Its more than just about a coffee bean at London Coffee Festival 2019!

I attended the London Coffee Festival for the 2nd year running this weekend –and again, it was absolutely brilliant! Based at the Old Truman Brewery in Shoreditch, it’s the perfect showcase for small business’ and start-ups to attract new customers in a very collaborative environment.  And it’s not just all about coffee! Its for brands linked or ‘loosely’ linked to the coffee industry from take-away cups and tasty snacks all the way to vodka making you coffee a little more stimulating in the morning!

One thing that really struck me as I walked around trying numerous delicious brands of coffee and sampling amazing tasting snack bars was how the coffee industry has really used its platform to help others.

A lovely British rotisserie called Volcano have partnered with Crisis – a UK homeless charity – and together they are helping those finding themselves homeless to get back on their feet. Training them to become baristas, teaching them to cook and ultimately helping them find a job.

I then had the pleasure of meeting the super guys at Redemption Roasters – a charity collaborating with the Ministry of Justice working with young offenders in Aylesbury Prison. They train inmates the skills around roasting, brewing and barista. It is proven that offenders are 50% more likely to reoffend if they leave prison without a skills or qualification to help them find employment.

The coffee industry has always come across to me as a sector that has really invested in CSR and sustainability. It is an industry that has always been and always will be a huge worldwide employer.

I look forward to seeing which industry will be the next to give back to those in need.