CRISP. caught up with Stuart Wilson of Lost Sheep Coffee to talk about the brand, roasting beans and Crowdfunding.
For our readers who don’t yet know about Lost Sheep Coffee can you tell us about who you are?
We are a speciality coffee roastery in Kent. The entire range is hand roasted in house, for superior freshness and flavour. We are known for our eco-credentials and quality coffee. The range includes whole bean, course ground and smooth ground coffee, as well as our famous compostable Nespresso-compatible capsules.
Lost Sheep Coffee started with myself, Stuart Wilson, in a micro-van in Canterbury High Street in 2012, after gathering a loyal following a second location was opened at Ashford’s McArthur Glen Designer Outlet. Lost Sheep Coffee has grown and grown and can now also be purchased online at www.lostsheepcoffee.com, through independent shops throughout Kent and in selected Morissons stores in the South East.
95m cups of coffee are drunk in the UK every day. What makes Lost Sheep Coffee unique?
Here at Lost Sheep Coffee, we only use speciality grade coffee beans from the very top selection available in the world. All coffee is graded with grade 5 being the lowest, and 1 the highest. Typically, an average supermarket coffee would be grade 3, with their premium range being grade 2. Lost Sheep Coffee will only use grade 1A coffee beans and what makes us truly unique is that we are able to trace the beans all the way from the field to your cup.
Our flagship product is the fully compostable Nespresso compatible capsules made from Lingin (wood bark), a waste product of the paper industry. As they are 100% natural the used capsules can compost to absolutely nothing in a matter of weeks. These capsules are certified biodegradable, compostable and, crucially, are airtight for superior freshness.
Talk us through your journey transferring the spirit of Melbourne coffee culture to the UK?
Whilst backpacking around the world, I discovered the Melbourne coffee scene. For us it was essential to share the Aussie style of coffee here in the UK. We wanted to make sure everyone was able to enjoy fantastic, smooth coffee any time of the day, anywhere. Through Lost Sheep Coffee we have brought the world’s best coffees to Kent and the UK.
Why the name Lost Sheep Coffee?
The Lost Sheep Coffee name arose when I myself became a lost sheep, after quitting my 9 to 5 job and travelling the world for inspiration. Once I had discovered a passion for good quality coffee, I knew I had to bring it back to the UK.
What are the biggest challenges you have faced getting to where you are today?
By far the biggest challenge has been learning as we develop, there is no guidebook as to how to become a pioneer in the coffee world. But we have built up an amazing team and we have always stayed true to what we believe in, which has worked well for us so far.
Tell us how you made the leap from the van and pod to having a presence in an outlet?
Quite simply the customers absolutely loved the pod and the coffee. After success in Canterbury we launched a pod in Ashford’s designer outlet. McArthur Glen were so impressed with the flow of customers they invited us to open a shop which has been a great success.
What key qualities have you had that have helped you get to where you are today?
Here at Lost Sheep Coffee we are passionate about the finest coffee, we don’t cut corners. We prioritise quality over price and we always follow what we think is the right thing to do even if it goes against the status quo.
How have you grown such a loyal customer base?
I think it’s the personal touch, we are a small family business which people like. Customers come to us because we love what we’re doing and when they are with us, we treat them like our guests.
Tell us about your Roastery?
The Whitstable roastery was set up in 2017, since then we have grown it to become the largest dedicated speciality roastery in Kent, with an emphasis on quality over quantity.
We source coffee from all over the world, constantly roasting, testing and tasting it to make sure that we bring unusual and exciting coffee to the table.
You are crowdfunding to support future growth. Can you share some of your future plans?
The future plans for Lost Sheep Coffee are to release our new fully recyclable packaging for our coffee beans, to launch into further Morissons stores and expand into more supermarkets to make our speciality coffee truly accessible for all.
Due to the current Covid-19 situation, we have currently put the crowdfunding on pause for now and are focusing on ensuring our coffee is available to order online for those that would like it delivered direct to their door. Available from www.lostsheepcoffee.com
