Ask the Roaster - Sam from Old Spike

 

How was the Roastery founded, what was the inspiration?

The inspiration for starting the roastery came after spending three years living in Brooklyn, NY and visiting the original Blue Bottle cafe and roastery. It was the first time I realised there was a world beyond Starbucks and Costa Coffee - the only coffee experience I knew when I left the UK in 2008. Upon moving back to London, Old Spike launched in 2015 initially as a cafe & roastery space which has now morphed into a much bigger online and wholesale business supplying speciality coffee around the UK. What makes us different to other roasters out there is that we felt it really important that the company was more than just coffee - we set up as a not for profit, social enterprise training and employing the homeless across all different facets of the business. I think businesses all have a responsibility to give back and become more than just the sum of the product / service they sell.

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

Having the chance to taste fascinating coffees with amazing stories behind each of them, and being able to share that with so many people.

What's your proudest accomplishment?

To me, it is the idea that what I do can make a difference to somebody. Old Spike's mission is to help reduce homelessness through speciality coffee and I'm proud to be part of that.

What three words best describe your Roastery?

Quality - Impact - Approachable.

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

I love drinking a brew in the morning while reading the news to start the day. It’s a bit of self preparation before I switch on.  I used to be very selective with which coffee to drink, but at this point, I really enjoy a variety from the most complex and fruit driven coffees, to the more sweet and comforting ones. 

Finally, what Dog & Hat combination would you choose?

A Dachshund in a Beanie!