To most people, cafes are more than just a place to drink coffee: they are a place to refocus, retreat and hang out. Whilst being a quick part of the morning grind for business folk,...

Here’s an unedited daily diary from our guys who are currently on the ground in Ecuador, collaborating with our long term partners, Pillcocaja… We love this description of a progressive and sustainable coffee farm where people...

When starting a cafe, the hardest part can often be choosing a coffee supplier. Not many people are sure of where to buy wholesale coffee beans and struggle with everything else involved in the process. ...

All over South America the coffee cherries are ripening on the trees, the coffee picking troops are gathering and the processing stations are in full swing! With all the movement, we at Zest couldn’t bear to...

Deciding on an espresso machine is no easy job. It’s a huge investment regardless of what you end up choosing.  We’ve spent countless hours in the shoes of café owners, so we know the struggles...

Having consulted on a few startups and worked as a barista, trainer and rookie coffee roaster, I too have felt the strong pull to open a cafe. Though I haven’t started my own cafe (…yet?),...

PROJECT BOSQUES VERDES REPORT 2021 This report from the Bosques Verdes Cooperative is rewarding evidence that, even a small specialty coffee roaster like Zest, can make a difference to real people’s lives. Scrolling through photo...

To the people in coffee, the ever-changing commodity price of coffee is an ever present tide of challenge and reward. As a roaster, even a couple of USD cents per pound makes a mammoth difference...

The Espressonist, Docklands. When owner and manager, visual artist, Demien Gibbons opened Espressonist he was afraid people wouldn’t be able to spell the name. And despite the fact he still has trouble with suppliers and...

We know what it’s like running a cafe: Your barista just cancelled their shift, the milk delivery is late and somehow the grinder has stopped working. To top it off, you’ve somehow just run out...