 2020?

The buzz around the summer festivals and obviously The London Coffee Festival, but also the ability to get out and explore coffee from around the world. With travel all but halted this year, I've missed the exploration and excitement of journeying to find something amazing.

How has Coronavirus/Lockdown affected your Mental Health?

For me, it has been a rebuilding process. My day to day changed so much that if I'm honest, I lost my way a huge amount earlier this year along with several challenges that took it right out of me. But, with some amazing support, it has given me a scope to rebuild. It's a good and needed feeling.

What are you looking forward to in 2021?

Travel. I miss the travel and the freedom to move. Even though I am happy to be away from all the crowds of modern life, I do also miss seeing the people that shape my life, and my family, hopefully next year we can look back on this and laugh... well, look back and smile that we got through it at least!

Find Grant!

Instagram - Click Here

YouTube - Click Here

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Shop the coffee life co - A store for reusing coffee grounds

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Interviewing The Coffee Industry - Patrick Cotter

14 Dec 2020

We had a slight unexpected hiatus on Interviewing The Coffee Industry, however we are back with daily posts!

Today we are talking to Patrick, someone who I have followed on Instagram for what I feel like is years. Find out what he says below!

How are you?

I’m good to be honest, I’m lucky enough to be doing the same as I was always doing in my life during this pandemic, I still work only there's a change of careers, brew a lot of coffee at home, watch Netflix while sitting on the sofa with my 4 dogs. I thought 2020 was going to be bad by turning 30 so this pandemic makes turning 30 very small ha.

Where do you work and what is your role?

I started working in the local coffee roastery as a roastery assistant at the start of may this year which was probably the biggest decision/risk I have ever taken as I was leaving a 10 year full time job in an ice cream factory as a head production operator that was depressing, cold and the days dragged out as you would start at 6am and be lucky to finish for 4pm but the job was very safe guaranteed a “job for life” and wages every week, so then on a Sunday I received a DM on Instagram from the local roastery if I was interested in the role as a roastery assistant which I took and started working there the following week slightly frighten as when I started there was near enough zero cafés in Ireland open fairly sure our own café was the only café open for takeaway in Cork city but there was over 100 online orders to keep us busy, now thankfully these days even though we are back in lockdown I can relax because all out wholesale customers are back open as they made upgrades to serve as takeaway cafes and the online sales are fairly solid now as most people have now gotten use to making coffee at home, I could only imagine the profits aeropress are going to make buy the end of the year haha,

How has coronavirus affected your job (furlough, redundancies etc)

I think I am one of very few that coronavirus has actually turned my life around 360 but in a good way change of career and actually looking forward to work I think most of my family & get sick of me saying that I actually don’t see it was a job because I enjoy it so much.

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in the coffee industry through 2020?

Getting to grips with the amount of detail there is in the coffee industry full stop, when I was in my last job I would be doing quality tasting of the ice cream so I would have been fairly confident with my palette for taste then on Wednesdays we cup coffees and I get nothing only the taste of “coffee” thankfully the head roaster is retraining my palette but that is my biggest challenge I am still working on.

How have you felt about the Coffee Industry this year?

I only said it the other day this pandemic is after showing who is actually nice and who is acting nice in the coffee industry lucky though the mass majority of the coffee industry are really nice encouraging genuine people but those one or two have shown what they really think of there staff.

What is something you’ve missed in the coffee industry in 2020?

Festivals I was supposed to go to London coffee festival this year cancelled, events like local competitions brewers cup, aeropress, barista comps but then thing I miss the much is exploring new cafes just the simple thing of sitting down in a café just relaxing watching the world go by.

How has coronavirus/being out of work/lockdown affected your mental health?

It has being a blessing for my mental health in the change of career during the lockdown.

What are you looking forward to in 2021?

Exploring cafes, going to comps, finally going to London coffee festival and looking into setting up my own little single origin coffee cart.

Find Patrick

Instagram - Click Here

Or you can show your support by "buying me a coffee" for just $3

Shop the coffee life co - A store for reusing coffee grounds

Get in touch via email

Interviewing The Coffee Industry - Jess Palmer

9 Dec 2020

Today on Interviewing The Coffee Industry, we introduce Jess Palmer, who unfortunately due to Covid, lost her job in the industry, but since then has bounced back by amazingly becoming a freelancer.

How are you?

Right now I’m really good. Throughout the year I’ve been really up & down so my answer could literally be a complete 180 flip from day to day. I think that’s fairly normal for a lot of people this year so I’m just rolling with the punches; being productive on the good days & not beating myself up too much if I’m having a bad one.

Where do you work and what is your role?

At the beginning of the year I was an account manager for a coffee company. We supplied wholesale coffee & equipment to hotels, cafes, leisure centres – all the places that had to close due to Covid! I had been there for a few years & worked my way through various roles, including customer service, maintenance co-ordinator, barista trainer, in-house PR….. I wore a lot of hats over my time there but was really enjoying my role as account manager which I started in January. Sadly in March I was furloughed & subsequently made redundant.

So I have used the enforced down-time to set myself up as a full-time freelance writer. I launched my company Neon Content & Copy in September. I offer writing of blogs, articles, website copy, product descriptions etc as well as social media management, courses & content creation. At the moment a lot of businesses are limited to what they can achieve through online sales and communications so I’m helping them to up their game & up their sales too!

How has coronavirus affected your job

I started working from home in March & then was furloughed pretty rapidly after that. It was a time of really high anxiety for me as I knew my Account Manager role was not ‘essential’ to a company facing drastically reduced turnover, as pretty much all hospitality ceased trading. I really struggled at first as I am enormously work-focused and take a lot of pride & affirmation in productivity. Adjusting from working full-time + having my freelance side-hustle to having almost nothing to do was such a shock to the system. I literally didn’t know what to do with myself!

Once the (redundancy) hammer finally fell it was almost a relief as it meant I had something to focus on again – either finding a new job or following my freelance dream.

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in the coffee industry through 2020?

Keeping my job & paying the bills! :-D

How have you felt about the Coffee Industry this year?

So proud of all my colleagues, peers and fellow coffee-professionals. It’s been such a difficult time & our industry has been battered by blow after blow of restrictions, uncertainty, trade drop-off and challenges to our livelihoods & the ‘usual’ way of doing things. I’ve been in awe watching companies come out fighting each time, the resilience, adaptability & ingenuity shown is such a huge positive to acknowledge. I have LOVED seeing the support we all have for each other, how people are reaching out, offering whatever they can to keep others’ spirits up & nurture a genuine camaraderie amongst people who are all experiencing the same storm.

What is something you’ve missed in the coffee industry in 2020?

Café culture! I love idling away time in a coffee shop, watching the world go by & feeling the buzz of a busy café. Especially now, when I’m working from home full time; I find myself desperate to take my laptop out to a café, sit in the corner & tap away, absorbing the atmosphere.

How has coronavirus/being out of work/lockdown affected your mental health?

Oh man, it’s been a ride! At the start of lockdown I was super-anxious. I struggled enormously with a sense of futility in terms of the bigger, worldwide picture but also how my own little sphere of existence was affected.

Whenever I’m going through something emotional my fall-back is to make myself busier – it’s how I usually cope! During the first few months I remodelled my garden, I walked, did DIY, took up embroidery, yoga, jigsaw puzzles, started learning guitar, baked, joined a volunteering group, wrote blogs & developed recipes, read books (including actual War & Peace). I did everything I could to keep busy. These bursts of activity were interspersed with some days where I was so lethargic I just couldn’t get out of bed. It wasn’t a fool-proof coping strategy clearly!

Once I was made redundant the nervous energy gave way to sadness, understandably, but also a kind of release, my worst-case scenario had come true so at least I didn’t need to worry about that anymore. I gave myself ‘permission’ to be sad for a week, but in reality I probably had about 3 or 4 weeks where I was really very down. But I needed time to process and re-group.

Now I am trying to be a bit more balanced & set a routine where I have both activity & self care planned in every day, rather than just trying to outrun my feelings & inevitably crashing. I love having my new business to focus on, and using my skills to support independent companies through this challenging time is great to give me a sense of achievement & efficacy again.

Keeping in touch with friends and family every day has been the most useful thing for keeping my spirits up. Some days it’s hard not having the support of colleagues, trying to forge my way as a freelancer. But having a little group of whatsapp cheerleaders who are invested in my success & wellbeing is so empowering!

What are you looking forward to in 2021?

I’m looking forward to growing my business and bringing on board more hospitality & coffee-related clients. At the moment I write about everything & anything which is a brilliant challenge in terms of developing my subject knowledge. However, I’m looking forward to networking a bit more (probably remotely, let’s be honest) and focusing more on what I know best. I have a few coffee-industry clients I’m currently working with and it’s dreamy! To sit down & tap out articles and content that I feel so passionately about – more of this please!

In terms of the coffee-industry in general: I’m looking forward to seeing more of how we adapt to the longer-term reality of Covid. My home espresso machine seemed like an extravagant purchase a year ago but the routine & comforting ‘normality’ of starting my day with an oat flat white, like I did when I was working, has been vital for me this year. As such I’ve been buying most of my coffee online. But now I miss the conversations that spring up when you’re out in cafés, I miss going out for brunch at the weekend and planning dog-walks based on where we can stop for a decent coffee afterwards. I’m looking forward to the coffee industry becoming more about joy again, and less about survival.

Find Jess

Instagram - Click Here

Neon Content Website - Click Here

Neon Content Instagram - Click Here

Or you can show your support by "buying me a coffee" for just $3

Shop the coffee life co - A store for reusing coffee grounds