The Brixton Workshop Collective X Lofty Coffee
Founder Eric Meyers’s vision was to not only make delicious coffee, but to do so with traceability from farm to roasting works.
Meet the Maker
Siri Simran Khalsa — Lofty Coffee Co.
What inspired you to start your business?
“While I am not the one who started Lofty Coffee I have a lot of ownership in the work I have done and what I have contributed to the growth of the company. Our Ethos is to create a place for the community to gather, to enjoy great food and drinks. What inspires me about this company is how we hand craft almost all the products we serve and the thoughtfulness that goes into every aspect of what we do. The genesis was a lofty thought to curate a menu and create spaces that showcases and uplifts our community of local and global farmers, as well as our guests and team members.”
Was there a person who helped teach you your craft?
“Yes! There have been a number of folks I have looked up to and found inspiration in. The two most notable are Kris Fulton at Matt Prior. Kris was my barista trainer when I worked for a company in NYC, Partners Coffee, formerly know as Toby’s Estate. He had this way of teaching that was approachable and interesting. He was my first insight into actually building a professional career in the coffee industry. Kris played a big role in my deciding to pursue a career in this craft. As for coffee roasting, my mentor was Matt Prior. He held my position of Director of Coffee when I first started working for Lofty Coffee. He taught me to not care too much of what other people think of my approach to the craft, to experiment and to always taste the coffee before making assumptions. I also learned to not take things too seriously. That even when a mistake happen, there is something to learn from them and that at the end of the day all coffee’s have a home and that part of my job is to help guide it home.”
Why is it so important to you personally to hand-craft your pieces?
“Hand-crafted coffee is a beautiful merge of art and science that showcases my time, dedication, experimentation, style and creativity. Coffee and coffee roasting is inherently a craft. Coffee is planted by hand. Each coffee cherries is then picked when it is at its peak ripeness by hand. Some coffees are even hand sorted before they are shipped to roasters. In my eyes there is no specialty coffee without hands crafting this luxury all along the supply chain.”
How does Sustainability play a role in your approach to the goods you create?
“Sustainability plays such a critical role in how I operate our Roasting Works. My approach to sustainability is in the details. Focusing on things as small has minimizing waste and introducing composting into our facilities, to ensuring our equipment is clean and operating correctly so my team can execute their jobs, to building deeply rooted relationships with our coffee producers. When I think of sustainability it is all encompassing. It is living mindfully of how we impact our environment but it is also ensuring I can continue to do the work that I love by creating balance for me and my team members. It’s staying in touch and following through on our commitments with partners so they can continue to produce excellent coffee, knowing we will buy their coffee and pay them well for it.”
Why did working with Brixton on the Workshop Collective feel like the right opportunity?
“Lofty as a brand is deeply rooted in the local communities we serve and I can say the same for Brixton, so for me it was a no brainer. There is an authenticity to what Brixton does that is aligned with our approach to creating and serving. When we started discussing the concept for the Dirty Blond Blend that conversation lead to what kind of experience we want to create for the Brixton x Lofty customer. For me coffee is about creating that experience, a feeling of happiness and comfort. We have this special opportunity to make someones morning, which could influence their entire day! This collaboration allows us to share this experiences along side other incredible makers, which only uplifts the entire concept of Done Proper. Thank you so much for having us :)”
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