It's been a while since the last update and we've been busy!

It's been a little while since I shared an update. It's been BUSY and if I'm not already a glutton for punishment well I've got a big bit of news I'll share at the end of this post.

We started the year really quiet with January and February being a slog (which was in contrast to December). However from March it's been a new record every month. The interesting thing is it isn't really the roasting that makes it hard work it's all the marketing, product design, packaging/logistics and events!

Last time I updated on here I think we'd just launched the website redesign, well since then we've:

• Launched Brazil single origin. This is key to getting into a cafe as Brazil is the most prolific coffee producer in the world the pricing is much more competitive and, because it's so ubiquitous in the market, the flavour profile of Brazillian beans is naturally quite popular as it aligns with peoples experience.
• Started selling sample selection boxes. This was one of the most commonly requested items so we've started doing these with a set seasonal rotation. At some point we'll enhance it to offer a way of building your own e.g. for a gift.
• Realised we should register for VAT. Coffee is a 0 rated item meaning if we register for VAT we can claim back tax on the hardware costs (which were a lot when we opened the new roastery) but not need to charge any VAT on the coffee. If we start selling other items e.g. accessories then of course they'll be VATable.
• Overhauled our event set up which was looking a bit basic (designing banners and signage is no joke when you're not a graphic designer!).

And last but not least - and this is the big one - we've launched a YouTube channel because I was looking for another thing to squeeze into my (very) early mornings and weekends. ha-ha. In this channel, we'll be sharing our journey of running a micro coffee roasting business in the beautiful North Yorkshire Moors. We'll be covering:

• Educational content about coffee roasting
• Insights into the coffee roasting business in the UK
• Behind-the-scenes look at Forge Valley Roasters

Why do this? Well we're passionate about coffee roasting and think there is a huge gap to share knowledge and experience of this industry and craft with people. But we'd love your input on what you'd like to see on the channel so please let us know by leaving a comment below this post (or help us feed the YT algorithm by posting your comment on the video too). What are you curious about in terms of coffee roasting or the business side of things?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqll8lW15u4

In the meantime, check out our first video for a tour of the Forge Valley Roastery and a glimpse into our recent village fair!