As the Cardiff coffee scene expands, a new festival dedicated to the craft hits the city this month. From coffee shops’ rising popularity to the challenges independent businesses are having to tackle, Cardiff Coffee Festival organiser Jon White gives Emily Gillbard the lowdown on all things caffeinated in Wales.
Rich, bold, concentrated: the scent of espresso is not only instantly recognisable but deeply loved across the globe. Gone are the days of instant coffee and mass-produced blends, specialty coffee is all the rage now. But Wales has found itself on the precipice of something exciting. Following in the footsteps of London and Bristol, the Cardiff Coffee Festival – debuting this month at Insole Court, and fully booked weeks in advance – is a culmination of all things coffee and café culture in Wales.
The independent coffee scene in Cardiff is thriving. “The standard is so much higher than it’s ever been,” says Jon White, the brains behind the Cardiff Coffee Festival. “I think the skillsets in Cardiff are incredible. People are enjoying what they come out for.”
Coffee knowledge, along with the latte art and roasting skills Cardiff has to offer, have made the capital a hotspot. The proportion of teetotal adults in the UK has risen of late, too; people are finding new ways of socialising that aren’t alcohol-based. “Coffee shops provide that space for people,” Jon suggests.
While coffee shops are growing in popularity, a new host of obstacles are growing alongside them. “It’s really tough out there. The rising cost of staff is a challenge, but it’s something we’ve got to embrace and work with.” Facing increasing supply, energy and labour costs, independent cafés are competing with one another – and, perhaps more pertinently, the Starbucks and Costas of the high street.
“It’s so important to support independent,” Jon claims. “I’d never judge anyone for going for a cheap option, but I would always try and educate to why I would choose something different.”
But whilst these chain branches may offer cheaper coffee, the positives end there – as Jon says, “It’s very difficult to sustain a global chain like Starbucks with truly ethically sourced products.” That’s why it’s important that growers are fairly represented and paid, he adds, and for businesses to be transparent over where they source their coffee. “Understanding true sustainability and ethical sourcing is really important.”
But within this growing sector is a market for much more. “Coffee isn’t the only thing sold in coffee shops anymore,” Jon states. From the brewing and roasting, to the ceramicists who make the mugs and artists who work adorns the walls, Jon hopes the Cardiff Coffee Festival will bring the entire Welsh coffee scene together. Having attended coffee festivals in London and Bristol, he felt “Wales should have something that represents what we do here.” So, he set out on recruiting, in his opinion, “the best roasters in the country. I wanted to give people an idea of what coffee life is like in Wales.”
From panel discussions on ethics and sustainability, to masterclasses on cupping and food pairing and even artwork painted with coffee, the day covers anything and everything to do with coffee and café life. An intimate, culturally-focused event, the day spotlights some of the best roasteries in the country and the people behind their success.
“I want it to be a place where we can chat about what we’re doing and be proud of what we’ve achieved,” says Jon. And for people who might not have particularly engaged with coffee culture before, he hopes the day will “open their eyes to how much is out there. The industry is so large – the more you know, the less you realise you knew.”
Cardiff Coffee Festival, Insole Court, Cardiff, Sun 14 June.
Tickets: £9 (sold out). Info: Instagram
words EMILY GILLBARD
