Ashley Palmer-Watts launches delivery coffee business Artisan Coffee Co

The former executive chef at Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck Group has partnered with a team of experts to launch the business, taking on the role of head of product development. The new company aims to create a range of coffee that appeals to everyone but that doesn’t require barista skill or expensive equipment. 

Artisan’s coffee comes in 30g ground coffee sachets to overcome the problems with ground coffee losing its aroma and flavour once opened. The smaller sachets are delivered in recyclable boxes, to be opened each morning and have been designed to be brewed in Moka pot or cafetière.

"Artisan was an attractive opportunity to innovate and tackle coffee from a different angle,” says Palmer-Watts.

“Whole bean coffee tends to get all the attention, yet requires considerable investment in time and equipment, and by no means guarantees a great cup. Often, the simpler and more popular brew methods can be somewhat basic in terms of character. I felt very strongly that convenient coffee needn’t be dark, bitter and lacking in depth, just as I believe delicious, distinctive, characterful coffee can be approachable and convenient. 

Having drawn upon 20 years of knowledge from working with Heston, I have taken time to analyse people’s relationship with coffee, whilst adopting a meticulous approach to maintaining consistent quality and flavour; I feel this has provided us with the opportunity to make a difference.”

The company will launch with the six coffees - The Heroine, The Big Shot, The Smart Cookie, The Genius, The Enigma, and The Dreamer - with bags starting from £9.50.

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