Ask the Roaster - Dave Jameson from Grumpy Mule

How was the Roastery founded, what was the inspiration?

Grumpy Mule was established in 2006 as an idea to help bring great quality single origin coffees to a wider market through retail sales. Since then it has expanded and grown in to blends and foodservice, but retains the same ethos as it has always had. Sustainable, Traceable, Ethical, 100% Arabica.

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

What percentage of the answers to this question are “the coffee?” It’s true! I can have my pick of some of the best coffees in the world every day, and my morning V60 can take me back to farmers, conversations, hillsides and cupping labs around the world.

What's your proudest accomplishment?

Over the past 7 years, Grumpy Mule coffees have been awarded over 45 Great Taste Award Stars – we think that’s more than any other coffee roaster, and something that we’re really proud of. Personally, I’m also really proud of winning the UK Coffee in Good Spirits Championship twice, and sourcing, roasting coffee and coaching my friend Martin Hudak to winning the World Championship in 2017.

What three words best describe your Roastery?

Yorkshire - Approachable - Speciality

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

Lago Coatepeque in El Salvador, which is a lake in the crater of a dormant volcano. I was making simple coffee cocktails for a group of local coffee farmers from a locally grown red bourbon (El Salvador Las Mercedes) with cane sugar, local rum and lime juice. They were delicious and the farmers loved them.

Finally, what Dog & Hat combination would you choose?

It’s got to be a beagle in a beanie right? (although Liam, my Q Grader says a French Bulldog in a Fedora).