PAUL GRIFFITHS

Please meet Paul Griffiths. His story is so coffee saturated he probably never sleeps! 😉 On the serious note, Paul is extremely passionate and dedicated to speciality coffee industry, working for Clifton Coffee Roasters and making sure you get the best cup on the planet! Coffee hero no. 5. Read his story:

1. Can you please introduce yourself and what do you do?

Hey, I’m Paul Griffiths and I’m the Wholesale Manager at Clifton Coffee Roasters. Part of my role is to work to help develop new wholesale customers for Clifton Coffee along with provide the best coffee solutions for new and existing businesses.

2. How did you get in to coffee?

It was a bit of a strange way to get into coffee. I was drinking a lot of coffee from the big commodity chains to purely keep me awake and alert in my computer technician job at Apple. I came across cold brew coffee when reading an interview with someone from @stumptowncoffee and I thought I would buy some coffee, a grinder and try and brew my own cold brew at home. From there I got into brewing filter coffee and then espresso. I then quit my job at Apple and started a pop up coffee stall, moved on to work for a local coffee roaster, then managed a coffee shop and then ended up working at Clifton Coffee Roasters. The journey has been awesome! Really looking forward to the future with Clifton Coffee.

3. What is Speciality Coffee is for you? #specialitycoffee for me is something that should be respected and appreciated.

So much time and effort has gone into making it (from farm to cup) that we really need to get the best out of it and treat it as a unique product with complexities that come from its variety, growing conditions, processing and roasting.

4. Where do you see Speciality Coffee in Cardiff in the nearest future?

I think that #cardiff has had a big increase in the amount of coffee shops opening in the past few years which is always a good thing to help build community. I think in the coming years that we will see an increase in the quality of what these coffee shops are offering. More of a focus on providence, preparation and cup quality.

5. What it Your biggest inspiration in Coffee industry?

Some of my biggest inspirations and influences have come from the US West Coast. I visited there a few years ago with my girlfriend and she had organised a private cupping with at Ritual Coffee Roasters is San Francisco (Thanks Nik!) That was one of the first times I spent time at such an influential and quality focused coffee roastery.

6. Why do you love your job?

I love my job because it allows me to meet and support such a wide range of people looking to open a coffee business. From independent coffee shops, small chains, restaurants and hotels.

Along with allowing me come into contact with some of the most amazing coffees available!

7. What is the ultimate goal for you?

The ultimate goal for me is to learn as much as I can about Coffee.

I have competed in SCA competitions and spend a lot of time Cupping coffees that helps me develop my pallet. I see myself doing a Q grader course in the future and developing a further understanding for roasting coffee.