Causeway Coffee roasters now tasting success abroad

Graham, a founder of Causeway Coffee in Bushmills, Co Antrim, says: “It’s really inspiring and exciting to think our locally roasted coffee is now attracting attention from outside Northern Ireland. Selling our coffee to the US, surely the home of coffee and the biggest market for the product, is immensely encouraging and a great demonstration of its potential here and abroad.”

Export approaches were registered on the company’s website and also came from several parts of Europe.

“Consumer awareness outside Northern Ireland of our range of coffees especially our Aoife blend which won a gold medal for superb quality and outstanding flavours in the recent Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards, is growing steadily,” he adds. “Our success at Blas has also raised our profile in the Irish Republic and should lead to new business there.”

Graham, originally from Derry, and business partner Chris McDaid rom Coleraine, both aficionados of great tasting coffee, decided to set up the small batch roaster in 2018 with the aim of producing speciality coffees. They first met over regular cups of coffee. Graham, who spent 25 years in IT management in London, had returned to Northern Ireland to care or his ill mother.

Chris is a community nurse employed by the family to help Graham in caring for this mother. Invariably, the handover briefings always involved coffee…usually more than one! The discussions led to consideration about how they could improve the coffee they been experiencing here.

A research project into the coffee business, beans and roasting techniques followed.

“We approached family, friends and other people in an effort to find out about the coffee they used and what they thought about it especially in terms of taste. We wanted people to appreciate good coffee for its taste and not just as a routine drink,” Graham continues. “We quickly learned that the difference between a good coffee and a regular one is like night and day. It’s often between freshly ground quality coffee and stale coffee that might have been on a supermarket shelf for months. It wasn’t about being pretentious or fancy or judging other coffee drinks by being able to taste a hint of chocolate or a trace of caramel.”

The research convinced them they could produce excellent coffee which local people would love and keep on buying to brew at home.

The company’s focus is on small batch coffee from the best ethically sourced beans which are then carefully roasted to ensure rich flavours. “It’s amazing how brewing good coffee with just a simple cafetiere and some specific instructions can transform the taste. Enjoying great coffee at home doesn’t require any particular expertise or talent,” he explains. “This is why we include brew guides with our products to help consumers enjoy the magic of great coffee sourced from ethical growers in countries such Colombia, Kenya and Ethiopia.”

The enterprising duo chose the Causeway Coffee identity to reflect the location of the business on Northern Ireland’s picturesque north coast and close to the iconic Giant’s Causeway. While Chris is responsible for the roasting and production, Graham is focused on sales and marketing and has been successful in gaining listings in many delis and smaller retailers here and especially among coffee lovers around the developing good food hub of the Causeway Coast. Several coffee shops have signed up for their products, a market segment Graham is particularly keen to grow. He also has his eyes set on exporting to markets such as the Republic of Ireland and hopes that the recent gold won at the Blas awards will lead to business there. All the coffee blends have also been given an Irish identity with names such as Aoife, Oonagh, Ciara and Cuileann.

In addition to growing sales of the premium coffee blends, Graham and Chris are also planning to set up a training academy as a social enterprise. The aim of the academy will be to help disadvantaged youngsters learn all about coffee and on developing a range of skills including as baristas.

“It’ll be our way to giving back to the Causeway community which is supporting our small business venture,” Graham continues. “Coffee is a dynamic and growing sector with opportunities for young people in particular to gain key skills and worthwhile employment. The academy should be up and running next year.”

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