Ask the Roaster - Henry from Gentlemen Baristas

How was the Roastery founded, what was the inspiration?

We were tired of people telling us what we can or can’t drink. Tired of poor service and people that don’t seem to care about the coffee or the customers. So we founded the GBs as our response, we call it ‘well mannered coffee’.

We also wanted to buy direct from the farmers, to actually create relationships with them. Direct trade from sustainable sources and therefore hand on heart we can say we have traceability.

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

Cupping new coffees, which we do every week as a team.

Also when we invite customers or anyone else to cuppings and hearing their responses to the process.

What's your proudest accomplishment?

Seeing the first bag of green beans with our logo on it.

We were the first in the UK to create a barrel aged coffee with the guys from Bulleit Bourbon. A limited edition espresso and filter roast. Incredibly popular and a huge success!

We won coolest baristas in the uk back in 2015....(ha! ha! ha! We are anything but cool).

Really though it’s probably the good egg card. A card we give to people for good deeds done. Rewarding them with a free coffee for this deed. And why not?

What three words best describe your Roastery?

Well - Mannered - Roastery

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

Sitting on a sack of green beans in the roastery or ideally on the beach looking out to sea!  Probably with our Bowler - single origin Kenyan (Ribena in a cup) or our Tophat our Nicaraguan....depending on my mood; Chemex or aeropress.

Finally, what Dog & Hat combination would you choose?

I think the Pug would be a bit lost in a Sombrero, how about porkpie? Spaniel with a Gatsby! Basically bonkers!