Home-roasted coffee in demand at city cafe
Unexpected upturn in custom after side project expanded in lockdown
MOST people enjoy at least one steaming hot cup of coffee a day but ever since the coronavirus lockdown forced cafes to close their doors aficionados have had to make their own brews.
This has given one small Portsmouth business an unexpected upturn in custom, which its owner hopes will help it survive the tricky times.
Canvas Coffee, an awardwinning social enterprise and speciality coffee shop at Portsmouth and Southsea train station, originally began to roast its own blend on days when the shop was closed.
Since lockdown has forced its temporary closure, owner Pravin Isram has used the time to perfect a roasting technique – and his produce has been snapped up by thirsty customers.
Pravin, from Southsea, said: ‘Sunday Coffee Roasters has been a side project I started five years ago, a year after starting Canvas Coffee.
‘I wanted to learn more about coffee so decided to do a course then I jumped in with both feet and bought a 2.4kg coffee roaster and put it in a back kitchen at Canvas and began roasting on a Sunday when the shop was closed.
‘We began exclusively selling the coffee at Canvas and it’s become quite popular. We set up a website and have been selling online.
‘Since the lockdown we’ve had to close Canvas Coffee but have seen a significant increase in online sales.
‘If I can get more people to buy our coffee and shop local, it is more likely that I can start a roastery and keep people employed.’
Canvas Coffee is offering free delivery on orders of more than £15.
For more go to canvascoffee.co.uk. Enter FREEDEL1VERY at checkout.