MOVING ON.

“Although we've come, To the end of the road, Still I can't let go”

                             - Boyz 2 Men

Back in 2013 I quit a stable and engaging job to go back to being a barista. I had lofty goals (as we all do I guess?) of “elevating coffee” and providing “a experience akin to high end restaurants”. It was going to be about more formal service alongside exceptional coffee quality.

This lasted about 4 weeks, maybe less. The quality remained, (I’d stack our quality and consistency up against ANYONE, name a cafe in the world and we’ll give them a run for their money) but I’d forgotten about how shops are a reflection of who runs them, and if you know me then you know that I’m not formal.

Fast forward 6 years and this speciality coffee Cheers (I’m Coach btw) has become a place I’m immensely proud of, a place that develops people as much as its develops careers, a place that is open and accessible to all, a place that is an integral part of its community.

I’ve given it a lot, but as much as I’ve done for it, it’s done more for me. It’s given me the time to contribute on a wider scale, through it I’ve written a book, been on podcasts, trained 100’s of people and met, worked and become friends with some wonderful humans.

But now it’s done, not the shop I’ll still own it, but after today I’ll no longer be a full time Barista. Why so melancholy? It’s what drew me into coffee, I love being a barista, every single part of it and i’ll miss it when its gone. Some open a shop aiming to step away from the bar as soon as possible, that was never my goal. I wanted to be there , it gave me confidence and it was, well, it was just

right.

Two years ago I wrote the FCP will die when I move on, and It will. It will change now that I’m not there everyday, subtly i’m sure, but enough that I’ll know it’s not entirely mine anymore. Surprisingly I’m okay with that, I’m ready to pass it on and to mentor The new manager ( who will become my business partner in due course) and for them to put their stamp on it, to be honest I’m excited to see what happens.

And me? I’m off to sell green coffee. As of April i’ll be working on in the UK for Raw Materials, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.