Thoughts...

This is kinda like a ego blogpost. I've got so much emotions in me and I really need an outlet for them. Don't worry, it's not about private life or anything, it is about coffee.

Wow! What a crazy six months. So much stuff has happened that I don't even know how to put everything into place.

Since the opening of Black & Bloom, many things have happened with me. I've been in newspapers, magazines, websites, social media, blogposts... and it even does not stop.

It is hard for me just dealing mentally with all this attention. I've been working in coffee now for almost six years and I never thought those brown beans would affect my life so much. I started in the restaurant, got two shops in franchise, quit the franchise and now working on a high level of coffee-making in my own shop built from scratch.

I'm feeling proud of myself what I have accomplished over the last six months. I've been through a lot the last year but I've managed to keep my head up and overcome many obstacles. Now, I'm working in an environment where I feel myself really at home. Working behind the Synesso never felt so rewarding. The brewbar is amazing and I'm learning so much from coffee these days.

The biggest impact for me is all the different coffees that I'm tasting at this moment. There is so much flavour in every country, variety, washed or unwashed, honey processed, the roast.... everything.

I was surprised how many people really love the shop. I'm getting compliments about the shop and the coffee almost every day and I feel proud knowing that the smile they got from drinking the stuff is actually a big part of my love and attention for the coffee.

I see a lot of new projects recently starting up and I know exactly how they feel and how nervous they are. Will they do well? Will they manage it? Did they think of everything, nothing is missing? Financially everything ok? I know what they feel, insecurity is a real pain in the ass. It is good though that projects who I'm really keeping in touch with really are working out just fine. Very proud of these pioneers.

To be honest, I'm a bit scared of the summer period. My experience with the franchise was that when temperatures rise the coffee flow goes down. But I think that the addition of extra cold drinks like Fritz Kola, Cold Coffee & Tea brews and organic juices will help me through summer.