Good Coffee ~ Olly Wilkins
AT THYME
If you’ve ever been to stay or had lunch in the Ox Barn, you will likely have tried the delicious freshly brewed coffee, and fallen for it like we have. It is everything coffee should be - flavourful, rich and smooth - and not only does it taste great, but it’s coffee on a mission to do good too. Missing Bean is an independent coffee roasters based in Oxford established by a couple of coffee lovers, and has since expanded into physical cafes and e-commerce, while staying true to its values for fair wages and ethical labour practices. Roastery Manager, Olly Wilkins, shares some intel from behind the scenes.
How would you describe the identity of Missing Bean?
We are a local, independent business with a personal touch at the heart of everything we do. Yet in addition we are extremely experienced and professional in each aspect of the coffee world. From sourcing, to shipping, to roasting, to brewing, to sharing, we aim to always provide quality with an open and honest back story so the end consumer can not only enjoy their coffee, but do so knowing exactly where its come from and how its got to their cup.
You work with coffee farms across Asia, South America & Africa. Why is the provenance so important to the brand?
We love to always have a range of coffee options available so customers can really experience the range of flavours and aromas associated with the different territories across the world. Some countries are easier to access for us directly than others, and we love setting up unique, long lasting, loyal direct-trade relationships with likeminded ethical and sustainable farms.
How, where and with what accompanying edible treat would you recommend drinking a missing bean coffee?
We’ve always got the right coffee for the right time! But from my personal point of view, a fruity filter coffee first thing in the morning with a delicious locally baked pastry is the ideal start to the day!
What common misconceptions about coffee would you like to refute?
That all coffee is the same and that coffee should be cheap! It’s amazing how different beans can be and how differently they behave when you roast them. Wine gets all the credit for tasting events and professions, but coffee is just as complex. The fair price to pay for a good quality, ethically produced coffee should be reflected in the price on the café menu – if you see a coffee being sold for £1, that should ring alarm bells!
What does ‘good coffee’ mean to you?
Good coffee means good people, doing good things, creating a good product. Each step of the process is just as important as each other. You can absolutely enjoy sipping on a flat white even more if you know that its been grown in an environmentally friendly way by happy workers and then roasted and brewed with real care.
Share your top five tips on how to choose a responsible, eco friendly coffee brand.
1) Any roasters who are transparent about where the coffee is from is a good start, some hide behind blend names and there’s no sign of where the coffee is from and when it was roasted.
2) Aim to reduce as much waste as possible – we offer discounts for anyone who brings in their own take-away cup or refillable containers so they can buy their coffee and beans without anything to throw away.
3) Encourage the use of alternative milks rather than charging more for them. Oat milk especially is far better for the environment compared to dairy milk, and it also tastes great and can still have impressive latte art.
4) Encourage the little guys! Quite often it’s the smallest places who are actually behaving the most eco-friendly. The massive chains are producing so much in bulk that there has got to be corners cut and lots of wastage along the way.
5) Direct-trade is fairer than fair trade. There’s a real myth around fair trade where it isn’t actually as fair as you would first think. Quality is often compromised with fair trade whereas direct-trade links are more ethical and sustainable for both the farmer and the roaster.
