Welsh coffee rated with world’s best
ACOFFEE roastery in Wales has been listed among the world’s best places to experience a caffeine kick.
Ammanford’s Coaltown Coffee, which is known for its Black Gold coffee, has featured in Lonely Planet’s new Global Coffee Tour book, along with 15 other UK coffee shops and roasteries.
The roastery, run by 24-year-old Scott James, was praised in the guide for “rejuvenating the town with a different sort of black gold” referencing Ammanford’s mining history.
Scott said it was “incredible” to be featured in the guide, adding: “We were told about a month ago.”
He said: “It’s absolutely amazing to be featured alongside such amazing roasters from across the world.
“I’m getting Wales on the map which is absolutely awesome.
“They contacted us and wanted to interview us, to see what we’re about. They came down, saw the roastery and saw our future plans and asked us if we’d be interested in being featured in the book. It’s an incredible thing to be part of.”
Scott now wants to make coffee a commodity that puts the town on the map, just like coal had been in the past.
Coaltown recently revealed its plans for expansion, which included a larger roasting site, as well as a barista training academy.
From humble beginnings, Scott has now brought his coffee business to new heights. After starting out in his shed with a roaster his dad built, the young businessman is now moving the company to a new, bigger site in Ammanford as of next week.
“The roastery is going to have a 75-kilo roaster and 12-kilo roaster,” Scott explained.
“Around the 12 kilo roaster, we’ve got a bar where you can sit down and interact with the roaster about what we’re developing.
“We’ve also got an espresso bar and an artisan bakery on site.
“Then we’ve got the office space and a training academy upstairs, where we’ll look to employ local people, train them up and get them into the world of coffee - six people a year.”
Coaltown also recently opened a coffee shop on the other side of town. Launching around three months ago, it was initially meant as a pop up - but the coffee shop had become so popular Scott decided to keep it open on a permanent basis.
Travel guide Lonely Planet also uses the new book to advise coffeeloving tourists to seek out Wright’s Food Emporium and Carreg Cennen Castle while in the area.
The UK also boasts a “growing list of top-notch small-batch microroasters”, according to the guide, while Edinburgh, Manchester and London all host major coffee festivals.
The book, which costs £14.99, adds: “The story of coffee is intertwined with the history, economy and culture of so many different countries that to understand it fully requires a coffee tour.”
■ For more details, visit lonelyplanet.com