The smell of freshly roasted coffee beans
There's something about freshly roasted coffee that brings memories flooding back. Growing up in Papua New Guinea, known as 'The Land of the Unexpected', adventure was simply part of everyday life. No two days were ever the same, and that sense of possibility has stayed with me.
On one trip back, I spotted a drawing being sold by the roadside. It showed two Birds of Paradise perched on a coffee bush, munching on coffee berries. The artist had scribbled a story in Pidgin English about how the birds loved the sweet berries, then ate a mouse before getting married. I was completely charmed (well, until the mouse bit). Turned out the artist was PNG's most celebrated painter, Sir Mathias Kauage. I gave that drawing to my boyfriend, now my husband, and it still has pride of place on our wall.
After twenty years in the UK and countless trips around the world, I've tried coffee everywhere I've gone. Each cup tells a story, evokes a memory, brings a moment of joy. I love the thrill of tasting beans from different regions and roasters. It's like travelling without the queues at the airport or the hassle of getting there. The fun is in exploring flavours from Ethiopia one week, Colombia the next, maybe Guatemala after that. I wanted to bring that same sense of discovery to coffee lovers here, because everyone deserves a truly excellent cup.
What makes our coffee different
I'm particular about coffee. Every bean I offer is specialty grade Arabica, which means only the highest quality makes the cut. But quality isn't just about taste. I work with roasters and importers who take ethical sourcing seriously, who know where their beans come from and ensure farmers are paid fairly. Traceability matters to me, and I do my homework to reassure myself that everyone in the supply chain is doing the right thing. I care deeply about how your coffee tastes, and I want every bag to genuinely make you happy.
Where we're headed
My mission is to make exceptional coffee accessible to everyone. Easy to find, easy to choose, wonderful to drink. I'm doing the hard work of curating the best beans so you can simply explore and enjoy.
Come on this journey with me. Try something new and let me know what you'd like to see next.
Michele
Founder & Owner - The Sip Emporium