2020 will be a year we all remember, even just 12 months ago nobody could anticipate how our lives and the way we shop and socialise would change so dramatically after March 2020. Coronavirus has bankrupt business big and small, the high streets of our cities are becoming a wasteland as store after store is boarded up because they can not trade under Covid restrictions. It has been heartbreaking for us to see customers, and friends of 20 years plus shutting down their business because they can not keep paying rent and rates bills while not being allowed to trade because of Covid restrictions.
White Rose Coffee Roasters has been one of the lucky one's though, with an established ecommerce base we were ready to face the challenge of a changing retail landscape that saw demand change overnight from hospitality to home users. In December 2019 we ordered a 30kg batch roaster to keep up with the demand from our commercial clients of coffee shops, restaurants and hotels. When it arrived on 1st April 2020 they were all closed because of Coronavirus, with some already bankrupt because of the sudden loss of trade. And we had to wonder, would we still use this investment in such challenging trading conditions - and more importantly could we withstand the cost if it did not pay it's way.
While installing such a large piece of equipment during the first full lockdown was a challenge, it quickly became our primary roaster taking over from the small 5kg batch roaster we started with - although for less popular origins we still use the 5kg roaster on a daily basis. The 30kg batch roaster however helped us handle the explosion in domestic orders caused by a sudden mass of people working from home - but still needing a caffeine fix. Coronavirus changed our business model of twenty plus years overnight, with orders rapidly increasing while the value of each order rapidly decreased.
More work for less reward, in difficult trading times we could not increase staff to cover the workload - and just worked harder for longer to keep up instead.
In September 2020 we welcomed UK members of the @hiveio blockchain to visit us, after a brief respite from Coronavirus since July the event date clashed with the new Rule of Six which meant many people who would have liked to attend had to decline. But it was still an excellent day with @nathanmars, @slobberchops, @shanibeer, @shmoogleosukami and @stevenwood attending. And we are thankful for continued coffee orders from our @hive friends including @slobberchops, @steevc, @chris-uk and @shmoogleosukami - plus even an order from @sgt-dan shipped from the UK all the way to America!
In 2021 we plan to run another @hiveio meetup for our #teamuk hiveians - Covid allowing we hope it will bring more of our UK based Hive Blockchain users together to discuss the Blockchain and increasing it's user base. Also the #hiveblockchaincoffee concept will grow as we brand more coffee origins with Hive and also work to onboard the plantations the coffee is grown on so they can post on @hive about the coffee they grow.
@whiterosecoffee runs a @hiveio blockchain Witness, and is backed by @hiveio Witness @c0ff33a who also runs a full API Node https://api.c0ff33a.uk - we really appreciate your Witness votes which help cover the costs of the servers we run to support the @hive blockchain and also enable us to run UK meet ups.
Merry Christmas to you!
It was great to meet Hiveans earlier in the year, thank you for organising and the fabulous coffee :) So pleased that at least one small business is making it and really appreciate your ideas about bringing coffee growers to Hive.
Best wishes for 2021 🎄
Thank you so much, it has been a tough year for all and hard work for me especially - but I hope to expand Hive Coffee in 2021 and bring a good selection of coffee plantations onto Hive. I hope you and family have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.
We're currently shopping around for a quality coffee machine, our dolce gusto machine with 'compatible reusable pods' like to piss water everywhere cause the pods are not perfectly fitting.
Trying to find something that's durable, will last, doesn't make a mess if something goes slightly wrong, has a quality milk frothier, and does most kinds of coffee, (preferably not automatically)
It's a rollercoaster ride right now, anything in the £100-£150 price range looks ok but I question the quality, and when you start getting up into to £300-400 range you start wondering whether you should just spend £1500 and get a professional one.
I want something good but it's hard to tell if something priced at £500 is actually going to be good.
I try and avoid the actual minefield that is domestic coffee makers - the market is so swamped now and you really can never be sure if reviews are legit or being shilled. I will say Jim Hoffman is well respected in the coffee community and has done many reviews of equipment https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMb0O2CdPBNi-QqPk5T3gsQ/videos if you hunt through you might find a little guidance.
Oh yeah we were watching a couple of his vids last night, I think we're probably going to go for a gaggia gran style. £110 and get a decent grinder. Perhaps get a non pressure basket too if possible. To be fair anything would be better than the coffee pod machine we have now.
I'll be ordering more when the stash gets low!
Thank you so much for the continued support, I'm really pleased you are enjoying the coffee. Maybe in the new year I can persuade @goblinknackers to call in for some!
I mentioned it to him, he's a real coffee fiend and orders it directly from the places you do. Beans only as he has a grinder (as do I now).
Really glad to hear that your business is surviving these terrible times and although i didn't attend the hive meetup I was glad seeing you all via the live stream.
Really glad I purchased some coffee earlier this month it is amazing and i cant wait to buy more when I start to run low.
Wow @sgt-dan purchased some coffee despite the expensive fees hats of to you sarge! i look forward to seeing a post or even video from you about it :)
Stay safe @c0ff33a
That is a good idea! I really should make a video to promote @c0ff33a and @whiterosecoffee. I have really enjoyed the coffee as it is very good! Hence, I do believe I will make a video/blog about my satisfaction with the product.
My best to you and yours this holiday season. Blessings and groovy vibes!
I look forward to seeing it. Best wishes to you too merry Christmas.
Thank you so much for your support, and I hope you and your family have a really awesome Christmas and New Year.
I imagine the cafe and general catering industry has taken a major hit this year. I hope 2021 is better for them and for you.
I was really sorry I could not come to the meet-up, but it's a long trek from here. I am sure there will be other opportunities.
I believe @hiveio is the official account. @hive predates this blockchain and seems to be inactive.
Have a great Christmas and a prosperous new year!
Thank you so much, it's been a tough year but hopefully 2021 will be better and there will definately be another meet up if conditions allow. Thanks for the @hiveio heads up will make adjustments.
Congratulations @whiterosecoffee! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPDo not miss the last post from @hivebuzz:
The pandemic has been very tough, but he has been able to cope with the situation by working very hard. Many successes in all future plans.