Dave Crankhouse Coffee Exeter
How was the Roastery founded, what was the inspiration?

I started working in coffee in 2012 on my return from 15 years in Australia. I’d witnessed the growth in speciality shops and café-roasteries and had this deep down feeling that it was something I wanted to be involved in. I bought a small home roaster, started roasting for me and some friends. I went to see Monmouth Coffee for a days espresso training and spent an hour with their head roaster. The head green buyer told me to go and buy a 5kg roaster and GO FOR IT !

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

The variety of challenges. No day is the same. New coffees, profiling, sampling, cupping, doing all the mundane mindless stuff like packing and printing labels etc but then you get a visitor who tells you they got interested in speciality coffee because of a natural Guji they had from Crankhouse two years before!

What's your proudest accomplishment?

Starting a business and keeping it running. I’ve just taken on my first employee which is scary but also makes me realise I’m now giving an opportunity to someone else.

What three words best describe your Roastery?

Idyllic - Remote - Cool

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

On holiday with my wife. It’s not just about the taste but the complete experience. It could be a delicate Ethiopian washed Yirgacheffe on filter or a boozy espresso of a natural from Panama. 

Finally, what Dog & Hat combination would you choose?

Schnauzer in a Panama.