FOOD & DR INK
“It’s mostly to do with the origin of the coffee and the quality of the coffee,” Justin agrees, “and what I’m trying to do with the roasting is harnessing the flavour that’s already inherent within the coffee, and to present that in the best way possible.” The Hot Numbers team’s enthusiasm and eagerness to share knowledge, coupled with the high-spec surroundings, will make the roastery a must-visit for anyone even fleetingly interested in the process of transforming a green coffee bean into a shot of espresso. Though the paint was still wet and tradespeople were hard at work, the building already felt as welcoming as the other branches of Hot Numbers: almost certainly down to the coffee shops ever-present jazz soundtrack – and a few familiar faces on the walls. “These black and white charcoal portraits have become a talisman for the
“If you start with a good product, you can’t go wrong”
business,” Lucas explains. “When we opened our first cafe, they were up on the walls: then when we opened the second cafe, they went there, and now they’re here. And we’ll always have jazz playing.” And for Simon, a few new additions to his team of around 45 – as well as the creation of a new workshop at the roastery – means he’ll be able to get back to what he loves: tinkering with machines, thinking more strategically about the coffee that’s become his life’s work and
continuing his charmingly understated yet hugely successful approach to building a strong food business. “We’ve never shouted much, we’ve just done it – so we’re hoping that the new visibility of the roastery and our investment will help draw people here,” he says. “This is hopefully enough now – so I can concentrate on it, and enjoy it.” l Hot Numbers Roastery at Wrights Mowers Dunsbridge Turnpike, Royston hotnumberscoffee.co.uk
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