Ask the Roaster - Dan from Chimney Fire Coffee

How was the Roastery founded, what was the inspiration?

I previously worked in coffee and cocoa traceability and fell in love with coffee at origin when tasting some amazing winey Kenyan coffee, which was unlike anything I’d tasted before! I started small – roasting from a shed part-time before launching Chimney Fire in 2017.

What's your favourite part about working at the Roastery?

Working with a passionate, like-minded team (we even have a running club – if anyone’s local please drop us a line and get involved). Everyday is different.

What's your proudest accomplishment?

Forming a charity partnership with Re-Cycle, donating 25p / 250g & £1 / kg of all Discovery Coffee sales to support their work across Africa. We’ve donated over £3,000 to the charity to date, which has enabled over 100 bikes plus spare parts to be recycled from the UK and shipped to rural communities in Ghana, The Gambia, Zambia and South Africa.

What three words best describe your Roastery?

Accessible - Sustainable - Passionate.

What’s your favourite place to enjoy a coffee, and what coffee would that be?

A CF Brazil Signature flat white on a Sunday morning at home. It’s probably the team’s favourite – plenty of melted snickers going on. 

What’s is your favourite snack or treat to have to accompany your coffee?

Our neighbour Mary trades coffee for fresh eggs from her hen’s. She often also treats us to some freshly baked banana bread – lots of goodness plus lots of potassium to bring down those caffeine levels.

What would you drink if there was no coffee?

Probably hot chocolate buttons - these have been extremely popular lately in the office! Or a hot toddy.

What is your favourite tasting notes to find in coffee?

I swing from chocolate & nutty to winey & fruity depending on how I’m feeling. As a starting point, I’ll often look for a clean natural Brazil or a high grown washed Kenyan for these types of flavour profiles.

Where would you recommend for food and drink in your local area?

Four Leaf Coffee in Richmond pours our Peru to perfection. Big Smoke, a local craft brewery have several pubs across Surrey and London – great ribs & beers.

Finally, what Dog & Hat combination would you choose?

Hands down a Goldendoodle in a flat cap! Sam (our Relationship Manager) has a doggo called Barkley who is a favourite here at the Roastery.